I told myself that I was going to limit my comments to a single post on this topic…but I need to clarify a couple points. I am not going to put much blame on any “one” person in this situation.

Obviously if Spenser would have chosen a different way to finish the match we would not be discussing this situation. So obviously he bears the most responsibility here.

The officials did try to get it right on Saturday…but my gut tells me that the mat official wishes his original call would have been unsportsmanlike conduct instead of flagrant misconduct which was called. J. Sauder my only point for pointing out the official’s call-reversal-rereversal in this situation is to point out that I believe that he had doubt about his call from the jump. Flagrant Misconduct is kind of like pornography in the since that it is hard to draw a line of what is and what isn’t in the “gray area” …but when it is “black and white” there is no doubt. An official should always cautiously hand out this severe a penalty and before the call is made in a match where a second official is utilized it would be good judgment to consult with your second official prior to making the call…especially if the issue is NOT “black and white”.

The Shawnee Heights coaches were only being advocates for their wrestler the best they saw fit. I am not going to fault them for their actions on the mat. However, I was told after the match that they would not fight an appeal in this case. I am not sure if that is still their position or not…but on Saturday that is what I was told directly by their head coach.

The reason for this response to this…in this situation if you are going to make the call it better be “black and white” and if it was “black and white” then the official would have never reversed his call.

Bigdaddy I never said there was not a head-butt. I am not going to pretend that I know for sure what Wilson’s intent was…but I gave at least on plausible alternative in my original post that it could have been anything but malicious. Bad things happen in matches all the time that are handled with lesser punishment by penalizing the infracting wrestler for the wrong doing in the match. But to call this Flagrant is where the miscarriage occurred and I feel that it should be corrected this week by KSHSAA.

I know that there are some things that happen in matches in which a wrestler should be “taught a lesson” and “an example” of him should be made to others who bear witness. I have sat on disciplinary committees to hear such appeals. I know how I always make my decision. First, I determine if there was any harm done to the opponent. Second, I try to determine if there was a “clear” intent of the offending wrestler in committing the act. The answer to both of these questions in this case is “NO”. So, in my opinion this was not Flagrant Misconduct and it should be overturned.

Thank you...I think I have now clearly stated my position, so I will not debate this topic further in a public forum. If any of you wish to contact me directly via email we can carry this conversation on in an alternate more private manner.

Good Luck to all next week!
mark.stanley.ks@gmail.com
Mark Stanley