VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. —Butler wrestler Cole Baxter guaranteed himself a medal and all-America status after his performance at the National High School Coaches Association Tournament Thursday.

Wrestling at 160 pounds, Baxter defeated No. 1 seed Phillip Kern (S.C.) in an 11-2 major decision in the quarterfinals, but then he lost to Jakob Scheffel (Md.) in an 11-1 major decision.

Baxter will face either Josh Villani (Wash.) or Jacob Graham (Ariz.) today. A win will put him in the third-place match, a loss puts him in the fifth-place match.

The top eight finalists receive All-America honors.

Blake Caudill of Butler, competing in the 103-pound freshman division, won a 17-1 technical fall decision over Thierno Diallo (Md.). Caudill then decisioned Alex Bray (N.C) 6-2 before he was eliminated by dropping a 5-3 decision to Steven Michel (N.Y.).

NEW YORK — Blindside hits to the head are a thing of the past in the NHL.The players' association executive board voted Thursday to accept a new temporary rule that will ban hits to the head against unsuspecting players.The union's representatives on the competition committee signed off on the ban Wednesday. It was then left to the union's board to accept or reject the recommendation. The NHL will be allowed to issue supplemental discipline to violators this season.This rule is in effect through this year's playoffs. The competition committee is expected to meet during the summer to create a permanent rule that also will include an on-ice penalty instead of just having punishment after the fact.