Some parents of high school wrestlers were upset after their students competed in a district tournament along with other wrestlers who recently battled skin infections, and now two of those wrestlers from another school have developed infections themselves.
The Keller Independent School District confirmed last week that five of its high school wrestlers got the infections at a tournament in January. Those five then competed again Feb. 4, and some parents from other schools questioned that decision.
“When I first found out about it I was very upset. I thought they should either change venue or postpone until they can find a better place to have the tournament,” said Byron Nelson High School parent Mark Faith. “Parents were just concerned. They don’t want their kids sick.”
Two wrestlers from Byron Nelson High School who competed Feb. 4 now have skin infections, just days before their next big tournament.
“If it gets any worse, or gets really bad or I end up getting staph or anything like that they won’t let me wrestle,” says 16-year-old Tucker Olson, who said he has never had a skin infection before.
After a trip to the doctor’s office, Tucker is now being treated for ringworm on his legs, arms and neck.
His younger brother also competed and has a similar skin infection on his arm.
Their father is convinced the Keller wrestlers were contagious.
“They shouldn’t have allowed those wrestlers to wrestle,” said father Todd Olson. “At any other tournament, those kids would not be able to wrestle. There’s no way.”
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Keller ISD officials said the five Keller students who had the infections started treatment immediately and were under a doctor’s care.
All five had medical releases outlining treatment, and their doctor and a tournament official cleared all five to wrestle. The district made sure that the mats and locker rooms were cleaned, and called the UIL to confirm the protocols they were using.
Doctors say skin infections are common among wrestlers.
NBC 5's Kevin Cokely contributed to this report.
