This is the first time I have replied in a venue like this. I read this forum regularly because I enjoy and support wrestling and want to keep up with, not only the Seymour kids, but lots of other young wrestlers from other schools I've come to know and who, along with their parents, I consider to be friends. Do we really need to get into discussions here about whose fans said what and whether a team had a member with a bad attitude?
ABUSIVE FANS:
It is sad to see folks taking this space to complain about someone's fans or a team's sportsmanship. Every team has fans that don't represent the team or community. At the Seymour and Notre Dame finals, I was at the mat's edge and a loud Notre Dame fan behind the scoring table was taunting and insulting the Seymour wrestlers who were hurt. I was embarrassed for everyone there. No one who steps on a mat to compete should be treated like that. A week ago, it was not certain that no less than five injured Seymour wrestlers would be able to compete in the state championship tournament. Four of them took the mat Saturday. I'm sure Notre Dame had some of the same end of the season problems with banged up wrestlers. In fact, after the semi-finals an Irish wrestler with a taped up hand was throwing up in a trash can and no one was making fun of him. I was proud of him. I applaud his grit and determination. It is part of what makes wrestling such a great sport, perseverance in the face of adversity. All of these wrestlers who put their personal troubles and painful injuries aside to compete should be applauded, regardless of who they wrestled for.
I hope someone from Notre Dame talked to this loud mouth guy who was so far out of line, just like I hope Seymour fans would do if they heard any fan being ugly. But I don't take that guy's poor behaviour to be a fair representation of the Notre Dame wrestling community.
UNSPORTMANLIKE CONDUCT TEAM POINT DEDUCTION:
As far as the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty point taken off Seymour's team score, I was one of several people in a position to see most of what happened. I really couldn't tell if the Seymour wrestler kicked a chair or got tangled up stepping through the chairs, but the ref was at the scoring table about to sign the scoring sheets, facing away from the mat and did not see it, and it looked like the other ref was also out of position to see what really happened. When the chairs clanged together the ref at the scoring table turned to look, and a man walking by pointed at the Seymour wrestler as if to say, "It wasn't me." By then, the Seymour wrestler was walking away. The match was over. The hand shaking had begun and Notre Dame was celebrating. The ref turned his head back around and said, "I guess that's a team point from Seymour." He adjusted the score and signed the score sheets and when it was pointed out he didn't see what happened, he said, "It was confirmed by a tournament official." He then sought out the other ref after the fact. I don't think that was appropriate and was a low blow that mars what was a wonderful championship match. When the wrestlers walked off the mat there was one point separating two great teams who both fought admirably.
But instead of complaining or finger pointing, I think we should be celebrating a great showdown that was brewing all year. And to come down to the last match . . . it couldn't have been written any better.
The fact is that every team there could probably point out incidents of unbecoming conduct from the competition and abusive loud mouthed fans. You don't wrestle if you aren't competitive and you can't control who shows up at an event. The TSSAA can police unruly behaviour but only up to a point.
What's more important is that we counter the loud mouths by being respectful and honorable in how we treat all of the kids, their coaches and fans. The kids need good examples to counter the bad ones.
My personal experience has been that Notre Dame is a class act and their team and coaches were cordial and gracious after their win and I appreciate that. I would never let a few jerks in the stands take anything away from my respect for Notre Dame or their state title, and I think the same principal applies for Seymour.
I would rather see debate here on what a wonderful championship we saw. How could it have been any more exciting than to have the outcome be uncertain until the last second had ticked off the clock? Both teams had a great year and it was a wonderful, well fought match. Congratulations to Notre Dame for their win, and congratulations to both teams for a good season. My hat's off to both of them. We could have the beginning of a healthy rivalry which can only be good for the sport.
If you want to debate the match, watch the video and let's get away from finger pointing and complaining and focus on the wrestling and these great kids.
I would also like to say thank you to Clarksville High School for being good hosts and providing some great staff support. The teenagers that helped were great. Thank you.