Cheltenham players, parents feel ‘betrayed’ by district’s decision to cancel 2026 football season

Cheltenham High School football players expected a major decision was coming following an ongoing investigation from an alleged hazing incident that terminated the 2025 season. But when the verdict arrived last month that the 2026 varsity and junior varsity seasons would be canceled, those associated with the program were shocked.

The news came in the form of an email from the Cheltenham School District on May 26, and the district said more work was needed to “reset the program” after about 20 students witnessed a student-on-student assault in a locker room in September, and no one tried to stop it.

“Until those investigations are concluded and their findings are known, it is not possible to define, develop, or execute the necessary corrective actions,” wrote Dr. Brian W. Scriven, Cheltenham’s superintendent of schools, in the release. “The district cannot build a path forward around unknowns. The scope and nature of what must be addressed will be determined by the evidence, and that process must be allowed to run its course before any meaningful next steps can be taken.

Prior to the ruling, about 50 players — 30 rising seniors and 20 rising juniors — at the Montgomery County school were wondering what to do next.

» READ MORE: Cheltenham cancels 2026 varsity, JV football seasons after locker room assault

Now, those questions remain.

“We weren’t updated about anything,” said Kendall Jackson, a rising senior, who was a two-year starting quarterback at Cheltenham. “We’re sticking together. We’re trying to be there for each other, because no one else is. This has not only affected kids at Cheltenham, but the future kids thinking about coming to Cheltenham. Those kids might think Cheltenham is not the right place for them because of what supposedly happened. We’re all frustrated.”

The school district and Cheltenham declined to comment. Cheltenham will field a freshman team next season, and it’s unclear if it would field a varsity or junior varsity team in 2027, which will also impact the rest of the Suburban One League Continental Conference.

According to the school district, Cheltenham was set to debut its $13.4 million football stadium complex this season, which has been in the works since 2024.

When the announcement that the rest of the season would be canceled was made on Oct. 20, 2025, the players said then-Panthers coach Terence Tolbert, a former teacher at the school who could not be reached for comment, and his coaching staff were no longer around.

The players were not allowed to work out in the weight room or on the practice field because they did not have the supervision of a coach or an administrator.

The Inquirer also learned that the school district could not find a varsity coach for the Cheltenham football team. Two area coaches, who asked that their names not be mentioned, confirmed that they submitted their names for consideration to the district and later withdrew, with one citing the program’s “unstable” culture.

Jackson has been in contact with several area schools about transferring in the fall. Rosalind Jackson, Kendall’s mother, said the district told parents it would keep them informed about the situation, but she said that did not happen.

» READ MORE: Cheltenham High’s football season canceled amid deepening hazing investigation; officials allege physical assault

“I feel defeated,” she said. “My son and these other kids are paying a price for what others did. … The school district hasn’t provided any answers. These kids should have been treated with far better respect than they were. They should have been told in person by a school administrator about this news, [rather] than receiving an email at 4 in the afternoon. The school district let me down.”

Kyle Montgomery, a rising senior defensive end, had an idea something was coming. So in December, he took the Archbishop Wood entrance exam and was accepted in January. Montgomery said he did not like how the school district handled the investigation.

“They were taking a long time with the investigation and not telling us anything,” said Montgomery, who has attracted attention from Ivy League schools. “I thought that was a sign that they would cancel the season. I want to play in college, and I have moved on from this. I have already made plans. I can see where other guys who are stuck there feeling let down by the school and the school district.”

“This has not only affected kids at Cheltenham, but the future kids thinking about coming to Cheltenham. ... We’re all frustrated.”

Brian Palmer-King, a wide receiver and cornerback, said the school provided counseling services after the 2025 season was canceled, but he claimed it did not offer direction or support on other options.

His mother, Brandi King, held out hope that her son would have a senior football season, but as a precaution, King and her son made other plans. He’ll attend Wood next season.

“You feel a little betrayed, because Brian grew up with Cheltenham and the football program,” Brandi King said. “Wood is a very good school and we’re happy about the move. But I’m a little sad, because Brian was hoping to graduate from Cheltenham and play his senior year.”

Elijah Stehman, a rising senior running back who also kicks and punts, pushed for answers this past year.

