EDINBORO, Pa. - A college student and NCAA wrestling champ who was kicked off one school's wrestling team after he appeared naked on an amateur gay porn site has become the nation's No. 1-ranked contender in his sport after he was snapped up by another school.
Paul Donohoe, the 2007 national collegiate wrestling titleholder in the 125-pound class, was one of two wrestlers removed from the University of Nebraska wrestling team in August 2008 when school officials discovered the young men had appeared on Fratmen.tv. Although Kenny Jordan faded into obscurity after the scandal, Donohoe transferred to Edinboro University, where the wrestling team was glad to have him.
This past weekend, Donohoe finished an unbeaten season with a record of 31-0 (his career stats read 113-18) by winning the 125-pound division in the Eastern Wrestling League tournament. His mat prowess helped propel Edinboro to a Top 12 national ranking.
Donohoe's unfortunate adventure in 2008 began when a University of Nebraska gossip site uncovered his and Jordan's images on Fratmen.tv, a site that specializes in "college jocks and naked straight men." Officially, the university dismissed both students from its athletic program because they violated school rules about appearing in pictures for commercial purposes without prior approval, not because either student was gay or had "done porn."
The videos that appeared on the gay website showed the students in solo scenes undressing, showering and masturbating. Donohoe used the nom de porn "Nash," and Jordan appeared under the pseudonym "Cal."
When Donohoe joined the Edinboro wrestling team, he seemed eager to put incident behind him, declining to discuss it when addressing the media.
"I'm just really thankful they have given me this opportunity to come here and finish my career," he said at the time. "I want to become the first two-time NCAA champ from two different schools. And I want to help the team get a trophy."
The school's athletic director, former Olympic wrestler Bruce Baumgartner, acknowledged the controversy, but dismissed it.
"I'm sure we'll get some [criticism]," he told the press. "People make mistakes all the time, and I think he deserves a second chance."
Donohoe's next stop: the NCAA tournament in St. Louis March 19-21.
Jordan reportedly transferred to Purdue University but has not resumed wrestling.
