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Board investigation finds Muncy wrestling broke rules

MUNCY — Muncy School District completed an investigation into the district’s wrestling program and discovered students were using hypohydration, according to Dr. Craig Skaluba, superintendent.

“It was an investigation into the wrestling program as a whole. Basically, the findings of that investigation were that there was issues with the student health, safety and welfare,” he said. “The main findings … were not complying with the (2017-18) PIAA Sports Medicine Guidelines for hypohydration related to the use of saunas and sauna suits.”

Hypohydration is a process defined by the PIAA as “the loss of body water or the process of dehydration, which leads to a state of negative balance … (Hypohydration) is brought about by withholding drinking fluids and carbohydrates, the promotion of extensive sweating and the use of emetics, diuretics or laxatives.”

The process has often been used for a wrestler to change weight classes, as excessive sweating can cause the body’s weight to lower. The 2017-18 PIAA Sports Medicine Guidelines determines the practice of depriving a student’s body of water to be unsafe.

“There’s no valid reasons for subjecting a student’s body to hypohydration,” Skaluba said.

The act of doing so is against the guidelines, but Skaluba said the investigation determined that the process was being done in the district, namely with students using saunas and sauna body suits.

“We were finding that they were not being prohibited at all times,” Skaluba said.

The second finding had to do with student information not keeping the administration informed about students.

“The Muncy School District’s wrestling program failed to report pertinent information related to student safety, health and welfare,” he said. “There was information that should have been reported to administration … Mainly, it was just not reported, period.”

The administration has to be informed about its students, especially in regards to student safety.

“It’s not reporting pertinent information, and in my mind, not fulfilling their duty to report information to administration,” he said.

He said the third finding of the investigation was the program also failed to comply with medical directives “thereby endangering students’ safety, health and welfare.” He said it involved doctor’s notes.

“If there’s a doctor’s note that’s turned in, not following what is on that note,” he said.

When a student is given a doctor’s note, the district is obligated to follow the medical orders or it puts the health of the student at risk.

“From the district’s perspective, it is not a hidden agenda. It is a very clear agenda, which comes down to what all school districts are about, which is student health, safety and welfare,” he said. “We have three main findings that go against making sure that … student health, safety and welfare are being taken care of.”

He said the athletic committee opened the head varsity wrestling position as a result of the findings of investigation.

“Certainly, we need to self report as a district to District 4 based off of our findings,” he said. “We as an administration need to report our findings to that (PIAA) committee.”

He said the district also needs to prevent it from happening in the future.

“We need to take corrective action to address any and all deficiencies,” he said.

The position for head varsity wrestling for the district is open, but Skaluba said Denny Harer, the 2017-18 head coach, may apply for the position for next season as long as the issues are addressed.

“The resolution would be to make sure that all of these deficiencies do not jeopardize student health, safety and welfare,” he said.

The investigation occurred after the wrestling season.

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