Hunt was found guilty and sentenced to probation.

Mike Moyer, executive director of the National Wrestling Coaches Association in Pennsylvania, said the butt drag is common in high school wrestling. But like most moves, it's up to the wrestler to do it safely, he said.

"There are many examples of moves than can be legal or illegal, depending on how it is executed," Moyer said.

Moyer described another move -- the crossface -- which many wrestlers use to try for a pin. But if not executed properly, it looks like an uppercut to the face.

Moyer said sticking fingers into the anus of an opponent for an extended period of time "is not taught. It is never taught. That would be one of many examples of a legal move applied in an illegal way. Just like using a crossface if it's executed like an uppercut. It could lead to legal action if it's malicious and causes harm."

In Clovis, both sides agree the butt drag is commonly used.

Families wait

Preston's older brother, Spencer Hill, was a top wrestler at Buchanan and now wrestles at Fresno City College.

Before he was expelled, Preston had been named captain of the Buchanan wrestling team and was a candidate for college scholarships, said his parents, Darren and Kristin Hill.

Because of his expulsion, he is banned from Clovis Unified School District property and must be home-schooled. He also is taking classes at the Center for Advanced Research and Technology in Clovis, his parents said.

"The worst part is that there is so much uncertainty," Darren Hill said. "We don't know if he will get a diploma or have a criminal record."

Rice said his two sons know the Hill brothers and participated in wrestling camps with them and never had problems. "My sons looked up to them because they are pretty good wrestlers," Rice said.

Rice said he's not being an overprotective parent, and he's not naive about bullying being part of high school life.

"Throwing a kid in trash cans and giving them wedgies is one thing," he said. "What he did was more serious."

Rice said Preston and his parents are trying to cloud the issue by saying he was using a legitimate wrestling move.

"My son was molested. I have the doctor's reports to prove it," Rice said. A doctor examined his son the day after the incident and found redness and possible slight bruising to the anus but no other obvious signs of trauma, according to the police report.

What happened

On July 15 several parents and coaches had gathered inside Buchanan's gym to throw a party for head wrestling coach Tyrell Blanche's birthday after practice.

Blanche has a favorite drill to keep his workouts loose. Wrestlers kick a soccer ball around until Blanche blows his whistle. When the whistle goes off, that's the signal for wrestlers to stop kicking the ball and wrestle the nearest person.

When Blanche blew his whistle, Preston was matched up with Rice's son, the police report said. During the encounter, Preston used the butt-drag maneuver, Darren Hill said.

The police report said the boy never complained to coaches or school officials about the move.

According to attorney Stephen Quade, who is defending Preston against the sex charge, the 14-year-old was so unfazed, witnesses said he stayed for Blanche's party and playfully sprayed silly string on the coach.

"If he was traumatized, you would think he would say something," Quade said.

But the boy later told his mother, who called police.

According to the police report, the mother said her son told her that several students, "especially Preston," had been bullying her son since June. They would take her son's water bottle during practice.