As a coach for Junction City, I feel compelled to comment on the Wilcox situation. I am a person who believes that tough, physical wrestling is the way the sport was meant to be. I am also a friend of Coach Ross from Derby (for many years in fact). The slam by Smith from Derby I do not believe was intentional on his part, but it was a slam. Medical personal at the tournament immediately came onto the mat and examined Jamel Wilcox. Coach Laster and I never intervened and spoke to our wrestler on the mat or the trainers. By rule after the 2:00 minute injury time had expired a decision had to be made. The medical personal made that decision and did not allow Wilcox to continue. It was an unfortunate situation for the Derby wrestler and I feel for him. I will say that Wilcox remained very shaken up. We monitored him , he was awakened every hour after the accident, and he was to have a re-evaluation after 24 hours. My point is, there was no intention to "lay down"...the decision not to continue was made by the people on sight who get paid to make those decisions. If in their judgement Wilcox could have continued, he certainly would have.
As far as the Manhattan wrestlers contention that Wilcox should have let a healthier Derby wrestler take his place...he is obviously commenting without knowledge of the rules. As that would be possible in college, in high school there is no provision for refusing the default and allowing the offending wrestler to move on.

John Steiger-Junction City High School