A 17-year-old high school wrestler in Clovis, Calif., is charged with sexual battery for executing what experts say is a legal and common maneuver — “the butt drag” — in which you grab the opponent’s butt cheek and insert fingers into the anus to get leverage. The “butt drag” is also known as “checking the oil,” and you can watch some examples in the video below.
As a one-time wrestler in middle school, I can tell you that I never heard of this move, but who knows, maybe it’s something they don’t teach until high school.
Anyhow, 17-year-old Preston Hill’s parents are outraged that their son, a star wrestler who’d been named captain of his team, was expelled from school and charged with a sex crime for executing a move they say his coaches taught him. However, the parents of the unidentified 14-year-old alleged victim claim Preston’s use of the “butt drag” was a form of bullying in retaliation for an earlier encounter.
From the Fresno Bee, which has an extensive story about the controversy (with a hat tip to OutSports):
The boy’s father, Ross Rice, said Preston is a bully who targeted his 14-year-old son because he stood up to Preston in an earlier encounter. Now, Preston’s friends are teasing the boy at school, Rice said. The Bee is not naming Rice’s son because of the allegation that he is the victim of a sex crime.
“Preston took it beyond a simple wrestling move,” Rice said. “He crossed the line.”
The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office has charged Preston with sexual battery. His trial begins Thursday in Fresno County Superior Court.
The case has some scratching their heads.
Former Fresno State coach Dennis DeLiddo said the butt drag is a common move used by wrestlers all the time. “I’ve never heard this move used as being ugly or dirty,” he said.
Sounds to me like that kid didn’t like being pushed around so he cried to mommy and daddy. Now that 17 year old is facing criminal charges for no good reason. This move is taught by the coaches and now its illegal? Give me a break. I just hope his coaches stand witness and help support him.
Regardless of wether he was a whimp or not, I don’t think that move should be legal at all.
Really starla? really?
Never taught this 20 years ago. Ohh, what kids these days will do.
sounds gay to me but i say thats a quick way to win a match hell you put your finger in my butt im done ill give up right then
The butt drag is a move that generally higher level athletes use to get an opponents off their legs and get weight on an opponents head so they can spin behind for a takedown. When it is taught you lift the opponents hind quarters to put weight on their front end so they can’t take you down. Wrestlers generally are not taught to grab someones anus they are taught to lift the opponents back end by grabbing the opponents glut/hamstring. There are occasions where hands go near an opponents anus butt that is not the intent of the move. Anyone that knows anything about high school wrestling knows this whole thing is stupid and deserves no publicity…
Yes, really. If you read any of the interviews by the coaches, you’d know. It is a typical move by mommy and or daddy interfering. Have you ever watched some parents behavior at their kid’s baseball games?
Clearly, Starla enjpys this practice.
Perhaps if you bothered to educate yourself instead of being a namby pamby parent….boohoo my baby lost, its not fair. (just fill in your kid’s sport)
Starla, we bothered. You’re delusional.
Yet another parent who doesn’t like keeping score so their kid can never lose. lmao! The world isn’t a utopia.
It’s not about the kid not winning, the fact that you think that is an acceptable behavior makes you sound like a fool. I’m all for keeping score and the idea that not everyone can be a winner.
But I guess JeauxBleaux is right, you enjoy thesse kinds of things.
It is in fact a legal move, get over it.
HA HA HA HA Checking the oil!!!!!! Awesome!!!!
Wow Poor Kid, Both Parties it sound’s like the move was done imporperly…. Still doesn’t make it right to charge the kid with sexual assult… So if I break an opponents arm with a wizard.. During a match do I get charged with aggrivated assult….
Opps Misspelled Improperly and Assault….. This should’ve ended with a few extra miles to run for the one who improperly used the move on the teamate. This whole thing has just gone way too far…
Grabbing the glute/hamstring is what is taught. There is not a coach in America that would teach digital penetration of an opponents anus as an acceptable wrestling move. If, in fact, the aggressor did stick his fingers up the other young man’s ass, even “inadvertently”, then he did sexually assault his opponent. Penetration is the defining word in most if not all jurisdtictions. Sexual assault is seldom about sex and more about power over the victim. As reported, it would seem that the aggressor did exert power over his opponent using an sexually humiliating “wrestling move” 2nd posting. Dallas Voice, why would you remove my post?
The way I was taught was to squeeze the tailbone and lift.
Anyone who thinks this is sexual assault has never wrestled.
If you go back and read closer, the issue is that Hill apparently made a threatening, lewd gesture before-hand. This indicates intent… it is a shame Hill took advantage of the situation to essentially rape this boy and now has scarred wrestling as a sport.
So who hasn’t had a few unwelcom fingers trying to get up your butt hole? Get over it or find a new sport. This sex assault thisng is balony.
LEAVE PRESTON HILL ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!