Court to consider protection from abuse petition against Lion wrestler

By CHRIS ANTONACCI
Collegian Staff Writer

Penn State wrestler Jamarr Billman, receiving support from his teammates and coaches, is scheduled to appear in court today regarding a protection from abuse petition filed against him.

Billman's former girlfriend, a 19-year-old Penn State student, filed the motion last week after she stated Billman said he wanted to see her and her family die during a Jan. 15 phone call, according to court documents.

The court will consider the petition and determine if it will be granted.

In court documents, the petitioner also said Billman threw her in a chair, shook her violently, called her a whore and spit in her face last Halloween. The woman also said Billman grabbed her neck and bruised her cheek after they had an argument during the summer.

Billman will not wrestle for the remainder of the season due to an academic inquiry into his transcript, which found him academically ineligible last Saturday.

Although Billman will appear in court today, he attended practice yesterday, where he and his teammates lay on their stomachs in a circle, talking and laughing.

Penn State coach Troy Sunderland said he and other team members may attend the court proceedings.

"I think (the case) is a bunch of bull," said sophomore Jean Celestin, Billman's successor at the 149-pound slot. "As far his ineligibility is concerned, he (didn't meet the requirements), and he knows he did wrong.

"I've gotten to know him this year. I think he is the coolest guy. He is the most sincere guy I know. He is not a bad guy. He can never tell a lie."

Today is not Billman's first appearance in court. On Sept. 30, he pleaded guilty to summary harassment before District Justice Carmine Prestia for charges stemming from a June 15 incident in which he struck Penn State student Mark Kogelmann.

At a party on Fox Hollow Road, Kogelmann said Billman ran about 10 yards before he punched and broke Kogelmann's jaw while Kogelmann was attempting to break up a fight between his friend, Josh Perry, and 165-pound Nittany Lion wrestler Bill Dubler.

Kogelmann said Perry became upset with Billman and Dubler after the party host repeatedly asked them to leave because they were loud and picked fights throughout the party.

"We decided to settle the thing because the lawyer fees were getting out of hand, and I wasn't all about ruining (Billman's) life," Kogelmann said.

When approached yesterday, Billman refused to comment about his court date or the incident with Kogelmann.

"I think that article (that appeared yesterday in The Daily Collegian) said enough," he said.

After the June incident, Billman, 1998 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, met with former coach John Fritz and Sunderland in regard to his status with the wrestling team.

Fritz, however, refused to comment on the meeting and the latest alleged incident involving Billman.

Penn State coaching assistant Dave Hart said the Lion coaching staff has taken a "less is more" stance when dealing with the media in regard to Billman's cases.

"We don't say much," Hart said. "We talked to him and heard his side of the story. We just have to wait until the hearing."

Billman's attorney, Joseph Amendola, could not be reached for comment.

Collegian staff writer Ryan Hockensmith contributed to this report.