Two northwest Iowa wrestlers and their families have filed a lawsuit against the Hinton Community School District, coaches, and staff saying their actions led to an abusive sports program. Des Moines Attorney Alison Kanne is representing the wrestlers and their families, and says a pattern of abuse started even before serious allegations came to light, and nothing was done to stop it.
Police in Coralville launched an investigation after a video on social media showed a wrestler being held down and tasered during the state Duals Wrestling Tournament in Coralville. Kanne says the cases were transferred to Plymouth County, and charges were recently filed in juvenile court. Kanne says the Hinton Community School District and others didn’t stop violence and bullying that started even before the assault investigation.
She says things went on too long before someone stepped in.
Head wrestling coach Casey Crawford resigned, as did the athletic director and high school principal. But Kanne says Crawford shouldn’t be allowed to continue teaching. Lawyers for the Hinton School District say they plan to “zealously defend” the claims made in the lawsuits, but it’s against policy to comment on pending litigation.
