FITCH WRESTLING Precautions govern decision

The impetigo bacteria is keeping the Falcons out of another meet.
By MARK MILLER
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
AUSTINTOWN -- Seven Fitch High wrestlers are being treated with antibiotics after contracting impetigo.
Because the skin infection is highly contagious, coach Brett Powell and the Falcons have dropped out of a wrestling event for the second straight week.
Fitch competed in a scrimmage Dec. 3 at East Liverpool.
A few days later, members of the Fitch team were found with blisters.
Powell took his squad of 43 athletes to Dr. Ken Lloyd in Boardman. Lloyd diagnosed seven with impetigo, a skin infection caused by bacteria.
Impetigo can be spread by skin-to-skin contact.
The seven were given antibiotics, and Fitch decided not to participate in a meet Dec. 15.
The Falcons continue to practice by running and lifting weights.
Room groomed: About 65-75 kids participate in youth wrestling each night at Fitch, and none have been diagnosed with impetigo.
The wrestling room is cleaned twice each day, Powell said.
The floors are scrubbed and mats are sanitized and an air purifier also is running in the room all the time.
Powell noted that one wrestler at East Liverpool and 23 at Minerva were also diagnosed with the bacteria.
He also mentioned that he felt it would be wrong for other coaches to let kids with the infection to wrestle.
Powell said he was upset by the characterization of the sickness at Fitch as an outbreak.
Powell got several calls from parents about the bacteria.
Asked why he pulled out of the Dec. 15 meet, Powell said, "We didn't want to take the chance of getting anyone else infected. We did everything by the book. We've done everything we can do and we favor the safety of our kids and other kids.
"That's one thing we're out here as coaches to do -- protect these kids."