Dispatch
3/22
Future Ohio State wrestler forced to defend his pastime
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
By M.R. Kropko ASSOCIATED PRESS
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</td></tr> <tr><td class="credit" width="200"> JAMIE - ANDREA YANAK | ASSOCIATED PRESS </td></tr> <tr><td class="cutline" width="200">Lance Palmer, a four-time state champion who has committed to Ohio State, says he has wrestled bears since he was 4. </td></tr> </tbody></table> </td></tr> </tbody> </table>
CLEVELAND — Lance Palmer, a 140-pound high-school wrestler and four-time state champion bound for Ohio State, taps into his substantial skills whenever he takes on Ceaser Jr.
Skill comes in handy when your opponent is a 650-pound black bear.
Palmer recently wrestled Ceaser at the Cleveland Sport, Travel & Outdoor Show, pinning the animal on its back.
Although he says he never hurts the bear, Palmer and the bear’s owner have been criticized by animal rights groups. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has sought to make owner Sam Mazzola a focal point of its national efforts to ban bear wrestling.
PETA is demanding that the U.S Department of Agriculture revoke Mazzola’s license to exhibit exotic animals. For a small fee, Mazzola allows people to wrestle the bear or have a picture taken inside a cage with his other bears or a tiger.
"Sam Mazzola continues to flout federal regulations and expose the public to very real danger," PETA director Debbie Leahy said. "Bear wrestling is as ludicrous as it sounds, and it’s high time that it was relegated to the dustbin of history."
PETA said bear wrestling is banned in 20 states, but not in Ohio.
Mazzola said bear wrestling has been part of his business, World Animal Studios Inc., for more than 20 years.
"To be able to bring an animal out into the public and do what we do is not easy. I mean we’re talking about a bear! Do you even realize how much work, time and love we put into that? It’s like nobody stops to realize that," Mazzola said.
Palmer, 19, a senior at Lakewood St. Edward outside of Cleveland, has been wrestling bears since he was 4 years old.. He is paid by Mazzola.
Palmer said animal rights activists are misguided.
"Bears are probably eight times stronger than people," he said. "If they wanted to, they could do a whole lot of damage to people. But if they are having fun, like Ceaser was, then they will play with you all day.
"To them it’s just fun, because they are not using all of their strength. Maybe I might use all of my strength to pin him, but he’s just playing around."
Palmer said he has had a few scratches and bruises wrestling bears but no serious injuries. He views it as another training method, even if there’s potential for danger.
