A SIDEWAYS GLANCE : GIRLS WRESTLE FOR A CHANCE.If Arlington High School Arlington High School can refer to one of several American high schools:
It could be the referees who drive her off the mat. The state's only high school wrestling officiating association disbanded a few weeks ago rather than be forced to referee matches that pit boys against girls. ``They can't make us do this,'' said John Rizzuti, former president of the Texas Wrestling Officials Association. ``Hell will freeze over before I officiate of·fi·ci·ate v. of·fi·ci·at·ed, of·fi·ci·at·ing, of·fi·ci·ates v.intr. 1. To perform the duties and functions of an office or a position of authority. 2. To serve as an officiant. girls being brutalized by guys.'' The association's move came after two female wrestlers and the American Civil Liberties Union American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), nonpartisan organization devoted to the preservation and extension of the basic rights set forth in the U.S. Constitution. threatened to sue it for not refereeing matches involving girls. The dissolution was intended to undercut the ACLU ACLU: see American Civil Liberties Union. suit. But two mothers of female wrestlers, Rai Barnett and Karen Herring, on Tuesday filed a discrimination lawsuit along with a motion for a temporary restraining order temporary restraining order: see injunction. and preliminary injunction A temporary order made by a court at the request of one party that prevents the other party from pursuing a particular course of conduct until the conclusion of a trial on the merits. A preliminary injunction is regarded as extraordinary relief. . The governing body of high school wrestling in the state, the Texas Interscholastic Wrestling Association, and the Texas Wrestling Officials Association are among the defendants. Lawyer Anthony Hume, who filed the lawsuit, said Wednesday he had no evidence the officials' association had disbanded, so it was included in the suit. The plaintiffs are seeking $10,000 in damages and a restraining order restraining order: see injunction. and injunction forcing the two organizations to allow girls to wrestle. The legal maneuvers mark the escalation of a controversy over a sport that now has 20 female participants statewide. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos Photo: (1) Texas high school wrestler Ashley King, right, walks off the mat after losing to Marcos Venegas. (2) The mother of Courtney Barnett, top, has filed a lawsuit in Texas. Referees have refused to work matches between girls and boys. Associated Press |
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