Third accuser takes stand in former wrestling coach's trial

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — An accuser told jurors he would never forget the first time his former wrestling coach sexually abused him.

He's the third accuser to take the stand in Scott Goins' trial.

The accuser said he was 14 years old when he first met Goins, the coach of three state champion wrestlers.

"I was excited. I looked up to the guy," the accuser said.

He said that changed when he joined the East Gaston High School wrestling team.

"It's things you hear about on TV, but you don't think," he said.

He told jurors it began with an unforgettable trip for a tournament.

He was 15 years old and sharing a bed with the coach.

"I will never forget. I was awake lying in bed," he said.

He said the coach forced him to perform a sex act while other wrestlers slept in the same room.

Later, while at school, he said, Goins told him to try mental training sessions.

Like the other two accusers, he said Goins got him relaxed, then forced him to have sex.

He said it happened in the coach's office, then at Goins' home.

"It's like you telling me when you washed your hands, because it happened so much," the accuser said.

He said it progressed to the point the coach no longer brought up mental training sessions.

"He would put his hand on my chest and I just kind of knew," he said.

He said the advances were always unwelcome.

Another wrestler said other members of the team always suspected something was going on between the coach and this wrestler.

"I thought it was weird. I thought it was creepy and close," he said.

No one said anything until this wrestler became the first to come forward last year.