Wrestling Coach Convicted for Failing to Protect Students from Abuse
A former head coach of the wrestling team at Bellwood-Antis High School in Pennsylvania has been found guilty of endangering student welfare by allowing an assistant coach accused of sexual abuse to have unsupervised access to underage athletes.
Following a two-day trial, a Blair County jury convicted 59-year-old Timothy Andrekovich last Tuesday of failing to enforce a safety plan, permitting junior coach Ryan Blazier to remain in contact with students despite being under investigation for sexual assault.
Ignored Warnings and Lack of Action
According to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, Andrekovich was informed in December 2019 about the investigation into Blazier. Instead of protecting the students, he allowed the accused coach to maintain contact with the wrestling team.
“The head coach’s role is to safeguard his athletes. However, after being warned about the threat, he neglected this responsibility,” stated Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday in an official release. Andrekovich’s negligence exposed students to harm and sparked significant concern within the school and local sports community.
Blazier’s Case and Legal Outcomes
Ryan Blazier was later convicted of sexual assault and sentenced to several decades in prison in June 2023. His criminal actions, combined with the school leadership’s failure to intervene, raised alarms throughout the Bellwood-Antis community and Pennsylvania high school athletics.
Trial and Next Steps
The prosecution team consisted of Deputy Attorney General Julia van Leeuwen and Senior Deputy Attorney General Lauren Eichelberger from the criminal prosecutions division. Andrekovich’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 25.
Attorney General Dave Sunday praised the legal team’s dedication and emphasized the importance of holding adults accountable when children’s safety is at risk. “I am proud of the team that ensured justice was served, showing that no one is above the law, especially when it concerns the protection of minors,” he said.
The case involving Bellwood-Antis High School has served as a warning for other educational and sports institutions. Negligence from responsible leaders can cause severe physical and psychological damage to victims and undermine community trust in schools.
Experts stress the need for strict protocols to protect young athletes, including constant supervision and immediate action when allegations arise. This incident is a painful reminder of the devastating consequences that lack of vigilance can have in school and sports environments.