District Makes Decision on Ref Who Made Teen Cut Hair

The state is investigating the incident
By Luke Roney,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 27, 2018 3:31 PM CST
Ref Who Made Teen Cut Dreadlocks Is Out
Buena Regional High School wrestler Andrew Johnson gets his hair cut minutes before his match.   (Michael Frankel/SNJTODAY.COM viavAP)

“He’s done working with our district.” That’s what a New Jersey school superintendent had to say about Alan Maloney, the referee who demanded that a high school wrestler shear off his dreadlocks moments before a match, ABC reports. Buena Regional School District Superintendent David Cappuccio made the call Wednesday during an emergency school board meeting. During a match earlier this month Maloney gave Andrew Johnson, 16, two choices (and about 90 seconds to decide): cut your hair or forfeit the match. Maloney deemed Johnson’s hair not to be in its natural state as required. Johnson, a varsity wrestler, chose to cut his hair and went on to win the match. in a statement, the teen’s parents said, “Andrew was visibly shaken after he and his coaches made every effort to satisfy the referee short of having his hair cut.” During the meeting, an attorney for the family said that they would let investigations into the incident be completed before taking any action. Per WPVI, the state is investigating the matter and Maloney is, for the time being, suspended. (More high school sports stories.)

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