N.C. parent charged after attacking athlete at wrestling tournament

January 20, 2020 / Athletic AdministrationWrestling
A North Carolina man is facing charges after running on to the mat during a high school wrestling tournament and attacking his son’s opponent.

The incident happened Saturday in Kannapolis, North Carolina. During one of the matches, Barry Jones rushed down from the bleachers and shoved a Southeast Guilford High School wrestler to the ground. According to a report from WSOC-TV, the Southeast Guilford wrestler was facing off against Jones’ son. It’s unclear what prompted Jones to rush the mat.

Here’s video of the incident:

Video of the aftermath, which you can see here, shows dozens of people on the mat, some of whom are restrained from retaliating against Jones. Jones is tackled to the mat and held down.

The wrestler was not hurt in the incident, and Jones was charged with disorderly conduct and simple assault. He was held on a $1,000 bond.

Wrestling can be a tricky sport from a security standpoint, as spectators are right on top of the action. Youth wrestling tournaments can pose bigger risks, as parents sometimes stand along the mat. Last year, in Wisconsin, parents began fighting on the mat during a grade school wrestling tournament.

Read more from WSOC-TV.


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