Reversal: Weight-class violation gives West wrestlers win over North
By Matt Jacobs
TIMES WEST VIRGINIAN STAFF WRITER
FAIRMONT -- Hold everything.
Just two days ago, North Marion's fourth-ranked
wrestling team appeared to have successfully secured Marion County bragging
rights for at least the next year, defeating arch rival West Fairmont, 37-30, in
front of an electrified home crowd.
Unfortunately for the Huskies, a West
Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission ruling indicates otherwise.
A
West Virginia state interscholastic rules interpreter confirmed last night what
Polar Bears' head coach Mark Delligatti knew all along. And, as a result of his
diligence, West Fairmont has been awarded the victory.
The ruling stems from
North's decision to drop Anthony Triviso down from 145 to 140 in Thursday's dual
meet. A two-pound weight allowance is in effect for all wrestlers after they've
made the base weight for the first time. Triviso, however, had not dropped down
all year, and therefore, the weight-allowance statute was not relevant.
In
other words, Triviso was required to weigh in at precisely 140. But, as
Delligatti noted at the actual weigh-in on Thursday, he tipped the scales at
141.3 pounds -- a clear-cut weight-class violation.
Somewhat familiar with the
rule, Delligatti asked Class 1 official Chris Diserio if West Virginia
interscholastic wrestling rules permitted such an allowance. Diserio was unsure
at the time, and the dual match was completed as scheduled.
However, later on
that evening, Diserio checked the ruling and called Delligatti immediately with
the news. As a result, Triviso's pin at 140 over West's Aron Majic was reversed,
subtracting six points from North's final score of 37. The Polar Bears, ranked
sixth in Class AAA, were then awarded the six points, making the final West 36,
North Marion 31.
"It's a shame that it had to come down to a rules violation to
decide a match of that magnitude." Delligatti explained. "It's not like I'm being
difficult or anything like that.
"Those are the rules. I would be letting the
school and my team down if I didn't do everything within my power to make things
right."
Because North Marion was involved in a triangular meet at Grafton
Friday night, head coach Roy Michael was unavailable for immediate comment.
"Coach Michael was very understanding of the whole situation," Delligatti
added. "His kids wrestled very well and I know they run a quality program. It was
just a mistake. Those things happen in any sport."
Under West Virginia state
interscholastic guidelines, all complaints or suspected rules violations must be
filed within 24 hours of the actual event. Delligatti was well within those time
constraints.
"It was something I brought up at the time and followed up on," he
explained. "It's nice to get the victory, but we'd rather have settled it on the
mat."
North Marion and West Fairmont will not meet again in a dual meet until
next season.
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Updated January 25, 1997