YOUNGSTOWN The Catholic Diocese of Youngstown and administrators from Ursuline High School have formally denied allegations that they concealed a long-standing culture of sexualized hazing within the school’s football program, asserting in a new federal court filing that they acted swiftly and appropriately once specific misconduct was brought to their attention.

In an answer filed Monday in U.S. District Court, the institutional leaders—including the Diocese, Ursuline High School, Principal Matthew Sammartino, Assistant Principal Margaret Damore, and Athletic Director John DeSantis—rejected claims that they acted with deliberate indifference toward the safety of student-athletes. The filing serves as a direct rebuttal to a second amended complaint brought by the parents of two former

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