HERSHEY -- Corry sophomore 160-pounder Michael Pollard was disqualified from the PIAA Class AAA wrestling tournament on Thursday for what his coach called an inadvertent bite.

Pennsbury's Ed Shupe was leading 6-1 when the bite occurred with 1 minute, 51 seconds remaining in the third period. By rule, a flagrant misconduct was called, resulting in Pollard's automatic disqualification from the tournament.

Shupe was riding Pollard and threw a crossface and held his forearm across Pollard's nose and mouth, which was open. Corry coach Skip Laird said Pollard was unable to breathe and tried to "tap out," signaling to officials to stop the bout. When the referee allowed wrestling to continue, Pollard reached up with both hands and tried to pull Shupe's arm away, leaving bite marks on his arm.

Laird was attempting to appeal the ruling to PIAA tournament director Robert Lombardi but said he wasn't confident Pollard would be allowed to continue wrestling.

"They've already taken him out of the bracket," Laird said.

-- John Dudley