Police reopen hazing investigation of powerhouse Valley high school wrestling program

PHOENIX – Police have reopened an investigation into alleged hazing within one of Arizona’s most successful high school wrestling programs, authorities announced Wednesday.

In response to new allegations, the Peoria Unified School placed Liberty High School boys wrestling coach Eric Brenton, who also teaches history, on paid administrative leave.

The Peoria Police Department issued a press release detailing several reports of alleged hazing at the school since early 2024.

The hazing reportedly was sexual in nature, according to an Arizona Republic article published online Wednesday (WARNING: Story contains graphic descriptions).

The latest police report was made earlier this year, about two months the powerhouse Liberty boys wrestling team finished as runner-up at the Division I state championship meet for the fifth consecutive year. In May, a former wrestler’s parent told police that her now-adult son may have been a victim, leading to the case being reopened.

Investigators have contacted individuals who were minors when previous incidents were reported and scheduled forensic interviews with them. Those interviews are scheduled to be completed in early September, police said.

When did police first learn about alleged hazing at Liberty High School?

The first report of possible hazing within the Liberty wrestling program came in February 2024. School resource officers and detectives investigated the report, which included videos, and closed the case due to lack of probable cause to pursue criminal charges, police said.

One parent who spoke to detectives in that investigation said his son did not want to be considered a victim, calling the alleged hazing “horseplay.” The man said he and his son were concerned that the video was recorded in private and might be distributed. Police followed up and found no evidence that the video had been shared.

Allegations resurfaced in May 2024, when the Peoria Unified School District contacted police with new information. Another investigation, which included interviews with parents and students, failed to substantiate sexual hazing claims, police said.

The school district also conducted an internal review at the time and wound up issuing what police called “an administrative action related to violations of athletic regulations.”

According to Wednesday’s story in the Arizona Republic, school officials told parents at the time their investigation was related to recruitment violations, not hazing. It led to Brenton, the head coach, being placed on a one-year paid administrative leave. He returned to his coaching position this year, according to the newspaper article.

However, the district put Brenton on leave again this week following the latest reports.

“Please know that administrative leave is for the protection of our employees to allow our team to conduct a thorough and fair investigation,” the district said in a letter to wrestlers and their parents on Wednesday.

Anybody with information about the current investigation, including additional victims, is asked to contact the Peoria Police Department.

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