doctorWrestling

Hey everybody.
 
I put in for the "max" number of tickets for the NCAA championships in Detroit March 17-19 and got a lot more than I thought I would. 
 
I have 4 tickets in section 119 row 15 for all sessions.  Have to buy all 4 or will split into 2/2.  I am asking $500 for each all sessions ticket which is WAY less than you will find on line.  Got the tickets through the University of Michigan who is the host school for the tournament - not kidding, they are really good seats.  All 4 seats are together.
 
I will transfer the tickets ( they are electronic ) after I receive payment - venmo preferred.
 
Please message me through the forum if you are interested.
 
 

We are back at it again this Thursday
Room is open 5:30-7PM
Take advantage of the opportunity to get better this week!

I grew up in Indiana and now help coach in a state with classes - Michigan.  I am not against classes and I am not for them either.  I would like ask though if you are sure all your new wrestlers are quitting because they see how tough your sectionals are or if you just think that is the reason? 
 
I think it sounds like you have a plan to grow your youth and middle school programs.  You will have fewer and fewer first year wrestlers starting in high school.  Your youth will know what they face at sectional and will prepare for that.  You live in a city that has tons of close opportunities for off season development.  Build a team that has fun and wants to be together and they won't quit because of your sectional.  It takes time but it is a challenge you will face no matter if there are classes or not.  
 
I like that you have ideas for growth and change.  I don't know if they will work or not.  Nobody does.  I do think you have a lot of things going for you though and I am sure you will be successful either way.

Most people won't ever understand small school athletics. It's easy to say just work harder. I've been coaching small schools for 33 years. It's been a struggle for most of them. We don't have the same opportunities as big schools. The lack of facilities,multiple coaches and practice partners are the biggest hurdles we struggle with. 

The IHSAA is a self reporting organization. They are not looking for violations. Almost EVERY IHSAA violation is self reported. 
 
Going through the process with a kid last year I learned a lot. If both schools agree on the eligibility status then about 99.9% of the time the IHSAA only puts a rubber stamp on it. It is only when one of the schools disagrees with what the other school is offering in terms of eligibility. If the athlete does not like the ruling they can appeal to the IHSAA. If that appeal does not go in their favor they can go to the DOE for one final appeal. 

Michigan just got delayed again - first possible contact practice would be 2/21.  Not sure there will be a season after the governor's talk this morning.  If it does proceed, it will be the 6th version of the schedule and most likely will run through spring break which will mess up a lot of plans.  Anyway, from the outside looking in, you guys are really lucky.  Best of luck to everyone and enjoy it as much as possible even though it makes no sense and should be better for the kids and parents.

Michigan just got delayed again - first possible contact practice would be 2/21.  Not sure there will be a season after the governor's talk this morning.  If it does proceed, it will be the 6th version of the schedule and most likely will run through spring break which will mess up a lot of plans.  Anyway, from the outside looking in, you guys are really lucky.  Best of luck to everyone and enjoy it as much as possible even though it makes no sense and should be better for the kids and parents.

Michigan just got delayed again - first possible contact practice would be 2/21.  Not sure there will be a season after the governor's talk this morning.  If it does proceed, it will be the 6th version of the schedule and most likely will run through spring break which will mess up a lot of plans.  Anyway, from the outside looking in, you guys are really lucky.  Best of luck to everyone and enjoy it as much as possible even though it makes no sense and should be better for the kids and parents.

Hopefully the IHSAA does the right thing and moves the Mishawaka sectional then. 
 
I'm over over-reaching health departments on power grabs. My county just went orange, but the Health dept says we have to stay at red level for 2 additional weeks, it's ludicrous. It's just a bunch of old bitties that have been reduced to finding bugs and warm food their whole lives that now feel like they have a since of purpose. Take a hike Dorothy.
 
Let counties, communities, and schools that support this type of nazism get hit where it counts - in their financial pants and once the pandemic is over let them continue to suffer as new trends and habits are formed.  

First off we have to be very thankful we are having a season. It doesn't look promising for the states that have moved their seasons and we are extremely lucky here. I wasn't sure we would get through a month of the football season. I wasn't sure we would get through a month of the wrestling season, but here we are. 
 
We all want fans at our events to cheer on the kids. This year has been really weird without fans in the stands. Last night was our first home meet with fans and it felt different and nice to have to people yelling and screaming. 
 
