High School Wrestler Gets Reversal of Fortune : Appeal: Southern Section overturns his suspension for allegedly hitting referee, allowing Burns to compete as a senior at Santa Monica.

Since Chris Burns started wrestling in the seventh grade, he has dreamed about winning a State title.

That dream nearly was taken away in May when the Southern Section Executive Committee suspended him from high school competition for 18 months after he allegedly hit a referee during a State qualifying match in February.

Burns, who will be a senior at Santa Monica High, claimed he never struck referee Les Congelliere after a 10-9 loss to Erik Jacobs of El Modena in the 171-pound weight class. The incident occurred during the Masters meet Feb. 23 at Fountain Valley High.

Congelliere testified that Burns forearmed him twice after the match while he was attempting to have the two wrestlers shake hands. Congelliere’s testimony was supported by assistant referee Ray Wallace, who also worked the match.

In the May hearing, the executive committee suspended Burns.

The punishment was in accordance with the new California Interscholastic Federation rule banning athletes from high school competition for physically assaulting an official.

At an appeals hearing Wednesday morning at the Southern Section office, Congelliere said he does not feel an 18-month suspension was fair.

“I don’t think he meant to hurt me,” Congelliere said, “but I believe he had lost control of his temper. I didn’t take an aggressive posture toward him, so I was surprised when he did toward me. I showed a great amount of restraint, and he didn’t.

“But this young man is a good wrestler, and I hope I have an opportunity to officiate a match of his again someday.”

Shortly after that statement, the five-member executive committee overturned its suspension and reinstated Burns.

“I think if there had been any doubt in our minds that Burns intended to hurt the referee, he would not be wrestling next year,” said Stan Thomas, Southern Section commissioner. “We are leery of such incidents and do not condone such activity. But I felt we made the right decision today. The referee showed a lot of character.”

Burns, 18, won the Southern Section 1-A Division title and qualified for the Masters meet. He won his first match at the Masters, setting up his showdown with Jacobs. The two have attended several wrestling camps together and are friends.

“It was a tough match for me because I know Erik so well,” Burns said. “The emotion was running high.”

Shortly after the match started, Burns scored a takedown. Jacobs The El Modena wrestler lay flat on his back for nearly a minute as the referee decided if he was capable of continuing. Trainers on the scene ruled Jacobs was physically able to wrestle, and the match continued.

Burns said he was upset over the incident and had trouble regaining his composure.

“It’s hard to watch a friend lie on the mat and look unconscious,” he said. “I thought they should have stopped the match.”

With time running out and Jacobs leading by a point, Burns thought he scored two points for a takedown. The referee ruled Burns did not have control of his opponent and did not award any points. The match then ended.

Santa Monica Coach Mark Black went to the scorer’s table to protest the call and Burns stomped off the mat. The call stood and the wrestlers were instructed to return to the mat to shake hands. On his way to the mat, Burns tore off his head gear, which hit Congelliere in the back.

Congelliere claimed Burns twice tried to forearm him in the chest as he positioned for the congratulatory handshake.

“I pulled my arm away from the referee, but I do not recall ever trying to hit him,” Burns said. “If there was any contact, it was incidental.”

Black backed up Burns’ testimony, adding he did not see any violent contact.

Congelliere disqualified Burns from the meet, the first time he has taken such action in 20 years of officiating.

“I have never been hit before, so it surprised me,” he said. “That kind of behavior is not acceptable.”

Burns was punished by school officials after the incident, serving several weeks of detention.

With his coach by his side Wednesday, Burns vowed to be back for a State championship season.