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. More on that later.
Yesterday, the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) ordered wrestling across the state suspended for eight days so that an outbreak of the herpes gladatorium 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 in late December and that 24 clinically-confirmed cases involving wrestlers in 10 programs at 189, 215 and 285 pounds were on record.
As a result, there will be no more competition or direct contact between team members until Tuesday, 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 Tuesday, Jan. 30 through Tuesday, 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 285-, 215- and 189-pound weight classes should be referred to their healthcare provider for appropriate care including culture for Herpes Simplex virus. There shall be no competition or direct contact from Tuesday, Jan. 30 through Tuesday, Feb. 6. Competition and direct contact can begin again on Wednesday, Feb. 7.”
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’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 will prevent wrestlers from getting enough weigh-ins qualify for the state tournament series, the MSHSL is allowing all member schools one “free” weigh-in. It must be conducted either tomorrow or Saturday by a member of the school’s administration and will be recorded on each wrestler’s weigh-in record. No member of the school’s coaching staff may oversee the weigh-in.
Not surprisingly, this story became national news. It appeared in several national newspapers and even got a snickering segment Tuesday night by ESPN Radio host Doug Gottlieb on his nightly talk show, “The Pulse,” which airs from 7-10 p.m. Eastern time.
Or, at least, that’s how Gottlieb, who played basketball at Oklahoma State (guess he’s just jealous), set up his treatment of the story. I had to get out of the car to go to a meeting and wasn’t able to hear it, but I’m guessing it wasn’t positive.
Maybe some of you heard it. Maybe you even let ESPN know how you felt about its treatment of the story. It’s typical of how the national media treats a story about wrestling or high school sports in general. That treatment is almost always negative.
It’s also a reflection on us … of 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?
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 this morning’s edition of the Nashville Tennessean. I understand that it happens and that many in our community think it’s no big deal.
They don’t.
We all might want to remember that as state tournaments nationwide approach.
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