it's truly saddening to read about something of this nature going on anywhere in high school wrestling. it's even sadder, having wrestled in college for Al Baxter, to see it happening at the school he turned into a wrestling powerhouse. and to think these kids would believe what they did was in any way acceptable or even remotely normal is a sick commentary on the lives we now lead. 30 years ago, we'd have never even considered doing something of this nature to a teammate. the worst we ever did, that i can recall, was creamagesic in a jock, if someone wasn't showering enough, washing their gear appropriately or was just being a problem in practice. we would have never stood for someone attempting to do such a thing to anyone.
and Josey, i'm sorry, but, on this one, you're way off. we had 2 coaches in high school, and i don't ever recall a moment, in the locker room, where we didn't know for a fact one or the other was in the room, keeping tabs on what was going on with us. they were on top of things, not sitting in the office or watching tape, etc. when practice was done, we hit the showers and they monitored our actions in the locker room. and that was a time when teammates rarely stole from each other, so there really wasn't much to watch out for then. today, these kids think nothing of taking someone else's phone, mp3 player, wallet or car keys. why wouldn't the coaches be rotating through the room until everyone had left the building?
either way, i would hope the administration and the school board has conducted an honest and thorough investigation and will be removing all those responsible for these actions and, at least sanctioning any staff members who failed to oversee their charges during and after practices, as they are paid to do. that doesn't mean they would need to be fired, necessarily, but it certainly means firing isn't out of the question, if it's appropriate. shutting down the program should only happen if the entire staff was aware of and condoned or turned a blind eye to the actions of the former members of the team. and then, it would be done for lack of qualified educators able to take over the task of coaching the team for the rest of the season. after all, the kids who were attacked have suffered enough in this. they shouldn't lose their opportunity to compete and learn, just because they were victims of punks.
and i'd like to see the students responsible spend some time in some form of criminal detention, and do a lot of both community service and counseling, as it appears they need to learn the truth about the actions they undertook and the harm they likely have caused to their teammates. only unapologetic kids should be given the harshest penalties. they are young enough to learn and correct their paths, rather than be put away as bad apples who can't be reclaimed. but the most certainly need to face the very real possibility of adult sentences for an adult crime. they may not scare straight, but we can hope.
