'U' task force seeks change in training program

Attempting to ensure a safer training regimen for Michigan wrestlers after the death of teammate Jefferey Reese, an internal Athletic Department task force has released a series of recommendations that intend to improve the sport.

"We established the task force to focus on how we can make the sport safer," said Athletic Director Tom Goss in a written statement released with the task force's seven suggestions. "With these recommendations, we have come up with steps we will implement immediately at Michigan."

Reese died Dec. 9, during a rigorous exercise session in which he was trying to cut weight to qualify for the 150-pound weight class. Reese had been wearing a rubber suit during the workout.

Reese's death isn't the only tragedy that has moved the nation's wrestling community and spurred national attention about the sport's potentially fatal training methods. Just one month before Reese's death, Jack Saylor, a wrestler at Campbell Univer

FILE PHOTO Chris Viola and the rest of the Michigan wrestling team have altered their training methods after a University task force released a series of recommendations.

sity in North Carolina, and Joseph LaRosa, who wrestled at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, also died while trying to shed pounds.

Officials at all three universities are now in the process of reshaping their wrestling programs.

Wrestling coach Dale Bahr said he hopes something positive will come from the pain surrounding Reese's death.

"I hate to have tragedy, but I think Jeff's death is going to open such opportunity for our sport," Bahr said. "I think these changes will likely make the sport safer for our kids, and I'm all for that."

The task force's recommendations detail safer methods of weight loss and weight management for Michigan wrestlers:

n Rubber suits will be prohibited.

n Sauna use will no longer be allowed the day of weigh-ins.

n All activity will be supervised on weigh-in days. A trainer will be present during the actual weigh-in.

n Weigh-in will occur between one to three hours before competition.

n Weight assessment and monitoring programs will be made and the weight of each wrestler will be recorded daily.

n A mandatory nutritional educational program must be set up for all wrestlers, athletic trainers, coaches and administration staffers.

n A self-report process will be established for athletes, coaches and other staffers to disclose perceived violations.

The task force also is encouraging the program to take a more comprehensive approach to wrestlers' health and is encouraging the team to work closely with trainers and coaches in attaining this goal.

Edwin Reese, Jefferey's father, said he commends University officials for taking a proactive step to make training for Michigan wrestlers less dangerous, but added that any changes need to extend outside Ann Arbor.

"I'm pleased with everything, except with what the NCAA is doing," Edwin Reese said. "They've done nothing."

Edwin Reese said the NCAA merely sent memorandums to individual coaches to remind them of suggested guidelines. Unless those guidelines are concrete, training will continue to be risky, Edwin Reese said.

"That's what baffles me. I don't know why anybody would be against making the sport safer," Edwin Reese said.

Campbell University officials have looked at the University's recommendations and are in the process of making similar changes. "I saw those recommendations, and for the most part they are congruent with what we're doing here on our campus," said Campbell Athletic Director Tom Collins. "We have undergone a similar process on our campus."

Collins said a task force has made several tentative recommendations, including the prohibition of rubber suits, tight-fitting nylon suits that wrestlers commonly wear to help them sweat off extreme amounts of water weight. In Reese's case, wearing the suit contributed to his dehydration.

Campbell University's recommendations are now being reviewed by members of their university community. The wrestling team received the recommendations Wednesday, Collins said.

Todd Clark, sports information director at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, said the university's chancellor is expected to organize a commission to review the school's wrestling program later this month.

"We have taken some steps to hopefully prevent something like this from happening again," Clark said.

But Clark said he was a little concerned about what the lasting effects will be outside of the schools directly affected.

Reese said he would like to contact Dan Gable, the former Iowa coach who is heading a national task force about wrestling safety, and work with Gable's group to initiate changes nationwide. The recommendations of the national task force are expected to be announced in the near future.

Michigan wrestler Ryan Ruddy echoed Edwin Reese's concern for spreading safety regulations throughout the NCAA.

"These changes need to be everywhere, not just at Michigan," Ruddy said. "We had a tragedy here, but that doesn't mean that there is not danger anywhere else."

Ruddy's parents, Mary and Richard, agreed that change should occur throughout collegiate wrestling. Richard Ruddy was his son's high school wrestling coach at Lake Fenton High School in Fenton, Mich. Mary said she and her husband are glad to see the changes at Michigan, but thinks the NCAA should implement new rules as well.

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