Jordan Marshall, who wrestled at 157 pounds for ODU, said in the suit that in his freshman season of 2014, he suffered three concussions in May and June, and that head coach Steve Martin and assistants Mike Dixon, Alex Dolly and Kyle Hutter were negligent in not referring him for diagnosis and treatment and encouraging him not to complain about his injuries or seek medical attention.
The suit also alleges that coaches "encouraged and directed" Marshall, originally from Bradford, Ohio and wrestled at Troy Christian High School, to return to practice while he still suffered from symptoms that included headaches, confusion and trouble concentrating.
It wasn't until Marshall had suffered three concussions and later began to "convulse, vomit and spit up blood" at a wrestling camp at Virginia's Hampden-Sydney College that coaches referred him to ODU's athletic trainer, according to the lawsuit filed in Norfolk Circuit Court.
As a result, Marshall sustained "serious and permanent injury in the form of traumatic brain injury, and concussion and brain injury syndrome and symptoms, and other physical and psychological injuries," the suit alleges.
Marshall's lawyer, Edward F. Halloran, did not immediately respond to a message left at his office on Tuesday, the Virginian-Pilot reported. ODU senior associate athletic director Debbie White said coaches could not comment on the suit, in keeping with school policy.
The Norfolk newspaper went on to say ODU has had concussion protocols in place for all sports for a number of years. According to a 2014 story in the Virginian-Pilot, the school has done baseline testing of all athletes for more than a decade. Athletes who suffer concussions must pass a series of tests before being allowed to return.
A legendary figure in Virginia wrestling, Old Dominion head coach Steve Martin just completed his 12th season at the helm. Volunteer assistant Kyle Hutter has been on staff for five years, while former Northern Iowa wrestler Alex Dolly joined the coaching staff in May 2012.
Founded in 1930, Old Dominion University is a four-year public university located in Norfolk, Virginia. The ODU Monarchs wrestling program competes in the Mid-American Conference (MAC).
Want to know more about concussions and wrestling? Check out this April 2016 InterMat article about proposed NCAA rules regarding concussions.
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