Members of both the Tyrone Area School District and Bellwood-Antis School District communities are upset after an incident of alleged racist harassment directed toward a Black Tyrone player during a volleyball match by members of the Bellwood-Antis student section.

In a video of the Sept. 22 girls varsity volleyball match posted to social media, as senior Raeleigh Oliver prepares to serve, monkey noises can be heard from inside the Bellwood gymnasium.

According to Jamie Oliver, Raeleigh’s father, his family was “appalled” by the incident in a statement posted to social media on Wednesday.

Oliver was able to meet with Bellwood-Antis Superintendent Edward DiSabato to discuss the incident, but said that DiSabato was “unprepared for the line of questioning delivered by my wife and I.”

According to Oliver, nothing was accomplished during the visit with DiSabato, but he was told that Bellwood administrators would continue to investigate the incident.

“The Superintendent NEVER contacted my family, my daughter to formally apologize to her for the actions of a few students (and) our school officials were not notified of the letter either,” Oliver said in a Facebook post. “Not only (was) my daughter’s mental health affected, the look in her younger siblings (was) also and that is not okay with (my) family.”

In a statement released on Sept. 26, Bellwood-Antis administration said that they were aware of the incident in which “inappropriate and insensitive comments/sounds were made toward an opposing player during a serve,” and emphasized that the district does not accept any behavior of that nature.

“Such remarks do not reflect the values of sportsmanship, respect and inclusivity that we strive to uphold within our community … and that every athlete deserves to feel safe and supported on and off the court,” according to the statement.

DiSabato said that while he cannot comment on specific disciplinary measures regarding individual students, the district has taken the event “very seriously” and taken multiple steps to investigate and discipline the student involved.

“Upon learning of the incident, our event staff acted to address the inappropriate behavior and remove students from the gym. The high school administration immediately launched a thorough investigation to determine the specifics of the offense and identify those responsible. This process included reviewing video footage, interviewing students and adults present in the student section, and maintaining open communication with both the Tyrone Area School District administration and the affected family,” DiSabato said in a separate statement.

According to DiSabato, the student who admitted to the infraction was disciplined in accordance with the district’s Code of Conduct, and while the Tyrone family accepted the student’s apology, accountability was still enforced.

Bellwood-Antis will increase the number of staff present at games going forward, with individual staff members assigned near the student section.

The district also held an assembly to educate students about “appropriate behavior in the student section and to remind and reinforce expectations for their role as spectators,” according to the statement.

On Facebook, local residents expressed their frustration with the incident under a video of the game posted by Oliver.

“I’m so sorry that happened. I hope they are held accountable,” one commenter wrote.

Another commenter called the event “completely unacceptable,” saying that their heart broke for Raeleigh.

“This is totally ridiculous. So sorry your family has to go through this,” said another.

Tyrone administrators did not respond to several requests for comment on the incident.

Mirror Staff Writer Conner Goetz is at 814-946-7535.