Alleged hazing incident in Greater Latrobe Junior High wrestling program under investigation

Greater Latrobe School District and state police are investigating an alleged hazing incident involving the junior high wrestling team.

Superintendent Georgia Teppert said Tuesday she couldn’t comment on specifics of the investigation because of student privacy and personnel issues. The district is “taking all appropriate actions necessary,” has met with individual parents and will send a letter to parents, she said in a statement.

The team has completed section wrestling matches, but two exhibition tournaments and an exhibition match were canceled as a result of the investigation, Teppert said.

State police were contacted by the district Thursday, said Trooper Steve Limani, the public information officer.

The incident is being investigated as an assault, Limani said. He said police will look at video footage provided by the district and conduct interviews as they work to “make a determination on what happened and if the things happening were a crime.”

Anyone with information about the incident should contact the district’s school resource officer or state police at 724-832-3288.

Gov. Tom Wolf in May 2016 signed a bill expanding Pennsylvania’s anti-hazing law to apply not only to college students but also to those in seventh through 12th grades. The law required public and private secondary schools to adopt anti-hazing policies, post them online and to provide athletic coaches with a copy.

Misdemeanor criminal charges can be filed, with punishments including possible jail time, fines, probation, suspension and expulsion.

“Children need to feel safe during the school day, as well as after school, in order to achieve the highest educational success,” Wolf said at the time. “This bill will allow schools to take necessary steps to help ensure that.”