Verkleeren hearing continued
The hearing to determine whether Belle Vernon’s Jarod Verkleeren can earn a spot in the Section 2-AAA Wrestling Tournament at Ringgold was continued until today.
The hearing was delayed by Westmoreland County Senior Judge Al Bell to allow other wrestlers impacted by the situation to attend the procedure and have a lawyer with them.
Verkleeren claims he was not permitted to qualify for the tournament because the Belle Vernon coaches would not allow him to eliminate against other wrestlers at higher weight classes.
Verkleeren, a Cadet World champion, wrestled up a weight class in the PIAA tournament and his final weigh-in was too high for him to get down to qualify to wrestle at 145 pounds. The PIAA instituted a weight-management system for all wrestlers a few years ago to curb the practice of massive weight loss to qualify at a lower class. Wrestlers are permitted only to lose a percentage of their weight each week. When Verkleeren weighed in for Saturday’s final day of competition at the PIAA Team Tournament, his weight-management plan would not allow him to get to 149.1 pounds required to be eligible for 145. The PIAA permits weight gain during the season to adjust for growth, which is why 149 still qualifies for the 145-pound weight class.
Verkleeren does qualify to wrestle at 152 or 160, but Verkleeren’s brother, Derek, is at 152 and Mitch Hartman is at 160.
For Jarod Verkleeren to wrestle at one of those weights, Belle Vernon head coach Mike Doppelheuer would have to hold eliminations.
The hearing was delayed by Westmoreland County Senior Judge Al Bell to allow other wrestlers impacted by the situation to attend the procedure and have a lawyer with them.
Verkleeren claims he was not permitted to qualify for the tournament because the Belle Vernon coaches would not allow him to eliminate against other wrestlers at higher weight classes.
Verkleeren, a Cadet World champion, wrestled up a weight class in the PIAA tournament and his final weigh-in was too high for him to get down to qualify to wrestle at 145 pounds. The PIAA instituted a weight-management system for all wrestlers a few years ago to curb the practice of massive weight loss to qualify at a lower class. Wrestlers are permitted only to lose a percentage of their weight each week. When Verkleeren weighed in for Saturday’s final day of competition at the PIAA Team Tournament, his weight-management plan would not allow him to get to 149.1 pounds required to be eligible for 145. The PIAA permits weight gain during the season to adjust for growth, which is why 149 still qualifies for the 145-pound weight class.
Verkleeren does qualify to wrestle at 152 or 160, but Verkleeren’s brother, Derek, is at 152 and Mitch Hartman is at 160.
For Jarod Verkleeren to wrestle at one of those weights, Belle Vernon head coach Mike Doppelheuer would have to hold eliminations.
posted by Joe Tuscano at
11:49 PM
3 Comments:
This story is unbelievable. I feel very bad for this young man and put the full responsibility of this happening on Doppleheuer. The head coach is responsible for knowing each of his wrestlers descent plan and knowing that moving him up a weight class for a dual meet could effect that wrestlers plan over the following weeks.
No way is this the coaches fault moving Verkleeren up a weight class that does nothing.That was a coaches decision for the team aspect but the wrestler still has to maintain his weight knowing he is at 145. So that being said it was Verkleerens bad judgement to eat whatever he wanted,to put him over the weight allowed to be lost in the upcoming weeks. (sorry kid but rules are rules for the safety of these young men)
appears to be coaches fault. Hold eliminations and let the chips fall
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