BOISE, Idaho — A video showing a parent and volunteer coach laying hands on a student wrestler during a wrestling match in Nampa has sparked concern, frustration, and anger online.
The wrestling match- Skyview Duals - took place on Saturday, Jan. 20, at Skyview High School between Rocky Mountain High School and Nyssa High School. During the event, the incident took place.
“It went from really a zero to 100 pretty quick,” Bobby Deleon, the head wrestling coach for Nyssa said.
The video that KTVB received shows wrestlers from both schools were on the mat when the volunteer coach and parent of the Rocky Mountain wrestler, Russell Brunson, shouted from the sideline and ran onto the mat. In the video, you can see Brunson put his hands on the Nyssa student wrestler.
“I’ve just never seen anybody actually make it to the wrestling mat, and physically put hands on a wrestler,” Deleon said. “There's really no excuse for that, regardless of whatever the situation was.”
KTVB spoke with Brunson via text message.
He sent us this statement:
"There is no excuse for my actions on January 20th. I should not have stepped onto the mat and tried to break up the wrestling match. I saw my child in a potentially dangerous position and reacted rashly. I have reached out to the family directly and sincerely apologize for my inappropriate reaction."
Ty Jones, the Executive Director of the Idaho High School Activities Association, said that in his 10 years with the association, he has never seen something like this happen in Idaho.
“Unfortunately, I’ve seen it in other states,” Jones said. “I was extremely disappointed when I heard what had happened… there's no place ever for a fan or a general spectator or coach or an official to ever put their hands on a high school kid.”
On Wednesday, Jan. 24, the Third District Board of Control President Craig Woods told KTVB the board, which helps oversee high school athletics, reviewed the video, as well as a letter from Brunson.
“We discussed the consequences, what would be a fair and just consequence for the situation,” Woods said. “The team walked through a lot of scenarios, and it was unanimous decision, there was a motion to suspend the coach indefinitely as a high school coach for Idaho high school associations and then also suspension from being a spectator from all athletic events, Idaho high school athletic events through the 2024-2025 school year.”
KTVB reached out to Brunson about that ban.
“The most heartbreaking thing is that they won't allow him to watch my own son's matches his senior year. I wish I wouldn't have reacted that I did, but these are the consequences of my reaction, and I have to live with that,” Brunson texted KTVB.
The West Ada School District also shared this statement:
“Coach Brunson acknowledges that his actions were not appropriate, and he deeply regrets the sequence of events that transpired. He recognizes that what occurred was not premeditated but rather a spontaneous reaction in the heat of the moment. As a coach and a parent, Coach Brunson was emotionally invested in the match, particularly because the young wrestler involved was his son.
During the match, Coach Brunson observed an illegal chokehold being applied to his son by the opposing wrestler. Concerned for his son's well-being, he reacted instinctively by shouting to alert the referee and attempting to demonstrate the situation. However, in the final moments, fear and adrenaline took over, leading Coach Brunson to make a decision that he now acknowledges was wrong.
Coach Brunson has expressed a sincere understanding that his actions were not acceptable. He emphasizes that what transpired was not premeditated but rather an unplanned response to a critical situation involving his son. "I know what I did was not ok. It was not something that was premeditated, it’s something that just happened. If I could go back and replay those 2 seconds of my life, I would, but unfortunately, it’s too late." Since the match, Coach Brunson has voluntarily resigned from his position as coach, further acknowledging the impact of his actions.
As a school district, we take these matters seriously and are conducting a thorough investigation into the incident. The safety and well-being of our students are our top priorities, and we remain dedicated to fostering an environment that promotes fair play, sportsmanship, and positive behavior.”
Coach Brunson is not a district employee, he has been an unpaid coach for RMHS Wrestling for the past 4 years, volunteering his time, according to a spokesperson from the school district.
The parents of the Nyssa wrestler also sent KTVB a statement.
“The events that transpired on the morning of the 20th at the Skyview wrestling duals were very unfortunate, to say the least. We allow our children to participate in sports to help build character and learn the value of hard work, the joy of victory and accomplishments, as well as the pain of loss and disappointment.
Sports are supposed to be a safe place to experience those things. I understand that athletic events can cause emotions within our athletes and within us as parents as well. Wrestling can be an uncomfortable sport for both the athlete and the parents. On this particular morning a coach/father saw their kid and athlete in a completely legal, non threatening, but uncomfortable move, saw the uncomfort in his child, and reacted in an unacceptable way and a 14 yr old was hit by an adult. A major line was crossed, and consequences have to follow.
That being said, we hope that everyone can be a little kinder, more patient, slower to anger and judgment, and give each other a little bit of grace as everyone makes mistakes.”
“Our kid did nothing wrong,” Deleon said. “He has nothing to be sorry about, Mr. Brunson’s son apologized to me, he has nothing to be sorry about, they wrestled. They did what they set out to do that morning, neither of them have anything to apologize for, that's part of our sport. and, you know, discomfort occurs.”
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