Ineligible Wrestler Costs Colville Share Of Frontier League Title

Colville relinquished its share of the Frontier League wrestling title on Tuesday for using an ineligible athlete during a season-ending meet against Riverside.

Colville beat Riverside 41-31 last Thursday but used Dave Naff at 275 pounds. Naff had been disqualified from a Jan. 23 match for biting an East Valley wrestler, and was supposed to sit out the next competition.

Because of Colville’s oversight, league principals voted to deduct six points from its team total and add six to Riverside’s. The Rams, therefore, won 37-35, giving them a final 3-3 record in league.

Colville’s final league record dropped to 4-2, one behind EV. Colville, however, never lost on the mat. Its other loss was a forfeit to West Valley after wrestler Chad Hildebrandt head-butted referee Bob West into unconsciousness.

Although he hasn’t served his penalty, Naff will be allowed to compete at this weekend’s District 7-AA meet. Naff will forfeit his first match but will be allowed to come through the loser’s bracket, said Riverside principal Mark Goreman.

Goreman said Colville coach Monty Jones didn’t know Naff had to sit out the Riverside contest.

“And knowing (Jones) as I do, if he had known that, he would have done what he should do,” Goreman said.

If it chooses to fight Naff’s first-match forfeit at district, Colville can appeal the decision to District 7.

, DataTimes