Bishop talks about Ursuline High School lawsuits, allegations
YOUNGSTOWN Bishop David Bonnar of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown spoke to 21 News on Monday about the allegations and lawsuits against Ursuline High School.
The first lawsuit, filed on September 2, 2025, is against Ursuline High School, along with Principal Matthew Sammartino, Assistant Principal Margaret Damore, head coach Dan Reardon, assistant coaches Tim McGlynn and Christian Syrianoudis, along with several players and their families.
The lawsuit is on behalf of a student who was allegedly hazed, physically assaulted, sexually assaulted and subjected to the creation and dissemination of child pornography.
The second lawsuit, filed on September 10, 2025, is also against Ursuline High School and several others, including Assistant Principal Damore, Athletic Director John DeSantis, the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown and a Ursuline football player known only as "Ursuline Player 6."
The suit alleges that a member of the football team, identified as "Ursuline Player 6", had "violently assaulted, sexually harassed, stalked and menaced" a female student.
On September 12, 2025, Ursuline High School made the decision to cancel the rest of its 2025 football season.
The decision follows an announcement on September 8 where head coach Reardon agreed to a suspension, while assistant coaches McGlynn and Syrianoudis were placed on administrative leave.
Michael Frasco, a long-time assistant coach, was named as the interim head football coach in the same September 8 statement.
Bishop Bonnar specified that while litigation is ongoing, he cannot comment on the case.
"We want to allow for the due process to follow, and we want to - we trust in the process. We're the church, we don't use the media to try cases, and we're certainly not going to do that here," said Bonnar.
Bishop Bonnar told 21 News that he is praying for all who are involved.
"I feel your pain, I know your heartache. At the same time, we know in the psalms that we hear this beautiful line where it says the Lord is near to the broken-hearted. I know that there are a lot of broken hearts, especially in our students and those who have been hurt by this, but we need to trust in the Lord, the closeness of our God," said Bonnar.
Bishop Bonnar concluded by saying that he trusts the board at Ursuline High School to make the right decisions for the next steps for the school.
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