Special Report, Pt. 2: Past cheerleaders share their stories of Madras coach’s alleged physical, emotional abuse
Teen may need hip replacement: 'I can't cheer any more, and I can't do the things I love.'
MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ)-- Fifteen-year-old Maria Koertje found her passion at the age of 11 when she joined Madras Pep and Cheer, coach Ashley Manteiga's first team.
"Cheer is such a big part of my life, and it's hard that I'm having to be scared of - terrified of the things I love because of her," Koertje said Thursday.
Multiple allegations of emotional and physical abuse have been reported to NewsChannel 21 against Manteiga, dating back to 2019.
"She started using me as an example, and that's when the physical and verbal abuse started," Koertje said, "because she was like, 'If I could do this to my top girl, I could do this to any of you.'"
Koertje told NewsChannel 21 that for nearly two years, Manteiga physically abused her during practice and competitions, including pushing her, throwing her to the ground and slapping her in the face.
She quit the team in 2020, but not before experiencing a career-ending injury.
"I was in my splits. I went to go all the way down. I told her it hurt," Koertje said. "She said, 'Well, I know you can go farther' - and proceeded to push me down. My hip popped out of place."
She said she spent years in physical therapy.
Koertje is now part of Madras High School's cheer team ,but recently learned that might soon end.
"I'm more than likely going to have to have a hip replacement, which sucks because I'm only 15 years old, and that's something that people are looking at way later in life," she said. "And if I get that, my love for cheer is done. I can't cheer any more, and I can't do the things I love. "
Koertje's teammate, Lily Chapman, witnessed the injury and claims she, too, was emotionally abused and harassed by Manteiga.
"She decided to put like a little shelf for food, just like snacks and everything. Girls over 180-190 (pounds) would have to pay more to eat than the other girls," Chapman said. "She told me, 'I'm not going to have fat cheerleaders on my squad,' and everything like that. "
Despite fears of retaliation, the girls say they hope their stories will help other victims come forward.
"I used to be so scared of her, but now I want people to know what's been going on," Chapman said.
Koertje agrees: "Just because you were manipulated and told that it wasn't wrong, that it was right - it's not right, and you've got to stay strong and let your story out."
We spoke earlier to Manteiga, who denied the girls' and parents' claims. We reached out to the coach again for an in-person interview on the latest allegations, but she declined our request.