With everything else going on in this world our kids having wrestling is even more important. Be appreciative of the efforts of the administrations from the IHSAA to local schools for working with us during this time. Our kids are having a season and it is looks good that we will complete it. That is something many states may not be able to say.

I’ll again defer to the progressive stance of the IHSAA for football and continue along that thought process. They allowed 2 tickets per participant. Though they were outside venues, the venues were still smaller than both semi-state and state venues for wrestling minus Lucas Oil and perhaps a 6A stadium. 
 
So, my math says 16 wrestlers X 14 weights plus two coaches each is still under 1000 attendees. Throw in referees, table help, trainers, perhaps even concessions, and you have around 1500 per tourney venue. Looks like the two biggest non-coliseums in Indiana are East Chicago and New Castle checking in at right around 8000 seats. I have that at 18.75% occupancy for the smallest semi-state venues. 
 
For Bankers Life at 20,000 capacity, all wrestlers, 2 coaches, 2 participant tickets, and tournament help of, let’s just say, 2000 would be only 10% capacity. 

So, yeah, I can see fans at all venues for the entire tournament. IHSAA gives zero fecks about the Rona impeding their tournaments. They understand the role these sports are playing on our kids’ sanity. It’s a damn blessing and an an honor to be part of setting the bar for the country. Read no farther than landing the entire March Madness in Indy starting 2 weeks after the IHSAA finals.
 
 

And they aren't making our kids compete with masks on.

This whole thing sucks. But.... I am happy we live in Indiana and how they are handling it.

True.  There were tournaments all summer that we traveled to, some states have started high school, college has started, Flo is putting on events, Rokfin has events, Trackwrestling has events, Fite TV has events, I believe UWW is holding tournaments.  I haven't heard of 1 issue.  So reality is true also.

You are lucky to have a reasonable governor.  I am rooting for Indiana to prove the rest of these states wrong so we can get back at it.  It appears clear to me that it can be done if they follow reality instead of theoretical models or "science".

True.  There were tournaments all summer that we traveled to, some states have started high school, college has started, Flo is putting on events, Rokfin has events, Trackwrestling has events, Fite TV has events, I believe UWW is holding tournaments.  I haven't heard of 1 issue.  So reality is true also.

You are lucky to have a reasonable governor.  I am rooting for Indiana to prove the rest of these states wrong so we can get back at it.  It appears clear to me that it can be done if they follow reality instead of theoretical models or "science".

You are lucky to have a reasonable governor.  I am rooting for Indiana to prove the rest of these states wrong so we can get back at it.  It appears clear to me that it can be done if they follow reality instead of theoretical models or "science".

Do you think it would have been ok if they had crossed the invisible line to the safe area and rented a space in Indiana to have the tournament instead?  Indiana seems to be moving along fine with wrestling.  Its crazy how it would kill everyone in some states for high school age kids to wrestle but others have no issue.

Michigan posted their return to play guidelines.  We are limited to 1 competition per week with a max of 4 total teams at an event.  Just for your fun, here are some of the mask rules:
 
Face Covering Match FAQs:
Q. How do matches start?
A. Matches are started with face coverings made of cloth or approved medical grade fabric/material that cover each wrestler’s nose and mouth. Officials are also required to wear a face covering.
Q. What if a wrestler’s face covering falls below the nose and mouth while wrestling?
A. If a mask comes down while wrestling, it should be treated the same as if a head gear comes off during a match. The official will verbally inform the wrestler in question to adjust the face covering appropriately. The official will stop action for the adjustment as soon as action allows or either wrestler is placed in a dangerous situation.
Q. What if a wrestler’s mask comes down while a scoring situation is occurring, or during a pinning situation?
A. The scoring situation will continue, similar to if a head gear comes off or unsecured. The correction should be made at the conclusion of the scoring situation.
Q. What if a wrestler purposely pulls down his/her own face mask to avoid a scoring or pinning situation?
A. The scoring situation will continue, and the offending wrestler shall be penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct. 
Q. What if a wrestler purposely pulls down or alters his/her opponent’s face covering?
A. The official will stop the match, allow the offended wrestler the opportunity to correct the altered face covering, and the offending wrestler shall be penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct.
 
