By Josh Tolento, Editor, Founder The Fostoria Free Press December 30, 2025
In recent weeks, social media posts and community conversations in Fostoria have raised concerns about alleged systemic racism within the Eastwood High School boys basketball program in Pemberville, OH. Some parents and residents have claimed incidents of racial hostility, including an unverified report that Eastwood players or supporters hung signs in a locker room reading variations of “Go home Nig***s” during games involving Fostoria teams.
I received an “I don’t know” response when I asked they parent “Why did none of the Fostoria players take pictures of the signs, or take them to the coach or refs? I am willing to publish anyone’s “Letter to The Editor” if they put their legal name to it- although this offer has received zero responses after being shared on Facebook multiple times & boosted with paid ads.
On Dec 30th 2025, The Fostoria Free Press sent a formal letter to Superintendent Brent Welker seeking general information about the district’s policies on discrimination, any reported incidents in athletics, and awareness of claims involving Fostoria games. We will update this story with any response received.
The Fostoria Free Press remains committed to fair reporting on issues impacting our local schools and students. Readers with information are encouraged to email us at [email protected] or submit a signed letter to the editor.
FOSTORIA |The comments on this post describe multiple, serious bullying‑related accusations involving both students and staff at Fostoria City Schools, centered on a disabled senior student and extending to broader claims about school culture and leadership. These are unverified allegations made by individuals on Facebook, not confirmed findings or official statements.
The original poster says her younger brother, (Redacted), is a Fostoria High School senior who uses a wheelchair and has a lifelong medical condition, and that he is bullied so badly he does not want to attend school. She asserts that both students and teachers “tear him down,” and that the district talks about attendance but does not address why some students stop coming.
A current Fostoria senior (Redacted) comments that she has seen other students repeatedly talk about and make fun of (Redacted), specifically over a smell of urine, and says she has confronted bullies herself. She also claims that “even teachers have said things and act in immature behavior,” though she also criticizes (Redacted) caregivers and suggests everyone, including adults responsible for him, “need to do better.”
(Redacted)’s sister responds that he has a suprapubic catheter, that he is bathed regularly, and that the smell issue is medical, not neglect. She argues that if teachers and students were properly educated about his condition, they would understand rather than judge and bully him.
One grandmother (Karen) claims that a teacher has called her grandson, a ninth‑grade athlete, the N‑word, and says she is prepared to confront that teacher physically if it happens again. She describes a pattern of teachers bullying students, not just students bullying each other, and says complaints to the superintendent “go through one ear and out the other.”
The same commenter later adds an incident where another student allegedly broke her grandson’s $300 headphones in a classroom; she says the school did not identify the student or pursue restitution, and that police said they could not act without a name. She repeatedly argues the district is not following its own handbook, references a prior lawsuit, and urges parents to consider legal action again.
Several commenters express a general belief that “they favor the bullies” and that the district “doesn’t listen until it’s too late,” saying Fostoria is “getting worse” and that both students and some teachers bully kids.
One commenter says Fostoria “don’t do anything unless you’re an athlete,” while (Redacted)’s sister replies that in her view the district is now ignoring athletes as well, criticizing a recent hire in athletics and saying leadership does not understand the community or help students build their futures.
Another parent (Ron) says his own son is sometimes bullied and questions whether parents of bullies or the school are being held responsible, arguing he would rather talk directly to parents because “you can’t blame a school for your kid being” abusive.
(Redacted)s sister repeatedly says Fostoria does not hold students or teachers accountable, including naming a “personal finance teacher” who she claims picks on her brother.
Some commenters also put responsibility on families: (Redacted) explicitly questions why (Redacted) comes to school smelling of urine, and (Redacted)’s sister, in a separate reply, says some parents are not “checking” their kids and that attitudes at home carry into school.
The Fostoria Free Press comments that it is “seeking more information about bullying at FHS,” indicating at least one local outlet is aware of and looking into these allegations, but no findings or responses are presented in the thread itself.
If you plan to share or act on this information, it is important to treat these statements as allegations and personal accounts, not proven facts, and to seek official responses from the district, board of education, or law enforcement before drawing conclusions.
Tuesday night in Fostoria, what should’ve been just another Northern Buckeye Conference basketball game—Eastwood, Fostoria—turned into something uglier.
With the clock winding down, Eastwood’s player bounced the ball off a Fostoria #1 defender’s chest to stop the clock, which in slow motion appears to brush #1’s face but not hard enough to move his head, but enough to result in a bloody nose claimed by one FHS source. Legal tactic? Yes. Classy? Not if struck in the head on purpose.
Less than twenty seconds later, Fostoria’s (#1) spun and struck the Eastwood player across the side of the head with an open hand while he was not looking. This type of assault is what is considered a “cheap shot”, a less skilled person’s way of getting the advantage. The Eastwood player dropped to the floor. Refs ejected #1 on the spot. Now social media is on fire. and comments from parents and community members claim Eastwood called #1 the N-word right before the bounce-pass play.
Some grown adults including parent of #1 are openly defending the hit, saying the Fostoria player had to stand up for himself and shouldn’t take that kind of disrespect.
Here’s where the Fostoria Free Press draws the line—and we draw it hard.
There is never, ever a place for physical violence in sports. Not in retaliation, not in the heat of the moment, not because he said something. If a kid gets called the worst word in the language, the answer is still not a fist or an open-hand to the skull. That’s not standing tall; that’s stooping lower and making Fostoria High School look like trash.
