Are referees cracking down by enforcing more frequently the flagrant misconduct rule, or is malicious intent on the rise in local high school wrestling?
Bill Hastings, a local wrestling commissioner, says there is not an abnormal amount of infractions being committed this season. Walter Reed, in his 24th year of officiating, disagrees.
It's a controversial topic, and one that some in local wrestling would like to avoid. But with the final two weeks of wrestling and the public school regional and state tournaments approaching, state tournament director Ron Belinko thinks it's one that craves comment.
Rule No. 7, section 4 and article 3 of the National Federation Rule Book states: "Flagrant misconduct can occur before, during or after a match. It is any act considered by the official to be severe enough to disqualify the participant for the match or any additional wrestling in the multiple school event. It includes, but is not limited to, intentionally biting, striking, butting, elbowing or kicking an opponent."
In the recent Anne Arundel County Tournament, one wrestler punched his opponent, was ejected from the tournament, and all of his points gained were erased. He also had to leave the premises.
And in last week's 3A-4A North Region state duals, another wrestler -- this time from Baltimore County -- was ejected for biting his opponent. The opposing team received an automatic six team points while two team points were deducted from the wrestler's squad. He also had to leave the premises.
In each case, no warning was required, and the infractions were dealt with in accordance with rule 8, section 1, article 6 of the federation rulebook.
The wrestler often is disciplined further by his local district, said Hastings. And in each of the above cases, the wrestler was not permitted to compete in the next event.
Since the next event for both wrestlers was the regional tournament, which is used as a qualifier for the state meet, their seasons were effectively over. The Baltimore County wrestler was a two-time county place-winner and a state qualifier last year.
Reed said he has employed the flagrant misconduct rule three times -- twice for head-butting and once for biting.
"That's the most I've done in a season. It's just occurring more," Reed said.
One wrestler, after being granted some leniency after "a possible butt," was disqualified for talking back to Reed. He had been penalized twice for successive technical violations and a third time for unsportsmanlike conduct.
"After the third time, I told the kid 'Once more and I'm going to disqualify you.' And the kid said, 'Well disqualify me then.' So I did it," Reed said.
"He was a kid who was ranked in the state and I think he thought he could get away with it. But it was intentional behavior, as in all my situations, involving blatant disrespect for myself and his opponent."
Belinko, also president of the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association, said, "Walt Reed's one of the fairest referees around. He often explains his calls to the wrestlers and coaches and he does it with integrity. You know if he penalizes a kid, or has to throw a kid out, then the kid deserves to go."
A technical violation, which includes slamming, illegal holds and stalling, is a lesser infraction for which a wrestler also can be disqualified.
Disqualification occurs after a wrestler either commits four technical violations or injures an opponent while committing an illegal hold or slam. If the injured wrestler cannot continue, he is awarded the victory by default regardless of whether or not he is winning.
Under this circumstance, disqualification does not require a wrestler's exclusion from the next match or tournament.
TOP 15
1. Mount St. Joseph (11-0)
2. Francis Scott Key (13-2) tie. Northeast (16-2)
4. Broadneck (16-2-1)
5. Old Mill (17-2)
6. Owings Mills (17-3)
7. North Carroll (10-4)
8. South Carroll (14-3)
9. Aberdeen (16-1)
10. Oakland Mills (15-4)
11. Arundel (10-3)
12. Dulaney (14-2)
13. Hereford (11-2)
14. Curley (9-3)
15. Loyola (8-3)
Other teams receiving consideration: Sparrows Point (11-3), Mervo (11-3), Pikesville (11-3), Chesapeake-AA (9-3), Fallston (9-4), North Harford (9-5), Gilman (7-4), Boys' Latin (6-2).