He said he repeatedly approached Cheltenham Principal Benjamin Hammond, went to school board meetings, and questioned Scriven. He said he received the same answer: “We’re working on it.”

“The administrators lied to us and lied to me,” said Stehman. “They said they would stand up for us having a season. We got nothing. I mean we got called all kinds of things on social media and in the classroom. I won’t forget my mom coming into my room after I saw they canceled the season and consoling me. My mom was more upset over how the adults handled the situation.

“The Cheltenham teachers have been great. They have been supportive. It’s everyone that is above them that has failed us. It’s not fun when you can’t trust the people who are responsible for educating you.”

Stehman said he emailed the administration and Scriven, and showed up at a school board meeting in January asking what would happen to the 2026 team.

He said he was told that Cheltenham would hire a coach in March and that they would open the weight room for football players.

No coach was hired, and he said they didn’t open the weight room.

“It does feel like we are in football jail,” Stehman said. “We’re paying a price for something we had nothing to do with. Every other football player in the state is preparing for the 2026 season. We can’t. We are going to be getting a new stadium. No one will be there to play.

“I tried to talk to Dr. Hammond and Dr. Scriven. They never gave me an answer.”

Stehman is looking to transfer to the Philadelphia Public League’s Martin Luther King, where his father, Kirk, was a longtime assistant coach.

With Cheltenham off the schedule, Suburban One League Continental Conference schools have been in a scramble to replace those games. The SOL two-year schedule cycle was made in December, according to league officials.

This will not impact District 1 playoff seedings, since the point system can be divided by nine games instead of the traditional 10. But several SOL Continental athletic directors have said they prefer to play 10 games.

“With Cheltenham not competing next year, the teams impacted have the opportunity to reschedule that week with a different opponent. If a school is unable to find a contest, it will be considered a bye week,” said Jason S. Traczykiewicz, the Council Rock North principal and president of the Suburban One League. “Since the teams create their schedules on a two-year cycle, Cheltenham will need to inform the league of their intent for the fall of 2027 season by Aug. 31, 2026.”

» READ MORE: Cheltenham High football ‘toxic’ culture led to hazing, investigation concludes; team may not play in 2026

As for the Cheltenham players looking to leave the school, they have a process ahead of them.

According to District 1 Chairman Dr. Michael Barber and District 1 Executive Director Sean Kelly, a student cannot transfer from one public school to another for athletic purposes, despite the extraordinary circumstances at Cheltenham.

The procedure includes the sending school signing off on the student-athlete and the receiving school signing off on accepting the transfer. If the sending school contests the transfer, a hearing is held in the school district to where the student-athlete is transferring. Both schools must sign off for the transfer to be accepted.

If a student-athlete transfers after his or her sophomore or junior year, that student-athlete would be deemed ineligible for the postseason. But considering Cheltenham’s unusual situation, postseason rulings would be addressed on a case-by-case basis, according to Barber and Kelly, by the respective PIAA district where the student-athletes intend to transfer.

As of early June, Cheltenham has not sent official transcripts or report cards to other schools, according to football coaches at Wood, Neumann Goretti, and Roman Catholic, which have received request of transfer from Cheltenham students. By PIAA bylaws, Cheltenham does not have to sign off on transfers until the student-athletes have physically left the school, with a two-week window that usually applies.

Cheltenham finished the school year June 12.

Three Cheltenham parents, who did not want their names published, are threatening lawsuits if the transfers do not come through.

“There have already been a number of missteps by the school district in this matter, and I have June 15 circled on my calendar, because if my son’s transfer does not go through, I’m going to be retaining a lawyer. I know a number of other [Cheltenham] parents who will,” said one parent. “I’m sure this is not over yet. I have no trust or have any faith in the Cheltenham School District.

“This is going to continue. They will have a freshman team in 2026, but ask yourself this, will they allow an all-sophomore team to play a Suburban One varsity schedule in 2027? No, this will go on for another year.”

Many rising seniors were looking forward to playing their final season at Cheltenham. Now they won’t get that chance.

“Everyone wants out, and we all learned something: The world does not stop,” said Jabriel Epps, a two-year starting defensive back who is talking to Kutztown. “ … I still want to play football. What’s sad is I’ll never wear anything with Cheltenham football on it again.”