This is from TheMat college forum
Two Oregon wrestlers attacked
From the “BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN”
Posted: Thursday January 6th, 2005, 11:35 PM
Cal State Bakersfield wrestling coach T.J. Kerr says one of his fears as a coach is the safety of his athletes when on road trips.
That hit home last Sunday (Jan. 2). Hours before the University of Oregon traveled to Bakersfield to face the Roadrunners, two Oregon wrestlers were attacked by a group shortly after they entered a convenience store in Fresno.
The Ducks were in Fresno for a dual meet. Cyle Hartzell, Oregon’s 157-pound starter, nearly lost an ear that was nearly sliced off. Surgery later re-attached it. Martin Mitchell, a 133-pounder, was struck in the head from behind but was otherwise not injured.
Around noon Sunday, Mitchell pinned a Fresno State wrestler. In a match at CSUB that started at 6 p.m., Mitchell lost 15-11 to Matt Sanchez.
Fresno can be a dangerous place.
“These were two kids from a small town in Washington and a small town in Oregon, “Kerr said. “They probably were not thinking where they were.”
Kerr said the last time his squad stayed in a hotel near Los Angeles International Airport, he told them to avoid leaving the hotel because he was afraid of the type of area around the airport.
Next Tuesday, after returning from Monday’s matches against Embry-Riddle, Utah Valley State and Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz., the team will again be staying near LAX.
“It’ll be more pointed now, “Kerr said of his insistence that the wrestlers remain at the hotel. “I don’t want a Fresno situation.”
Kerr, in his 34th year as a collegiate coach, said he’s never had any of his wrestlers attacked such as what happened in Fresno.
“But I’m always thinking bad stuff, “Kerr said. “I really worry about my team.”
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