MHSA proposes changes to rule that benched Flathead wrestler
<p><strong>Payton Hume</strong> sits next to his father, Walter Hume, during a hearing to see if he could wrestle at the state tournament. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Flathead wrestlers filled the district courtroom to find out if their teammate Payton Hume could wrestle at the state tournament. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p><strong>Payton Hume</strong>, center, talks with his teammates during a recess at his court hearing Tuesday to see if he could wrestle at the state tournament. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Flathead's Payton Hume uses a claw hold as he attempts to pin Glacier's Tyler Eierdam during the 145-bout at the crosstown dual at Flathead on Thursday. Hume pinned Eierdam in the third period to help the Braves win 62-6. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
HELENA — The Montana High School Association’s executive board proposed additions to a rule that denied a Flathead wrestler a shot at a state championship at its quarterly meeting earlier this week.
The board proposed more specific language regarding the so-called 50-percent rule, the one that top-ranked Flathead wrestler Payton Hume was found to have violated and caused his disqualification from this year’s state tournament.
Hume challenged the MHSA’s initial ruling in Flathead District Court in February but was denied an injunction by Judge David Ortley. Part of Hume’s legal defense was aimed at the lack of clear definition in the existing rule.
The 50 percent rule — Rule II. (9) of the MHSA wrestling handbook — currently states “for health and safety reasons, Montana’s weight-control program shall require each wrestler to have at least one-half of weigh-ins during the season at the minimum weight the wrestler will compete in during the divisional and state tournament series.”
The board is not proposing a change to any part of the existing language, only adding several points clarifying what may be counted as a valid weigh-in. Many of the MHSA’s proposed changes would have applied specifically to Hume’s case.
Schools must now submit their team schedules to the MHSA before the regular season begins, and may not add or reschedule events during the regular season that count toward the 50 percent rule unless there are “extenuating circumstances” and the changes are approved by the MHSA office. One of the reasons Hume was ruled ineligible was his appearance at an event in Arlee that was added to Flathead’s schedule after the regular season began. The MHSA did not count Hume’s appearance at the Arlee event — at 138 pounds — toward his season total, and that subtraction meant Hume did not meet the 50 percent requirement at that weight.
Language was also added to clarify that a weigh-in will only be counted if the wrestler both completes a successful weigh-in and competes at an event, another point of contention between Hume and the MHSA. Hume weighed in but did not wrestle in a match on Jan. 26 at Missoula Sentinel, another weigh-in that was invalidated by the MHSA.
Other action taken by the board included:
- Declared a survey would be conducted among member schools regarding the addition of a shot clock in basketball, something only eight other states currently have in place.
- Confirmed that the 35-point differential rule would be added to Class AA football games in the fourth quarter beginning this fall. The rule, which calls for the clock to run continuously if a team leads by at least 35 points, already existed in every other class.
- Elected Flathead Principal Peter Fusaro as the new Board President.