I haven't liked wrestling since I found out it was fake, although that should have clued me in about the AmeriKan media way back when.
"Wrestling coach faces child pornography charges; Castricone led North Andover to title last year" by Stewart Bishop, Globe Correspondent / February 15, 2011
In a case that has stunned the athletic community, a celebrated North Andover High School wrestling coach was arrested yesterday on child pornography charges.
David Castricone, 60, who has coached the Knights for 36 years, is to be arraigned this morning in Lawrence District Court. He was charged with possession of child pornography following a search of his home, North Andover police said in a statement.
The team will attempt to defend its 2009-10 Division 2 state title tomorrow.
In a statement, Christopher Hottel, superintendent of North Andover’s public schools, said Castricone resigned from his position yesterday, citing health and personal reasons. Assistant Carl Cincotta will lead the team for the remainder of the season, Hottel said.
Police said Castricone came under scrutiny after they received a complaint from the administration of North Andover High School about inappropriate behavior by the coach.
Following a preliminary investigation, police executed a search warrant on Castricone’s house and recovered unspecified evidence, police said.
Hottel said school officials were aware of Castricone’s arrest, but declined to comment.
“As with any police investigation, the School Department is, and will be, cooperating with local law enforcement,’’ Hottel said. “Given that the investigation is in progress, it would be inappropriate for the School Department to comment on the allegations or the police investigation.’’
Brian Keenan, a former hockey coach at North Andover High, said he was shocked at the allegations.
“It’s an extremely sad situation,’’ Keenan said last night. “You never want to see that.’’
Castricone, the owner of Castricone Roofing and Siding in North Andover, is a well-known coach in New England. The Knights are third all-time in the nation in wrestling victories and first in New England.
Castricone was the Globe’s Division 2 wrestling coach of the year in 2010.
Castricone could not be reached for comment last night.
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"Coach seen in girls dressing area, DA says in porn case; Allegedly carried recording device" by Brian R. Ballou, Globe Staff / February 16, 2011
NORTH ANDOVER — David Castricone forged New England’s winningest wrestling program, but authorities say he also kept a stash of child pornography at home and repeatedly sneaked into the girls’ locker room at the high school carrying what appeared to be an electronic recording device.
After a female student reported an older male in the girls’ locker room and school officials reviewed surveillance footage, it was determined that Castricone was entering the locker room, Jennifer Kunsch, assistant Essex district attorney, said yesterday during his arraignment on a charge of possession of child pornography....
On Feb. 10, police interviewed the school’s athletic director, who said he had had a random conversation with Castricone Feb. 7 and that Castricone said he was planning a trip to Brazil to open up a factory making thong underwear.
Castricone, the owner of Castricone Roofing and Siding in North Andover, resigned from his $6,000-a-year coaching position Monday.
At the end of classes yesterday, students said the school’s atmosphere was strained, given the allegations against a beloved and respected member of the school staff....
According to the police report, Castricone said he was having a “tough time’’ because his wife had started going to Florida for the winter, and he was by himself. He said he “gets anxious’’ because his son had died and that he had been seeing a counselor. He also told authorities he went into the girls’ locker room to look for a scale used to weigh competitors in wrestling matches. There are two girls on his wrestling team....
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Related:
"High school wrestler refuses to take on a girl" by Associated Press / February 18, 2011
DES MOINES — An Iowa high school wrestler who was one of the favorites to win his weight class defaulted on his first-round state tournament match rather than face one of the first girls to ever qualify for the event.
Joel Northrup, a home-schooled sophomore who was 35-4 wrestling for Linn-Mar High School this season, said in a statement that he did not feel it would be right for him to wrestle Cedar Falls freshman Cassy Herkelman.
Herkelman, who was 20-13 entering the tournament, and Ottumwa sophomore Megan Black, who was 25-13, made history by being the first girls to qualify for the state tournament. Black was pinned quickly in her opening round match.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Cassy and Megan and their accomplishments,’’ Northrup wrote. “However, wrestling is a combat sport, and it can get violent at times. As a matter of conscience and my faith, I do not believe that it is appropriate for a boy to engage a girl in this manner. It is unfortunate that I have been placed in a situation not seen in most other high school sports in Iowa.’’
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Maybe the kid has a point.
