Minneapolis high school coach charged with having sex with student
Lady Libra
David Chanen, Star Tribune
Published March 29, 2003 BETT29
The wrestling coach at Southwest High School in Minneapolis was charged
Friday with having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old female student
at the school.
Eric J. Bettermann, 31, of Maplewood told investigators that he knew the
yearlong relationship was "wrong and a big mistake," according to a criminal
complaint filed in Hennepin County District Court.
The student said the relationship started at a wrestling tournament in
Michigan. They continued to meet to have sex at hotels and his home, the
complaint said.
Police were notified by the girl's parents after they found a printed e-mail
from Bettermann on a home computer, said Minneapolis police Lt. Mike Sauro.
Police don't think there are other victims, he said.
Bettermann was charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct. Bettermann
was expected to turn himself in, authorities said.
Calls to Bettermann weren't returned Friday evening.
He has coached at Southwest High for five or six years, said Margaret Westin
of the Minneapolis School District's legal counsel office. He was on a
yearly contract, and his contract for the school year has expired, she said.
He passed the criminal background checks required by the district and didn't
have any complaints in his file, she said.
As the women's state director of MN/USA Wrestling, Bettermann organized and
coached wrestlers at tournaments throughout the United States. MN/USA
Wrestling is the state affiliate to USA Wrestling, which is affiliated with
the United States Olympic Committee.
MN/USA Wrestling has around 100 clubs, 4,300 wrestlers and 600 coaches,
according to its Web site. Board chairman Bill Hinchley said the board of
directors would decide what action it might take against Bettermann.
Bettermann wrestled as a heavyweight for the University of Minnesota before
helping Augsburg College in Minneapolis to a 16-0 dual-meet record and the
NCAA Division II team title in 1994. He was sixth nationally in his weight
class and was 87-8 in his last two seasons.
David Chanen is at dch...@startribune.com.