Two wrestlers in iowa’s state tournament were allowed to violate a, rule
regarding weigh-in procedures, according to the Iowa High School Athletic
Association.
Alan Beste, wrestling coordinator for the association, declined to identify
the Class 2-A wrestlers or their schools, Thursday.
One of the wrestlers won a state championship, the other, finished sixth.
Beste said the champion will not lose his title.
“We, admit there was an error, “Beste said. “We’re making the necessary
apologies., We’re trying to help people understand and we’re putting procedures in
place to, make sure that it doesn’t happen again.”
Beste said the error occurred, Saturday when the two wrestlers were allowed
by weigh-in supervisors to leave, the weigh-in area after a first attempt to
make weight. Both wrestlers were over, weight by an unknown amount.
According to National Federation of State, High School Associations rules,
wrestlers are not allowed to leave the area and, return once the weigh-in
session begins. The exception would be a supervised, trip to the bathroom, followed
by an immediate attempt to weigh in, Beste said., The intent is to prohibit
the use of diuretics or inducements to quickly lose, weight.
“We have told the schools involved that there was an error, our, people
screwed up, but it’s no different than an error that’s made when an, official is on
the mat, in a game or whatever, “Beste said. “Once the decision, is made, we
live with the decision and we put procedures in place to make sure, that
doesn’t happen again.”
Referees worked as weigh-in supervisors, throughout the tournament. They have
the authority to disqualify a wrestler for, leaving the area once weigh-ins
begin. Beste said the supervisors allowed the, wrestlers to go to the bathroom
and attempt to lose their extra weight. Beste, said the absence of the head
coach and the athletes’ misunderstanding of weight, rules may have led to the
decision to give the kids the benefit of the doubt and, not enforce a penalty.
“The rationale from our weigh-in supervisors was, that their coach wasn’t
with them because the coach was at the (coaches), breakfast, “Beste said, “and
they were told they got a pound scale allowance, each day. They showed up on
Saturday morning thinking they got a pound on, Saturday. This year, the
(national) rule says you get a maximum of 2 pounds (for, consecutive-day
competitions).”
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