Two Kutztown University football players have been cleared of any wrong doing in a fight that left a Bloomsburg University student in critical condition last month.
‘Kutztown University was notified March 24 by the Bloomsburg Police Department that students Eric Condron and Jake Wygant have been cleared of any wrong doing in the altercation that occurred last month. Based on this information, the suspension of both student-athletes from the KU football team has been lifted,’ said Matt Santos, KU Director of University Relations. ‘We are relieved for the student-athletes sake that they were cleared, but needed to be satisfied there was no wrong doing before lifting the suspensions.’
Condron, 20, Philadelphia, is a KU sophomore studying criminal justice. Wygant, 18, Whitehall, is a KU freshman studying business administration.
Bloomsburg Police Department investigated into a fight which occurred at an off-campus apartment in Bloomsburg on Feb. 23, at about 1:07 a.m., according to a February police release from Bloomsburg Police Patrolman David F. Bowman. Kutztown University football players were arrested for their alleged involvement in the fight that led to Lithgow’s injuries.
KU freshman Angel Cruz 20, from Robesonia, was taken into custody at KU on Feb. 27, and KU sophomore Justin Wieder, 20, Quakertown, turned himself into police at the Bloomsburg Police Department Feb. 28. Both are incarcerated at the Columbia County Prison.
After charging documents in the case stated that three other Kutztown University football players were involved in the incident, the university suspended Eric Condron and Jake Wygant from the football team for violation of athletic department policy, according to Santos.
On Monday, March 24 Bloomsburg Police Department cleared Condron and Wygant of any wrong doing and their suspension from the KU football team was lifted.
‘The two players will be able to participate in all normal team activities, including spring practice, which is underway,’ said Santos.
When asked how this fight affected the team and affected KU, Santos responded, ‘We recently hired a new head coach, Jim Clements. Coach Clements will certainly set his standards for rules and regulations for all of the players on the team and do his part to ensure the players represent the football program, Golden Bear athletics and KU in the best way possible.’
‘The primary concern of the university community has been for the students injured in the altercation. The behavior of the players who were arrested is not indicative of our student body. Many KU students have been involved in efforts to raise funds for Jackie Lithogow’s family to assist with medical expenses,’ writes Santos.
Is the university doing anything to address aggression concerns?
‘The safety of our students is always our primary concern,’ said Santos. ‘Aggressive behavior will not be tolerated. Students involved in such behavior will be subject to penalties from campus judicial services and external law enforcement agencies. Our students are here first and foremost for a quality college education to prepare for a lifelong career. It is not something worth putting in jeopardy through poor decisions.’
