Plainview JFK DQ'd from qualifying tourney

Plainview JFK's wrestling team was disqualified from participating in the Section VIII Individual Qualifying Tournament Saturday because of a paperwork issue and the Hawks wrestlers will not be eligible to compete in the county or state tournaments.

Nassau wrestling coordinator Ed Ramirez said Plainview JFK did not file the necessary paperwork and the wrestlers were not allowed to compete in the tournament at Freeport.

"The tournament is over, so there is no chance of an appeal," Ramirez said.

Coaches are required to input all of their wrestlers' district report forms an official database that tracks high school wrestling records, Ramirez said.

Planview JFK did not present an updated printout of its wrestlers' records, Ramirez said. He said the school was given until Saturday to fix the error, but at the pre-tournament scratch meeting, Plainview JFK did not have the paperwork.

Plainview JFK coach Phil Lucchio said yesterday's episode took him by surprise. He said he did not attend Thursday's scratch meeting and that PJFK was represented by former coach Steve Arcuri.

Lucchio would not comment as to Arcuri's current role with the program.

"At [yesterday's] meeting, I was told that I received a phone call from the coordinator of the tournament or whoever was supposed to make that call, if in fact there was a problem and we needed to do something," Lucchio said. "My cellphone and work phone will be evidence to the effect that I did not receive a phone call."

Arcuri did not immediately return a phone message requesting comment.

"All coaches were aware of the expectations," Ramirez said. "I don't want to single out any particular school. All coaches across the state are aware of that requirement."

Ramirez said that Plainview JFK had enough time to rectify the problem.

The JFK wrestlers and their parents were shocked that a basic paperwork requirement could fall though the cracks.

"I understand these things can happen, but if it happens twice in one week, that is really tough for me to stomach," said Evan Haft, father of 120-pound team captain and three-time county tournament qualifier Andrew Haft. "You're talking to student-athletes who only know about the wrestling. For them to get a firsthand life lesson on the bureaucracy that happens in life, and in sports, is tough for someone who is 16 or 17 years old."