First I would like to agree with coach Skinner comments about Howard vs Balwin match-After watching the match myself and seeing video. It was a very tight match that could have went either way at the end,but lets point at the mistakes and some of the facts about the match.
-First the match was stopped when Howard looked up and told Ref. Little John that he was bleeding from the crossface, Balwin sprinted off the mat out of the circle to his coaches on the sides holding up his arm to his coaches saying he bit me.(Fact-a Wrestler is not suppose to leave the wrestling circle at anytime during the match.) ,but No action was taking against Balwin by the Ref. on Balwin leaving the mat area.
Balwins coaches directed him to go back on the mat to show Ref, Little John his arm, Little John looked at Balwins arm instead of making a judgement call he looked a little confused like he never saw the bite. Little John then walked over to Louis Rosbottom (time keeper Ref.)and started talking to him about the infraction.-Fact. Little John should have not done this, Rosbottom is there not to make any calls or judgement calls on any wrestlers, The second Ref. is only there to act as a time keeper its not his place to influnence the main Ref. on the mat what the call should be and since he was behind the action he couldn't make that call not seeing the infraction himself.
What I consider the 3rd. mistake I don't want to take away from Ref. Little John or any ref. there is times they all are going to make mistakes that we don't totally agree with, but you could tell Little John was not at 100% referring ability that day and you could tell he was limping alot around the mat and not moving to much staying to one side of the mat due to a knee injury he suffered earlier in the year. I think this is why I agree with Coach Skinner on the elbows that was thrown to Howard's face and to the ribs. I saw 5-elbows to the head (temple area and mouth area throw by Balwin when Howard went to riding his ankle, and several other elbows from Balwin to the body of Howard-Little John not being his normal self and not being mobile didn't move much during the match staying to the left side of the wrestlers. Little John didn't see the infaction that Balwin was doing front his right elbow into Howard about 8-times i counted in all. I even had a person sitting beside me and who said they don't know anything about wrestling,but is that Wrestler from JC suppose to be throwing elbows like that to the other kid's face?
After the DQ i saw T. Howards mouth coming off the mat. His mouth was full of blood and lips top and bottom bleeding. I love aggressive wrestling like anyone else Balwin had a nice cross face on T.Howard, but I have to agree with Coach Skinner if your putting on a hard crossface across someones face which should be with a open hand, and if it's across someones teeth your going to have teeth marks Ref.'s need to expect something like and watch for that to happen. The blood on Baldwin 's arm came from Howard's busted mouth from the hard crossface.
The honest thing is for JC coaches to go back and look at the film from all angles and see Baldwin's infractions (heck I don't see how they could have missed it either everyone saw it except for a referee who was in a bad location)and see their was mistakes made by their wrestler too and have Howard reinstated by the ISHAA to finish out his senior year.
I totally agree with Skinner, You see Howard on the floor encourging kids, showing them moves, shaking hands, cutting up with all teams. bowing his head to pray before every match. You would think this kid is running for President or something..ha! He is well known in the wrestling community and well liked by many coaches, kids,etc. I've never seen him wrestle anyone dirty his past history tells that. I don't believe he would cheat to win because the kid has lots of talent and is a leader in my book.
It's hard to believe a poor judgement call by the Ref. would end T.Howards career with one call that the ref. did not see actually happen...I thought the sport was all about the kids?
Goodluck to all the wrestlers at regionals!