Wrestler Charged For Butting Ref Knocked Out By Colville 190-Pounder, Official Pursues Legal Action
Spokane referee Bob West plans to pursue assault charges against a Colville High School wrestler who knocked him unconscious with a head butt after losing a match Thursday night at Colville.
The incident came at the end of the 190-pound match between Colville senior Chad Hildebrandt and West Valley junior Josh Kelp.
West said it was an emotion-charged match that saw Hildebrandt penalized for intentionally head-butting Kelp in the first period and West Valley fans coming out of the stands and being ordered back in the second period.
After Kelp pinned Hildebrandt in the third period, West said Hildebrandt shoved Kelp.
“I got between them, said something like ‘That’s enough. That will cost you a team point.’ The Colville kid chests up against me, reared back and head-butted me full force. They tell me I was out cold for about 30 seconds.”
West said he pressed charges and Colville police confirmed a juvenile had been charged with fourth-degree assault, referred to Stevens County juvenile authorities and released to his parents.
“It was just unbelievable,” said West, a 20-year varsity wrestling official and softball umpire.
Colville athletic director Randy Russell suspended the Frontier League match with four bouts remaining because West was unable to continue. Colville led 24-20.
West Valley superintendent Dave Smith said Colville decided Friday to forfeit the match.
West stayed at Russell’s home overnight, nursing a headache and sore neck before returning to Spokane Friday morning.
“When the incident occurred, people were in shock,” said Russell.
Then things got unruly. “A Colville fan threatened a West Valley fan, they asked for police protection and we provided it,” he said. WV fans and wrestlers were escorted to their vehicles.
Regarding the charges, West said “they are not going away. I owe it to umpires, basketball officials … all officials. We’re too vulnerable.
“Officials take a lot of garbage for very little money. You do it for the love of the sport. You shouldn’t have to worry about something like this.”
West said the entire match was hotly contested, but both coaches, Colville’s Monty Jones and West Valley’s Bill Bauman, “handled themselves professionally” and the “people in Colville were amicable.”
Russell expressed his regret for the incident and said extra security was provided for Friday night’s basketball game with West Valley in Colville.
“We will do everything we need to as a school to take care of our problems with athletes and fans,” said Russell. “Obviously, it is unfortunate it happened. I think it is an isolated incident.”
Spokane wrestling official and middle school teacher Randy Santora, a state tournament veteran, said he’s “never, never heard of any official getting hit by an athlete. This is nuts.”
Santora said there has been at least one previous incident in Colville.
He said the Inland Empire Wrestling Officials Association filed a letter with Colville High “three or four years ago” after referee Mike Sullivan “had to walk to his car unescorted and was fearful for himself. It was a bad situation,” Santora said.
, DataTimes