Three members of the Upper Perkiomen's wrestling team coaching staff, including head coach Sam Walters, resigned from their positions Monday.

        Jake Engle, a first-year assistant, will serve as the team's interim coach.

        Alexis McGloin, Upper Perkiomen's superintendent confirmed the resignation of Walters in an email Wednesday morning. However, McGloin declined to comment further, citing the issue as a personnel matter.

        According to Engle, the resignations of Walters and assistant coaches Dustin Kern and Bill Brower stemmed from an incident that occurred during the team's trip to Virginia for a tournament in late December.

        Engle said the resignations were accepted Monday, the same day he received a call from a district administrator and learned that Walters was no longer the head coach.

        Engle, a local real estate agent, did not accompany the team to Virginia for the Abingdon Holiday Hammer Classic on Dec. 28-29.

        In a text message received Wednesday morning, Walters declined to comment on the nature of the situation that led to the resignations other than to say, "I take full responsibility for my resignation. I also 100 percent support Coach Engle and the kids as they move forward."

        Overcoming the resignations will be difficult for the wrestlers, according to Engle.

        "The kids are devastated," he said. "They view Sam as a father figure."

        Senior Michael Modugno said he was completely surprised when he heard the news of the resignations. Modugno described Walters as one of the best coaches he's ever had.

        "(Walters) cared so much about the team and the sport," Modugno said. "He wanted us to do well. We are doing the best we can with this.

        We are all upset. Hopefully, we can move on and keep pushing forward. Our goals have not changed."

        Walters, a 2006 graduate of Upper Perkiomen High School, won 113 matches in three years for the school. He registered 41 victories in 2004-05 and qualified for the state tournament. The following season, the middleweight helped the Indians capture the PIAA Class AAA Team Duals title.

        Engle, a 2004 graduate of the high school, notched 109 career wins and twice qualified for the PIAA championships.