Q. I am wrestling out of state. Can I choose to not wear a face covering while competing?
A. NO
Q. An out-of-state team is wrestling in Michigan. Can they choose to not wear face coverings while competing?
A. NO
 
From what I read, a team from MI could wrestle out of state as long as we suffocate ourselves while the other teams get to breathe.
 

This topic asks about Club Activity but in the broader scope is relative to the entire Wrestling Program within a school corporation as the Head High School Coach is usually also directly responsible for all of the other age groups....Middle School, Elementary and Club programs.  I am looking for feedback that we can use collectively to help each other to safely resume wrestling at all levels.  I am curious to know specifically which school corporations are allowing use of school premises for any other age groups other than High School.  For example I will start.....looking for something like this:
 
MISHAWAKA - High School season will progress within the guidelines of IHSAA and School City of Mishawaka following the covid protocol established by both.  Our SCM sponsored elementary program for all elementary schools which has always been used as great way to introduce the sport of wrestling to those that would not otherwise be involved and would normally be going on right now....has been cancelled for this year.  Our Middle School program which does not start up until January 2021 will be contingent upon how the high school season progresses.  Our Club program which would normally be prime time for new season sign ups right now has also been put on "hold" until after the first of January.  School policy right now is prohibiting any non sanctioned IHSAA activity which is not directly related to in season sports. We are currently looking at "off campus" options for our anxious club wrestlers and parents to hold club practices.
 
Just wondering what other programs are doing during this time.  My hope would be that there are some programs that are "on campus" and active in all age groups and managing the covid crisis with safe protocols in place.  By sharing the initiative and success of those that are and are willing to share, it provides good feedback for others like ourselves to share with our admins.  Wrestling will continue to be one of the most misunderstood sports (to outsiders) but hey....football is making this thing work.....so can we.

Michigan is a great state but the governor, health dept, and MHSAA are not so good.  I am not sure if this goes for high school also, but here is the middle school memo the MHSAA put out.  I have not seen an official high school memo ( which is weird ).   https://www.mhsaa.com/portals/0/Documents/WR/mswrcovid.pdf  Some highlights are include:
 
1. Wearing mask during competition
2. Middle school can only compete on Tuesday or Wednesday and only 1 time per week.  5-6 days BETWEEN competitions. I THINK this will be the same for high school but they will be only on Friday or Saturday and only 1 time per week.  Not 100% sure on that yet.
3. Max of 4 teams at any competition.  I believe this is the same for high school.
 
This is my favorite though - 
To minimize official’s exposure, when starting in the neutral position, wrestlers will start with their back foot on the 10’ circle, directly opposite the RED and GREEN starting line. This is in an attempt to eliminate the need for the official to stand between two (2) wrestlers in close proximity each time while in the neutral position. The wrestlers must move forward after the official has blown the whistle.
 
I really hope that high school doesn't get restricted the same but I think it will be somewhat similar.  MI has lost all common sense.
 
 

I know middle school is wrapping up in Indiana, but thought I would mention that I have a lot of interest from kids from Edwardsburg, MI in the 90lb to 105lb range who plan to come to Jimtown and Mishawaka this spring.  We have larger/older kids also but there are plenty of those in the room already.  If you are looking for different partners for that size, we should have them.

I know middle school is wrapping up in Indiana, but thought I would mention that I have a lot of interest from kids from Edwardsburg, MI in the 90lb to 105lb range who plan to come to Jimtown and Mishawaka this spring.  We have larger/older kids also but there are plenty of those in the room already.  If you are looking for different partners for that size, we should have them.

I forgot about that one, the wrestler from MD was Dewig and the other wrestler was from Bloomington South can't remember his name though. Dewig would have done well at state I can't remember if Dewig was a senior or not I know at one time Dewig placed 2nd at state but again I can't remember the details on that. Dewig was going for a near side cradle with his head in the kid's side getting ready to bring the head to the knee the Bloomington south wrestler turned away from Dewig thus causing Dewig to be essentially trying to force his back to bend backwards ref called it illegal the Bloomington South coaches allowed him to take the win, the Bloomington south kid went to state and there was nothing Dewig could do about it. MD crowd was not very kind to that kid all the way through the tournament and into team state, we were hoping for a rematch but it never materialized. I think the Bloomington South kid would probably change history if he could but we all know how that goes, we all make mistakes in life it's just sometimes everyone is watching.