News Summary
The parents of a former soccer player have filed a lawsuit against Central Catholic High School, alleging serious hazing, bullying, and sexual misconduct by soccer team members. The lawsuit claims the school failed to protect students from a hostile environment, seeking $1 million in damages. Reports describe a troubling culture of abuse and harassment, prompting disciplinary actions, an independent investigation, and ongoing police inquiries. Community concerns about the school’s environment are growing as the investigations unfold.
San Antonio – The parents of a former soccer player have filed a lawsuit against Central Catholic High School, alleging serious hazing, bullying, and sexual misconduct involving members of the soccer team. This legal action was initiated on July 3, 2025, against the school, its Principal Lee Hernandez, Athletic Director Edward Ybarra, head soccer coach Bartholomew Valerio, and three minor teammates.
The lawsuit contends that the school failed to safeguard its students from a hostile environment characterized by harassment, bullying, battery, unlawful detainment, and both sexual and physical assaults. Central Catholic is facing claims for a total of $1,000,000 in damages to cover pain, suffering, mental anguish, and medical expenses incurred by the family’s son.
According to the allegations detailed in the lawsuit, the former student endured months of bullying and hazing at the hands of his teammates. Incidents included being thrown into a locker and subjected to other humiliating treatment. Additionally, the suit paints a concerning picture of the school’s culture, describing it as a “culture of ‘hazing on steroids,'” which involved instances of sexual abuse and extreme mental humiliation.
In response to these serious allegations, Central Catholic High School has expelled two students and disciplined three others. The school has also initiated an independent investigation by hiring a law firm to examine the matter further. Furthermore, local police are conducting ongoing investigations into allegations made by a 15-year-old former student, striving to address the claims in a systematic manner.
The serious nature of the incidents reported includes being confined within a locker room space dubbed “the cage” and experiencing sexual harassment from older students. The lawsuit argues that school officials were cognizant of prior incidents of hazing and bullying but failed to enforce an effective zero-tolerance policy, allowing such behavior to continue unchecked. Plaintiffs suggest that some students received preferential treatment due to their status as star athletes or their connections with school administrators, further exacerbating the issue.
Parents of current and prospective students express deep concerns about the environment at Central Catholic, stating that incoming students are misled about the actual conditions at the school. What is marketed as a “brotherhood” among students often masks ongoing issues of bullying and hazing, which have not been adequately addressed by school authorities.
The impetus for the lawsuit emerged when the teen’s younger brother observed instances of bullying during a school visit and subsequently informed their family about the troubling conditions. This realization prompted the family to take action and report the incidents, which were then relayed to the San Antonio and Round Rock Police Departments in late April 2025.
The family of the former soccer player is pursuing this legal action not only for personal accountability but also with the hope of preventing further incidents and bringing attention to the issues that have persisted within the school’s sports culture. The ongoing investigations and legal proceedings will be essential in determining the future of Central Catholic High School’s policies regarding student conduct and safety.
As the events unfold, community members are closely monitoring the situation, anxiously awaiting the results of the investigations and the potential impact on the school environment for current and future students.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Lawsuit Alleges Hazing and Sexual Assault at Central Catholic High School
Central Catholic High School Responds to Hazing Allegations
Central Catholic High School Launches Investigation into Misconduct
Central Catholic High School Expels Students Over Hazing Incident
San Antonio Man Arrested for Sexual Assault and Kidnapping
San Antonio School Faces Lawsuit Over Hazing Allegations
Additional Resources
- KSAT: Hazing on Steroids
- Express News: Central Catholic Hazing Lawsuit
- News 4 San Antonio: Investigation into Hazing
- KENS 5: Central Catholic Lawsuit
- Wikipedia: Hazing
Author: STAFF HERE SAN ANTONIO WRITER
The SAN ANTONIO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanAntonio.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Antonio, Bexar County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Fiesta San Antonio, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, and Dia de los Muertos. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, plus leading businesses in retail, insurance, and energy that power the local economy such as H-E-B, USAA, and Valero Energy. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREDallas.com, and HEREHouston.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
