Episode 61 | Sondra: A Sexual Assault Survivor of West Valley High
This episode is going to be heavy, and so we are giving a standard trigger warning for anyone listening. Our interview today depicts a firsthand account of sexual assault, bullying, and harassment. Please feel free to skip this episode, and do whatever you need to take care of yourself.
In September of 2020 in Cottonwood California, allegations of hazing and sexual assault were reported within the West Valley High School varsity football team. The four plaintiffs, former players on the team, alleged that the varsity football team has a, “longstanding tradition of hazing, bullying, intimidation, harassment and physical assault” enacted on younger players by older players on the team. Allegations included the use of a PVC pipe, for the purpose of jabbing into younger players’ rectal area. The PVC was confirmed as a tool to keep younger players in line. It was ritualistically passed down for many years, and was prominently displayed in the boys locker room. On November 18, 2020 the school district launched an independent investigation into the allegations, and two days later, the head coach of the team, Greg Grendell, and the entire coaching staff resigned. By March of 2021, just four months later, the investigation into the allegations was determined inconclusive due to the lack of cooperation among students and staff. A civil suit was filed in May of 2021. As of today, the Shasta County District Attorney’s office has failed to file any charges.
The suit claims a long held history of systemic sexual harassment and bullying among coaches and players on the football team. Today, we are going to take the story back to 2003, when a young girl was harassed and assaulted by a football coach and teacher at West Valley High. This episode, you’ll hear from Sondra, whose name and identity have been modified for her protection, and why she decided to come forward to share her story after hearing about the allegations of the four young football players at the same high school she attended 17 years before.
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