Rocklin students to rally to support classmate who alleges football player shared sex video

Students at Rocklin High School have scheduled a “Rally and Walk Out” in front of their Placer County campus Wednesday morning to support of those who have reported instances of being bullied on campus.

The walk-out comes a week after a Rocklin sophomore varsity softball player emotionally spoke to the Rocklin Unified School Board meeting in the public forum session. She said a football player at Rocklin used his cell phone to record a consensual sex act and posted it through social media and direct messages to scores of other students.

Ava Messina told the board the recording was not consensual, nor was having it distributed. She spoke at the board meeting in her softball uniform, having just completed a game, and voiced concerns as to why the school has not taken action against the football player or to curb the harassment.

Ava and her parents consented to the use of her name in last week’s Bee story and this one. The Bee does not typically use the names of minors involved in harassment. The football player is a minor.

Messina told the board that she has been victim-shamed by football players and other Rocklin students. She said the emotional toll has led her to failing three classes. She was a 4.0 student – perfect grades – in previous semesters at Rocklin.

Messina’s father, Jake Messina, said last week that he stopped by Rocklin High to take her home after Ava was heckled by male athletes after The Bee published the story of her board meeting statement. Jake Messina said his daughter may finish the academic year off campus and that she may transfer to another school if the bullying continues.

He said the family has not received an apology from the football player, though members of the Rocklin Thunder football team did apologize to the Messina family after toilet papering their home months ago and cleaning it up.

Ava Messina told the board: “I came here to speak about my experiences. In months, I went from being a well-respected, high-achieving student athlete to a student that is categorized as a school slut. I live in anger due to the lack of justice. I will not be silenced.”