Takedown Report

CNY wrestler protests as ref disqualifies him in state championship for biting opponent

TDR Editor’s Notes; This is a sad way to lose a state title. Even sadder way to be awarded one.
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By Nolan Weidner | nweidner@syracuse.com
Syracuse, N.Y. — In his quest to become a two-time state wrestling champion, Phoenix senior Ross McFarland overcame a lot of hardship. A severe ankle injury forced him to forfeit the 182-pound Division II sectional championship match Feb. 9 — his first loss this season after 40 straight victories. McFarland earned an at-large bid to last weekend’s state championships in Albany. He won three straight matches to make Saturday’s final, despite getting a broken nose and possible concussion.

What finally beat McFarland in the finals was this: A referee disqualified him for biting his opponent. That decision sent McFarland home without a medal for the first time in four trips to the state championships. The ruling upset his coach, Gene Mills, and brought a chorus of boos raining down from the stands at the Times Union Center. “It’s a crime,” Mills said this morning. “It was just 100-percent wrong.” Rest of the story at https://www.syracuse.com/highschoolsports/2019/02/cny-wrestler-protests-as-ref-disqualifies-him-in-state-championship-for-biting-opponent-video.html?mc_cid=b1d73d27be&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

February 27, 2019 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized