Takedown Report

Buena wrestler chooses to cut dreadlocks instead of forfeit match

TDR Editor Notes; Well, this is a wrestling story that has certainly brought much attention to the sport. No need to review the mistakes and negative coverage. It is admirable that the wrestler made the sacrifice and won one for the team yet it should not have come to this. Use the publicity to share with others the positive aspects of the sport and what it can do for students. Also the governing officials in the sport need to made corrections and changes to remedy this incident and to prevent it from happening again.
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A wrestling official who required an African-American grappler from Buena Regional High School to cut his dreadlocks or forfeit his bout in a match against Oakcrest was acting in accordance with the rules, according to multiple South Jersey referees.
A video of the incident published by SNJ Today went viral on social media Friday, igniting concerns that the white referee’s actions were racially motivated. Due to that intense interest, the association that oversees high school athletics in New Jersey has recommended that the referee not be assigned to officiate any other matches until the incident is investigated further. Rest of the story at https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/sports/high-school/wrestling/2018/12/21/wrestler-cut-hair-dreadlocks-buena-regional-high-school-alan-maloney-referee-nj/2387662002/?mc_cid=0eafe9e21b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Ward: Impromptu haircut not a good look for wrestling

Caryn Ward 12/21/2018
If you’re on Twitter you’ve probably seen it, the video, that as of Friday night had been viewed nearly six million times, of a black high school wrestler who had to cut off his dreadlocks in order to compete in a match. The rules call for anyone who has hair longer than a certain length to wear a hair net. In this case the referee, who is white, said the hair net wasn’t enough and a trainer or coach cut Andrew Johnson’s dreads moments before he took the mat. Johnson competed, won the match, was cheered by the crowd and supported by his teammates.
Story at http://intermatwrestle.com/articles/20998?mc_cid=0eafe9e21b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

December 29, 2018 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized