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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 10, 1993                   TAG: 9303100316
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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WRESTLING TEAM, COACH DISCIPLINED

The coach and seven students with the Franklin County High School wrestling team were disciplined following the state wrestling tournament late last month, Principal Benny Gibson said Tuesday.

Two of the disciplined students, both wrestlers, have been accused of raping a 14-year-old girl at a Richmond motel during the team's stay at the tournament.

Investigators from the Richmond Police Department were in Franklin County on Tuesday to begin looking into the accusation.

Gibson confirmed that the seven students were disciplined for violations of team rules. Coach Kris Kahila was also disciplined following the tournament, Gibson said.

He said rules of confidentiality prevent him from specifying the type of discipline taken against the students or the coach.

Sources said the disciplinary action resulted from the students drinking beer. Kahila was disciplined for not properly supervising his students.

Kahila is one of the most successful wrestling coaches in Western Virginia. This year's team won its second consecutive Northwestern Region title and finished fourth in the state team tournament, the best ever for a Franklin County team.

Kahila could not be reached for comment. Kahila did not coach the team at the Group AAA state duals in Manassas this past weekend. Athletic Director Jerry Little said Kahila chose not to attend.

"If evidence warrants it, we'll probably seek a direct indictment" from a grand jury, Richmond Police Sgt. D.R. Carter said.

"We'll leave that up to the commonwealth's attorney."

Staff Writer Bob Teitlebaum contributed to this story.

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