The athletic director at Lock Haven University has filed a 58-page civil lawsuit, alleging various university boosters and a Williamsport radio station have damaged her reputation and are trying to get her fired.
Sharon Taylor, the university's long-time head of athletics, filed the suit in Clinton County Court of Common Pleas, seeking more than $350,000 in compensatory damages, in addition to punitive damages and court fees, according to an article in Thursday's The Express newspaper.
Named as defendants in the suit are members of PLOW -- Preserve the Legacy of Wrestling -- including Austin Shanfelter, Ronald Bowes, Neil Turner, Dr. Thane Turner and Jerry Swope. Also named: ESPN Inc. and Todd Bartley, manager of its Williamsport, Pennsylvania-based radio affiliate, WLYC-AM.
A number of the defendants involved in PLOW have past ties to the LHU wrestling program.
In her suit, Taylor alleges the defendants had conspired to injure her reputation and standing in the community by publishing several reports that offered false allegations concerning her actions toward the athletic department, including brochures, and an October article in The Express.
In early September, WLYC reported that then-head wrestling coach Rocky Bonomo's contract would not be renewed. Two months later, Bonomo announced his retirement, effective immediately. In late November, former LHU wrestler Landis Wright filed a lawsuit in US District Court against Taylor, Bonomo, and university president Dr. Keith T. Miller.
Resources
The Express: Taylor files suit against PLOW
College Wrestling 101: Links to articles answering basic questions about wrestling, including rules, scoring, uniforms, more
Follow College Wrestling Examiner Mark Palmer on
Comments