The main entrance into New Prairie High School in New Carlisle is shown in this Sept. 2023 file photo. Photo from USA TODAY Network.

By Austin Hough, South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

NEW PRAIRIE — An Indiana High School Athletic Association spokesperson has confirmed to the South Bend Tribune that New Prairie High School wrestling volunteer assistant coach Chris Fleeger is being investigated by the New Prairie United School Corporation.

The Tribune reached out to New Prairie Athletics to confirm the news as well on Saturday, but they did not immediately respond to our message.

The investigation was reported Friday, Jan. 30 by WSBT-TV in South Bend.

Nobody from NPUSC or the IHSAA commented on the nature of the investigation to WSBT since the investigation is still active. Under rule 17-2 in the IHSAA bylaws, if a violation is brought to the attention of the principal, they must conduct an investigation to see if a violation did occur. Once the investigation is done, the person(s) being investigated will be notified of the principal’s findings and ruling.

The person being investigated then has seven days to seek a review of the decision through the IHSAA. If no review is sought, then the decision is final. That decision is then forwarded to the IHSAA.

If the principal is unable to make a decision after their investigation, they may ask the IHSAA to help with the case to determine a proper decision.

The Tribune first reported Sunday, Jan. 11, that Fleeger had filed a police report against Notre Dame football head coach Marcus Freeman, stemming from an incident at a high school wrestling meet at Mishawaka High School on Jan. 3. Fleeger alleged that Freeman made physical contact with him, filing a report that led to Mishawaka Police Department investigating a potential battery charge.

On Monday, Jan. 12, the St. Joseph County’s Prosecutor’s Office announced no charges would be filed against Freeman. They released video from the incident as well that seemed to show no physical contact happened between Freeman and Fleeger at all.

The Prosecutor’s Office release noted that one of the witnesses in the investigation advised detectives that the complainant – Fleeger – had voiced his anger toward the Freeman family and that Fleeger had encouraged other wrestlers to harm Freeman’s oldest son, Penn senior wrestler Vinny Freeman. Fleeger denied these allegations.

The release also mentioned Fleeger tried to recruit Vinny to the New Prairie team in the offseason, but the Freeman family declined, choosing to stay at Penn.

The incident between Fleeger and Marcus Freeman happened after Fleeger confronted Vinny following a match at the Jan. 3 invite.

No discussion around the investigation was held at the Jan. 28 NPUSC school board meeting. The full meeting can be found on YouTube and the NPUSC website.

Austin Hough is a sports editor within the Center for Community Journalism at USA Today Co., overseeing high school sports and Notre Dame athletics coverage for five Indiana newspapers. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @AustinRHough. Hough can be emailed at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: “IHSAA confirms investigation into New Prairie wrestling assistant coach.”