Fight Ruins Kids' Pee Wee Match

February 28, 2006 -- Angry parents are blamed for ruining a pee wee wrestling match over the weekend in Delaware. The target of their anger was a referee.

For referee Darren Archangelo, it was a blow to the face and a blow to pee wee wrestling. There was a match between 9 year olds at a state championship on Sunday. When the dominant wrestler lost in the last ten seconds, Archangelo says the boy's enraged mother flew out of the stands and grabbed the whistle around his neck. And Archangelo says that's when another fan snapped after the match up.

Twenty-five-year-old James Lecates was arrested and charged with abuse of a sports official for allegedly punching the referee, while 400 other pee wee wrestlers and their families looked on.

Coach Clif Bakhsh got in the middle of the free for all, in an effort to bring things under control. He says a handful of irresponsible adults clearly acted like unruly children, and ruined what amounts to a Super Bowl championship among 9 year olds.

Despite what happened, Archangelo says he'll continue to referee pee wee wrestling matches. He hopes parents learn what he tries to teach the kids, that a real champion knows how to win and lose.

(Copyright 2006 by Action News. All Rights Reserved.)

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