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Mom jumps gate and beats up basketball referee during daughter’s youth game in Montana
A mother, Cassie Congdon, allegedly assaulted volunteer referee Shawn Wetzel during a youth basketball tournament in Anaconda, Montana, in December 2025. Video shows her crossing a fence and attacking him; the incident has renewed attention on conduct towards sports officials and its consequences.
Congdon resigned from her role as girls’ head soccer coach at Flathead High School, while Wetzel was dismissed as a volunteer assistant boys’ basketball coach at Butte High. Assaulting an official is a misdemeanour in Montana, punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and six months in county jail, or both. County Attorney Morgan Smith said the investigation is ongoing.
In short
- A mother allegedly attacked a volunteer referee at a youth tournament.
- Both Congdon and Wetzel lost coaching roles after the incident.
- The investigation is ongoing in Montana.
Explained simply
Youth basketball games are usually run by referees, who enforce the rules and manage play. In many local tournaments, officials are volunteers, and disagreements over decisions can arise among players, coaches and spectators.
Montana law treats assaulting a sports official as a misdemeanour, which can carry a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in county jail, or both. The incident has also affected the adults’ school sports roles, bringing attention to how conduct at youth games can have consequences beyond the court.