gsmith58

Petition to the NFHS: NFHS Petition Against the Change to 12 Classes
 

What are the main issues we are trying to resolve in Indiana high school wrestling? Rules changes should be directed towards fixing those issues. Reducing FF by removing opportunities seems like it is contrary to growing the sport of wrestling.

No, I wouldn't want that. It is what it is. I think your proposed jump is too drastic, and would simply reallocate, what you perceive, as 'unfairness.' I thought wrestling prided itself on being a level playing field where the outliers could compete.
While there are no doubt a number of very good upperclass wrestlers sitting because of circumstances (Brownsburg, Perry, Mater Dei, etc), I would bet they're a number sitting simply because they have not put in the time and effort that their varsity counterpart has. 
I am only pointing out it depends on your perspective, and asking you to recognize there are a number, not just my son, of smaller underclass wrestlers that have some talent, have put in as much, if not more, time and effort, and are equally deserving as any upperclass backup. And, I'm pretty certain that if one could to equalize weight, Cernus and Cotty could compete with, say, the HWT finalists.
As far as cutting, you and I are of like mind, but I don't see that changing anytime soon.
 
 

I have a small 106 son and so I'm, admittedly, biased and a bit prickly about this. Being that he's in a room(s) year-round, I'd sure like the idea of my son being able to compete against kids 'nearly' his size before he's a senior. 
Not that I think it's a swell idea, but couldn't we apply this logic and similar 'generalization' to the heavyweight class?
 
 
 

4 point near fall
3 point take down
2nd injury time = 1 point and choice (too many kids using injury time as a break, and simply giving them the choice to go on bottom is not always beneficial)
Allowing teams to enter more than 1 kid per weight at sectionals and individual tournaments ( would have to cap it at a certain #)
 

I would like to see a riding point. 
If you ride a wrestler out for an entire period, 1pt will be added. You can only earn 1pt in a match. No need for riding time clock. 
A wrestler should be rewarded for a ride out. Most of the time the are called for stalling at some point. 
 

1) 100% agree on the step out
2) First injury time used when opponent has not been called for an illegal move = opponent gets choice. Second time wrestler must withdraw. Stops (hopefully)wrestler from using injury time to recover and if a wrestler is that injured he must stop the match twice, probably shouldn’t be in there. 
3) I’m good with a 4 point near fall and a 3 point takedown. Keep rewarding offensive wrestling 

OK, time to play rules czar for a day. What rule/rule change would you propose to make the sport better? To save everyone some time, there will probably NEVER be one foot in bounds for a takedown. The safety concerns from the NFHS will always trump added benefit from more scoring at the edge. With many gyms having inadequate space, it would be difficult to have a uniformly enforced rule. Here is my proposal:
Four point near-fall after a four count. 
Rationale: More scoring equal more excitement. Also, easy to understand: two count in danger equals two points, four count equals four points. More reward for scoring should encourage more mat wrestling leading to fewer out of bounds situations, speeding up matches. Also, bigger scoring opportunity could lead to more comebacks from deficits. Ideally, faster matches might even lead to NFHS someday approving six match limit instead of five. A 16 man bracket with full wrestlebacks to third could then be done in one day.
Let's hear your thoughts on this and your ideas for a rule addition/change. New proposal period for wrestling rules opens June 1, 2019

Mat-side weigh ins.  You said I'm czar for the day.  Haha.
As a process guy in my "professional" life, the whole idiocy of weigh-ins days or hours before actually wrestling defeats the purpose.  It would literally take a few seconds per match.  
You miss weight, it's a forfeit.  All the sudden you have eliminated your issue of kids cutting too much and people will wrestle their true weight.

Well, what if you took Bloomington (7) Champions and they probably have a few Placers back then . Where would they fall in that unofficial scoring system  ? 

Depending on how far back you want to go, throw in Delta and Bloomington South.

Depending on how far back you want to go, throw in Delta and Bloomington South.

I stand corrected. Nevertheless, he was a lot of fun to watch. He talked about in the same way the four-timers are today. 
 

McKinley, LeCount, or James

I have exhibit A as to why parents hold their kids back. I have roughly 30+ videos of my 87lb son wrestling 106. Trust me on this one.

I have exhibit A as to why parents hold their kids back. I have roughly 30+ videos of my 87lb son wrestling 106. Trust me on this one.

Have to admit......I entertained the idea with Silas.  But ultimately.....had I done so, I would’ve outwardly been setting an example of athletics overriding academics.  And that’s a major breach of the Allred’s household priority line.
Being fully transparent.....Regardless of my sons success through relentless hard work, I still frequently think on the “what if’s”.  He could legit be a sophomore right now and not such a young junior.  Increased accolades in-state and Nationally would undoubtedly be attained.  But ultimately....if athletics isn’t the back up plan to education/career, we’re setting our kids up for misaligned values.  Make no mistake.....Silas plans to take the sport as far as his health, work ethic and God allows.  But one reality we’ve embraced.....is that the events of tomorrow can never be fully predicted.  And in retrospect......being young for his class and having to work harder to compensate for the age gap, has likely benefited his long term success and character much more than any medal could.  And rest assured, as it pertains to the topic of age/success/recruiting......programs are very aware of an athletes age/projection. So in most instances.....being young and successful is even more appealing to recruiters.  And that “success” I refer to here.....goes far beyond what an athlete accomplishes in their particular sport.  Character & Classroom has to come first.

Nope. That's why we didn't hold him back. It wasn't even a consideration; I couldn't justify it developmentally or academically. That said, I get why folks whose sons (and daughters) are very small do. Of course, I want him to do well, but wins and losses are secondary to just being able to compete and compete safely.
It may just be my perception since my son is training at academies, but there are a lot of kids being held back. And, I haven't noticed the social stigma. It is certainly feasible, but I haven't noticed.
 
 

Nope. That's why we didn't hold him back. It wasn't even a consideration; I couldn't justify it developmentally or academically. That said, I get why folks whose sons (and daughters) are very small do. Of course, I want him to do well, but wins and losses are secondary to just being able to compete and compete safely.
It may just be my perception since my son is training at academies, but there are a lot of kids being held back. And, I haven't noticed the social stigma. It is certainly feasible, but I haven't noticed.
 
 

I have exhibit A as to why parents hold their kids back. I have roughly 30+ videos of my 87lb son wrestling 106. Trust me on this one.

I hate that we have to evacuate after the Saturday morning session and reenter for the evening session. Why not have the IU vs Purdue dual during that down time? Everyone could watch some BIG10 wrestling before the evening Finals.

25 years ago we would stand in line between rounds so we could get lower, middle seats.  When we would get there, there would be Tape across several rows and newspapers over many seats left from the round before.  I would do my part in cleaning trash from the sections and gather up all the tape and throw away all the discarded newspapers ! ! !

The caution tape and sheets are done by coaches because they get in early. The arena staff should go in and take all of that stuff down as soon as it is put up. 

Chesterton every year lol

I recall being at a Middle School tourney in West Virginia. Ike lost a tough match to another very good Indiana kid. What struck me was instead of sulking, he grabbed a tablet and studied his match. As he watched it, he would occasionally purse his lips with a slight shake of his head. I can recall thinking this is a kid that is bound for success. I often remind my own son of that scene and how you conduct yourself.