From the Register-Guard of Eugene, Oregon
January 5, 2005
UO wrestler almost loses ear in street attack
By Chris Hansen
The Register-Guard
Two members of the University of Oregon wrestling team were the victims of a brutal attack in a convenience store parking lot last weekend while the team was in Fresno, Calif., for a dual meet.
Junior Martin Mitchell and sophomore Cyle Hartzell were jumped from behind by a group of men just after midnight Sunday. One of the assailants knocked Mitchell to the ground with a blow to the back of the head, while others attempted to slice off Hartzell’s left ear.
Mitchell said the attack was over in a matter of seconds, ending when both wrestlers ran back to their hotel, which was located behind the store.
Hartzell’s ear was nearly cut off and clung to the side of his head only by the lobe. He immediately underwent successful surgery in Fresno to have the ear reattached.
“I don’t know if they used a straight blade or a box cutter or what, but it was a clean cut, “Oregon coach Chuck Kearney said. “It was just hanging there.”
Hartzell is 5-feet-9 and was the Ducks’ starter in the 157-pound weight class. Mitchell is 5-8 and competes in the 133-pound class. Despite a lump on his head, Mitchell wrestled Sunday against Fresno State and pinned his opponent in the first round.
Hartzell, who declined to be interviewed for this story, is out indefinitely, though Kearney is optimistic about his return this season.
“He’s a tough kid who grew up on a ranch in Redmond, “Kearney said. “The impression I have from him is that he’s in shock something like this could happen. At the same time, he’s trying to find out how to fix his head gear so he can wrestle.”
Mitchell said he and Hartzell left their hotel room in search of sodas and Popsicles. They walked across the parking lot to the Mobil station where they made their purchases.
“As we were leaving, there was a group of six to 10 people outside talking to themselves but making comments about us for us to hear, something to incite us to say something back, “Mitchell said. “We just turned our backs to them and started walking back to the hotel, and that’s when it happened.”
Reached Tuesday, Fresno police had no comment beyond referring a reporter to the report filed by officers who responded.
According to the police report, Hartzell felt something hit him on the side of the head. He turned and saw three males running away. He slowly stood up and, with Mitchell’s help, returned to the hotel where they called 911.
Once the police and ambulance arrived, Mitchell and a police officer went to notify Kearney.
“I thought for sure they were exaggerating how much (Hartzell’s ear) was cut, “Kearney said. “It’s unreal what happened. It’s scary.”
Kearney said his initial reaction was to question the wrestlers’ reasons for being out of their hotel room. But he conceded the team doesn’t have a hard-line curfew when it’s on the road.
“This will serve as a reminder to our kids about controlling the things you can control, “Kearney said. “We as coaches aren’t just worry warts. You can control where you are. But then, I didn’t think walking 30 yards to get a Popsicle is something you shouldn’t do.”
The hotel where the team was staying is only 1 1/2 miles from campus and on a busy street. It’s a hotel Kearney has been staying at since his days as a wrestler at Oklahoma State.
“It doesn’t appear to be a bad area. I’d take my family to stay there, “Kearney said. “Well not anymore, but I would have. We will also be staying at a different location when we go back.”
Because neither Hartzell nor Mitchell could give descriptions of their attackers, and there were no other witnesses, Kearney said the impression he got was that this crime won’t be solved soon.
“I don’t know what else there is to do, “Kearney said. “It could have been a lot worse. The carotid artery is not far from the ear lobe. Maybe if the angle of the knife is a little different, or Cyle’s reaction is a little different, it could have been a lot worse.”
Mitchell agreed. “We’ve really tried to put it behind us and move on, “he said.
“It’s not an issue that we need to dwell on. We’re just both glad it wasn’t worse than what happened. That’s what you have to leave with. “
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