By Rob Sherrill, W.I.N. High School Editor
You know this is a big story when the national media gets hold of it and treats it like the little yellow dog. And when it does, we all cringe … and rightly so.
On Jan. 31, the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) ordered wrestling across the state suspended for eight days so that an outbreak of the Herpes Gladiatorum virus could be controlled.
The MSHSL reported on its web site, mshsl.org, that the first signs of the outbreak were witnessed at The Clash National Duals over the holidays last month, and that 24 clinically-confirmed cases involving wrestlers in 10 programs at 189, 215 and HWT were on record.
As a result, no more competition or direct contact between team members was permitted until Tue., Feb. 6.
“To help control this outbreak and prevent further transmission during the up-coming state tournament and qualifying sectional tournaments, an immediate and mandatory shut down of all wrestling is recommended by the Minnesota Department of Health and ordered by the Minnesota State High School League,” the MSHSL announced on its web site. “There shall be no competition or direct contact from Tue., Jan. 30 through Tue., Feb. 6.
“All wrestlers at all weight classes on all teams must follow this shutdown. Conditioning and running may continue, but no competition or direct contact with other teammates is allowed. The coaching staff should perform skin checks each day and any suspicious lesion, especially in the HWT, 215- and 189-pound weight classes should be referred to their healthcare provider for appropriate care including culture for Herpes Simplex virus ... Competition and direct contact can begin again on Wed., Feb. 7.”
Even if you are a wrestling insider, you didn’t have to go to the web sites or the message boards to learn about it. Chances are you were inundated with this story when you opened your morning paper … especially in Minnesota.
Unfortunately, this is nothing new. Every year, several programs are hit with outbreaks of herpes or other contagious skin conditions that result in temporary shutdowns. Several programs in New Jersey were hit with such outbreaks in recent seasons. As anyone in charge of any program knows, daily mat mopping, hot showers with antibacterial soap after every practice and avoiding contact with an infected wrestler normally keeps such extended outbreaks at bay.
You’ll remember that the third option was followed by several coaches in the Chicago (Ill.) Catholic League at the CCL Championships Jan. 20 after two members of Chicago St. Rita High’s squad appeared to be infected with such skin lesions despite the presentation of the doctor’s note on their behalf stating the conditions were not contagious. Given these recent actions in Minnesota, it appears those coaches’ concerns were well founded.
Since canceled matches also might have prevented wrestlers from getting enough weigh-ins to qualify for the state tournament series, the MSHSL allowed all member schools one “free” weigh-in either Feb. 2 or Feb. 3. The weigh-in was required to be conducted by a member of the school’s administration and was recorded on each wrestler’s weigh-in record. No member of the school’s coaching staff was permitted to oversee the weigh-in.
I’m not an athlete, a coach or a doctor. But I know how the media works. They’re looking for a story. And if it’s bad, the rest of the world will find out about it. People will ask a boatload of questions … and people like me had to answer a boatload of questions around the water cooler when the story appeared in the next morning’s edition of the Nashville Tennessean.
I understand that it happens and that many in our community think it’s no big deal.
The public doesn’t. Nor are they obligated to believe that it’s not. Anything that smacks of a contagious health condition run amok — even if overblown — can result in consequences far bigger in the court of public opinion than we insiders would ever concede.
So shame on those who dare to try entering a wrestler in an event, even though they have a skin condition that means they should sit this one out. When you know it’s the bad news that will find its way into the media, why even risk it?

U.S. team selected for Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic
An outstanding U.S. team has been selected for the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic, which will take place Sun., March 25 at Fitzgerald Field House in Pittsburgh, Pa.
As you know, this is the annual Pennsylvania vs. the U.S. All-Star Classic, which has been dominated by U.S. teams in the recent past. Still, credit goes to the Classic Committee for loading it up year after year. Even the Pittsburgh-area WPIAL All-Stars will be taking on a very tough opponent in the preliminary match against a squad from neighboring Ohio.
Three Illinois wrestlers are on the team, the most from any state, including a pair of wrestlers, Albert White (152) of St. Rita and Mike Benefiel (171) of Lombard Montini High, who will be trying to win their fourth state titles this month. They are two of seven wrestlers on the 13-man U.S. squad, ranked No. 1 nationally by W.I.N. The other Illinois selection is two-time state champion John Starzyk (125) of New Lenox Providence High.
Zach Sanders (119) of Wabasha-Kellogg High, who is trying for his fifth Minnesota state title, is another of the No. 1 selections, along with Corey Jantzen (135) of Shoreham (N.Y.) S.-Wading River High, Luke Ashmore (145) of Dallas (Texas) Bishop Lynch High, Cody Gardner (215) of Christiansburg (Va.) High and Dom Bradley (HWT) of Blue Springs (Mo.) High.
Ashmore is one of two Bishop Lynch wrestlers competing, along with fellow Oklahoma State-recruit Luke Silver (140). Along with 189-pound selection Clayton Foster of Kamiah (Idaho) High, the Cowboys have three recruits on the squad, more than any other college team.
Of the 13 selections, 12 have already made college commitments. Only Starzyk remains uncommitted. Eric Olanowski (112) of Virginia Beach (Va.) Floyd E. Kellam High, Kellen Russell (130) of Blairstown (N.J.) Blair Academy and Michael Chaires (160) of Albany (N.Y.) Christian Brothers Academy round out the squad.

(Rob Sherrill is one of the top high school wrestling analysts in the country and a long-time columnist of W.I.N. He also publishes the “American High School Wrestling Yearbook”. To order a copy, e-mail him at centermatpress@hotmail.com.) n