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Pennsylvania coach charged after video shows him grab youth wrestler by neck

A Pennsylvania wrestling coach was arrested Saturday after picking up a 12-year-old wrestler by the neck and tossing him to the mat at a tournament in Pittsburgh.

The coach shown on the video is Eric Angle, brother of 1996 Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle who just last week announced his retirement from a 20-year pro wrestling career.


The alleged incident took place Saturday at the 2019 Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling Championships at Petersen Events Center, a 12,000-seat arena on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh. Campus police charged him with simple assault and escorted him off university property.

A university spokesperson confirmed Eric Angle's arrest but did not offer any details as to what may have happened at the tournament. Multiple news reports indicate the wrestler was coming off the mat towards his corner when Angle appears to grab him by the neck, pick him up off the ground and shove him down to the mat.

Angle has since offered an apology on his Facebook page.

He told WTAE-TV, the ABC affiliate in Pittsburgh which broadcast the video of the incident, â€"I should have just walked away and let him get thrown out. Instead, I'm the one who embarrassed myself even more.”

Pittsburgh Junior Wrestling is cooperating with a police investigation.

Eric Angle, 51, is a youth wrestling coach in the Pittsburgh area. He wrestled at Mt. Lebanon High School just like his younger brother Kurt, but continued his academic and athletic career at a different college in Pennsylvania -- Waynesburg University -- while Kurt was a student-athlete at Clarion University where he was a two-time NCAA Division I heavyweight champion in 1990 and 1992. Eric retired from pro wrestling in 2002.

Comments

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Paboy593 (2) about 6 years ago
This makes me sick. I am all about hardnosed pa wrestling..... But this not only crosses the line, it obliterated it.
jkwjr52 (2) about 6 years ago
This is not good for the growth of our sport! Don’t just arrest him, sent him to prison! Make an example of this thug! He shamed that wrestling family!
Monsieur Tarzan (1) about 6 years ago
To say this guy should not be working with kids is an understatement. Even in his comment afterward, you can tell he still thinks the child embarrassed him and can't let it go.
brock168argent (1) about 3 and a half years ago
Multiple news reports indicate the wrestler was coming off the mat towards his corner when Angle appears to grab him by the neck, pick him up off the ground and shove him down to the mat.

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jamesborn14 (1) about 2 and a half years ago
Nice video www.google.com
jamesborn14 (1) about 2 and a half years ago