SHARON, FARRELL Brawl leads to ban

The decision disappointed the superintendent of the Farrell Area School District.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- There won't be any football or boys basketball contests between Sharon and Farrell next school year.
The brawl between fans and police that ended the Feb. 2 boys basketball game has prompted Sharon officials to shy away from any immediate rematches.
Sharon Superintendent Richard Rossi said at a school board work session Wednesday the Farrell game dates have been rescheduled with other teams.
That includes this fall's opening football game. Rossi said it was an administrative decision based on a meeting between Sharon and Farrell school and city officials shortly after the Feb. 2 game.
A decision had to be made quickly if other teams were to be lined up for those game dates, he said
Not included: The ban doesn't include swimming or girls basketball at this point.
Lora Adams-King, board president, said there has been no recommendation about how long the ban should last.
"I'm very disappointed," said Richard Rubano, Farrell's superintendent. It was Sharon's choice to halt the games, not Farrell's, he said.
Rubano, who worked in the Sharon schools for 26 years before taking the Farrell post in 1997, is a Farrell native.
"I felt we had an excellent rivalry," he said. "I think it's good for both communities. It's unfortunate we let one incident jeopardize it."
Police said between 70 and 100 people were involved in fighting in and outside the Sharon gym and more than a dozen were treated for minor injuries.
One arrest: One person, Jesse J. Wilson, 20, of Sharon, a former Farrell football standout, has been arrested so far.
He faces charges of assaulting two police officers and numerous other counts.
Mercer County District Attorney James Epstein said his office is reviewing a police investigation of the fight and will decide if more adults and some juveniles will also face charges.