When grown adults—parents who should be the example—publicly cheer that violence or excuse it with “I don’t blame him,” what exactly are we teaching the next generation? That words justify assault? That the scoreboard also keeps track of who hits harder when they’re mad?
Full stop. If that word was used, it’s disgusting and the player, the program, and everyone who lets it slide should face real consequences. But right now there is zero audio, zero clear lip-read, zero impartial witness confirming it happened. Accusations aren’t evidence. Until proof surfaces, we can’t treat rumor as fact—doing so only pours gasoline on an already bad fire.
Claiming racism when things don’t go your way is easy, now you must prove it with evidence, as any court would require in any assault cases. Had roles been flipped there would have been a mob with pitchforks waiting for the Eastwood player. Although, this contradictory mindset simply has no basis.
That’s on video. That’s undeniable. The Fostoria Free Press isn’t here to pick teams or fan flames. We’re here to call balls and strikes the way they actually land.
Physical attacks have no defense, and adults who give them one are failing every kid on both benches. Teach respect with actions, not excuses. Teach self-control when it’s hardest. Anything less turns high school gyms into places parents should fear instead of celebrate. That’s the only win any of us should be chasing tonight.
Not even the slightest. We see this type of gross generalization on all levels of politics, defend this person your a racist etc. etc. It’s annoying to hear the broken record.
#1 should be dropped from the team, and Fostoria High School Boys Basketball should move on. Does not matter what was said, assault is assault.
If the N-word was used then there needs to be a joint coaches & parents meeting between the schools. Get to the bottom of any systematic racism that some are alleging is occurring on a regular basis.
Beyond that, fabricating racism to justify a defense is just dumb and sets a horrible example for kids.
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FOSTORIA HIGH SCHOOL | A Facebook post circulating locally alleges a serious incident during a recent high school basketball game between Eastwood Eagles and Fostoria Redmen, where a parent said an Eastwood player threw a basketball at a Fostoria player’s face and used a racial slur. AFTER receiving the video, it appears that a Fostoria player threw a cheap shot at an Eastwood player’s face after allegedly being called a racial slur.
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The post, shared on the platform, describes the alleged actions and has sparked discussion in the community. As of now, no official statements from Eastwood High School, Fostoria High School, the Northern Buckeye Conference, or local authorities have been found regarding an investigation or confirmation of the claims.
High school sports emphasize fair play, respect, and sportsmanship. Incidents involving unsportsmanlike conduct or discriminatory language are taken seriously by schools and athletic associations, often leading to reviews and potential discipline.
The most recent reported game between the two teams was Eastwood’s 64-51 victory over Fostoria. If confirmed, such behavior would contradict the values of interscholastic athletics.
Community members are encouraged to refer to official school channels for any updates on this matter. Racism and violence have no place in sports or schools.
You don’t get to assault someone, degrade them, and then play victim. And honestly? I don’t blame him. Because I already I know Trey Johnson and I gonna stand ten toes behind ours PERIOD 
Continuing putting these children into toxic environments.
Fostoria Wrestling: “Our girls competed at the Clyde Invitational today. Senior Ariana Espinosa-Snowden earned third place at 170 pounds. Sophomore Ahmani Lee lost two hard fought matches in her first varsity experience. Next Sunday we are at Vermillion. Keep up the hard work ladies! 
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By The Fostoria Free Press Staff December 21, 2025
FOSTORIA, Ohio — A local parent has publicly voiced frustration over ongoing transportation delays affecting Fostoria City Schools‘ junior high athletic events, highlighting a broader issue of bus driver shortages that has persisted into the 2025-2026 school year.
In an email to school administrators, including Superintendent Jason Longbrake and Principal Jodi Gaietto, parent Grace Smith detailed how teams routinely arrive 30 minutes or more late to games due to bus issues. Smith, mother of 7th-grader Scarlett Smith, cited examples from volleyball and basketball seasons, including a recent junior high girls’ basketball game scheduled for 5 p.m. that started at 5:55 p.m.
“These repeated delays are disruptive not only to the athletes, coaching staff, officials, and opposing schools, but also to parents and families,” Smith wrote. She noted taking time off work to arrive on time, only to wait due to preventable issues, such as wrong addresses provided to drivers.
A follow-up message from “GS” (presumed Grace Smith) emphasized modeling punctuality, stating: “As a school that places such strong emphasis on punctuality, to the extent that students are being suspended for being late, it should be reasonable to expect that our leaders model the same behavior.”
The district responded, explaining the delays stem from a severe bus driver shortage. Athletic buses cannot depart until regular afternoon elementary routes are completed, and absences further complicate scheduling. “We have had job postings for new bus drivers up for the past two years and have not had many applicants,” the response noted. Transportation Director Nicole Lopez was suggested for further discussion.
This issue mirrors a statewide problem, with Ohio’s bus driver numbers dropping significantly in recent years, forcing districts to prioritize regular routes over extracurricular trips.
Parents like Smith have also suggested alternatives, such as improving job postings with clearer descriptions or negotiating more home games to reduce travel.
The Fostoria Free Press reached out to Fostoria City Schools for comment but had not received a response at press time. The district’s transportation page lists ongoing efforts to recruit drivers.
Community members interested in applying for bus driver positions can contact the transportation department at fostoriaschools.org.
This story underscores the challenges small districts face in balancing education, athletics, and staffing amid national shortages. Stay tuned for updates.
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