Wrestlers face criminal hazing charges

Friday, Feb. 6, 2009

The five wrestlers were charged with hazing Jan. 23, three days after the incident, which happened on a bus while the team was returning from a match at Great Mills High School. The victim of the hazing wasn't injured, according to Katie O'Malley-Simpson, spokeswoman for the county's public schools.

An investigation revealed three more Thomas Stone wrestlers might have been involved "at some level" in the hazing, according to O'Malley-Simpson. Criminal charges aren't pending against the three students, but they won't be wrestling for the Waldorf high school for the remainder of the season, she said.

"Hazing is not acceptable on any level. It has the potential to harm a student seriously. We don't tolerate it in any form," she said.

The maximum criminal penalties for hazing are six months in jail, a $500 fine or both, according to Diane Richardson, spokeswoman for the sheriff's office.

The wrestlers were charged as juveniles, and police aren't releasing their names, Richardson said.

The sanctions against the hazing left Stone with only five wrestlers for a Jan. 29 match against Maurice J. McDonough High School. Stone lost 53-18 to the McDonough team after forfeiting seven bouts.

Stone's wrestling head coach, Michael Larson, has been replaced by Jason Schmitt for the rest of the season, O'Malley-Simpson said. Additionally, the team lost Zach Lohr, a leading wrestler at the school who had the potential to become state champion, according to Schmitt.

"It was really unfortunate that a kid made a really bad decision and got involved in a situation like that. … He had been a positive leader for the team. The younger guys, the freshmen, did look up to him. Zach, I feel did bring out some very good qualities in this team but now we're looking to move on, unfortunately, without him," said Schmitt in an interview after the match against McDonough.

Staff writer Dallas Cogle contributed to this report.

brodgers@somdnews.com