State Tournament

[grumpyoldman]

5 hours ago, Bump11 said:

just sent this to every BOC member

+1

[cbg]

12 hours ago, Justhere4myboys said:

How do we access contact for the BOC?

The Board of Control members are listed on the TSSAA website.  I will say that Patrick Spangler of Bradley Central is probably the only member that has a clue with regards to wrestling.  If the people at Bradley or Cleveland want Patrick Spangler to do anything for the sport of wrestling they more than likely should have AJ reach out to PS.  AJ has a unique way of influencing the politicians in Bradley County!

[cbg]

47 minutes ago, PackMentality said:

The State schedule is beyond absurd but so is the Region/Substate structure.  Region 3 only has 7 schools and 4 wrestlers go to Substate.  Having these kids make weight an extra week is just irresponsible.

IMO, you should not use the "EXCUSE" about kids cutting or making weight for several consecutive days.  One of the main reasons that the National Federation implemented the stringent rules against weight reduction and forcing kids to pass the hydration test is to discourage weight cutting by the wrestlers.  By using weight reduction for several consecutive days as an excuse will just confirm that the National Federation was correct in their decision.  

[WrestlinFan]

Agree...... But, these kids are going to be in hotels, sitting around more than they should be and eating out at usually unhealthy establishments for 3 days. They will put on weight they normally wouldn't be and then have to lose it compared to their normal workouts and eating healthy at home. 

[PackMentality]

1 hour ago, cbg said:

IMO, you should not use the "EXCUSE" about kids cutting or making weight for several consecutive days.  One of the main reasons that the National Federation implemented the stringent rules against weight reduction and forcing kids to pass the hydration test is to discourage weight cutting by the wrestlers.  By using weight reduction for several consecutive days as an excuse will just confirm that the National Federation was correct in their decision.  

I understand but that thinking is just unrealistic and has an unintended negative impact on the kids.  They have all already certified. Regardless, the extra week of wrestling created by the dumb Region/Substate structure is silly.  Just not sure I see the point other than ticket sales for the host teams.

[cbg]

1 hour ago, PackMentality said:

I understand but that thinking is just unrealistic and has an unintended negative impact on the kids.  They have all already certified. Regardless, the extra week of wrestling created by the dumb Region/Substate structure is silly.  Just not sure I see the point other than ticket sales for the host teams.

The T$$AA receives a major portion of the gate receipts.  When dealing with the TSSAA always follow the money!

[mat73557]

Beware.  Rant ahead. 

A few things.  The board of control.  Most of the members have no skin in the game for wrestling.  While several of them are from schools that technically have wrestling programs, Bradley and Warren County are really the only schools who are invested in wrestling year in and year out.  (no offense to Hamblen or CR or those who are trying)

Morristown-Hamblen High School West

Memphis Central High School

Evangelical Christian School

Donelson Christian Academy

Webb School of Knoxville

Cane Ridge High School

Milan High School

Bradley Central High School

Warren Co. Schools (Director)

Loretto High School

Trinity Christian Academy

Fulton High School

Who are the "wrestling schools" in that list?

So when Mark Reeves or anyone else makes a suggestion regarding wrestling, they are almost always going to go a long with what his proposals are.  They dont know any better.  "A sixteen man bracket over three days?  Sure, sounds good to us."  Obviously, the board of control does not understand the sport of wrestling.

The 16 man bracket for AA is a load of crap too.  It does not hurt to have a 32 man bracket for the large schools.  For you purists out there who cry about only the best making it to state, the best kids are going to be there regardless.  Why shut out a bunch of kids who are on the fringe of being the best?  It doesnt hurt the tournament for them to be there and get put out on the first day. Now, a lot of schools will no longer have a state qualifier. 

"Oh tell them to work harder."  No.  That doesn't cut it.  If you really care about wrestling, you would want to give every kid the chance to learn and appreciate what wrestling offers... regardless if they have a mediocre coach, or are in a small town, or have administration that isnt supportive.  More kids need to "make it to state".

A couple of years ago, at the state tournament, there were a lot of schools who only had one kid,  Teams like Kingsbury, South Doyle, Karns, Hillsboro.  When is the next time you are gonna see one of those kids at state?  Its gonna be a cold day in heck.....  I'm sure that will be good for recruiting wrestlers at those schools.  "Our last state qualifier was 5 years ago."  "Yeah Coach, no thanks."

And from another angle, there are a lot more kids in AA schools than A schools, but the same number make it to state?

According to the TSSAA website, AA has 126,773 students.  Single A has only 60,735.  Double the numbers, but the same size bracket for the state tournament?  Was someone worried that the A schools were going to be mad?

Girls - - I want the girls, but I have been told that the boy's bracket might have been cut to stay in line with what is offered for girls.  I would think that if the girls had the numbers that the boys had, it would make sense to have a 32 man bracket for them as well.

Sub-State - No reason for it.  I have yet to hear what was broken about our old system.  

Bottom line, as I have said many times, the more kids wrestling in the championship event, the better off wrestling will be in Tennessee.  We need to see more schools sending their teams to the state tournament with police escorts.  We need to see more billboards congratulating wrestlers making it to state.  We need to see more kids going back home and telling their friends about how they finally made it to state.  We need more mons and dads posting their kids picture on Facebook.  We dont need less of any of those things.

 

[Mason422]

10 minutes ago, mat73557 said:

Beware.  Rant ahead. 

A few things.  The board of control.  Most of the members have no skin in the game for wrestling.  While several of them are from schools that technically have wrestling programs, Bradley and Warren County are really the only schools who are invested in wrestling year in and year out.  (no offense to Hamblen or CR or those who are trying)

Morristown-Hamblen High School West

Memphis Central High School

Evangelical Christian School

Donelson Christian Academy

Webb School of Knoxville

Cane Ridge High School

Milan High School

Bradley Central High School

Warren Co. Schools (Director)

Loretto High School

Trinity Christian Academy

Fulton High School

Who are the "wrestling schools" in that list?

So when Mark Reeves or anyone else makes a suggestion regarding wrestling, they are almost always going to go a long with what his proposals are.  They dont know any better.  "A sixteen man bracket over three days?  Sure, sounds good to us."  Obviously, the board of control does not understand the sport of wrestling.

The 16 man bracket for AA is a load of crap too.  It does not hurt to have a 32 man bracket for the large schools.  For you purists out there who cry about only the best making it to state, the best kids are going to be there regardless.  Why shut out a bunch of kids who are on the fringe of being the best?  It doesnt hurt the tournament for them to be there and get put out on the first day. Now, a lot of schools will no longer have a state qualifier. 

"Oh tell them to work harder."  No.  That doesn't cut it.  If you really care about wrestling, you would want to give every kid the chance to learn and appreciate what wrestling offers... regardless if they have a mediocre coach, or are in a small town, or have administration that isnt supportive.  More kids need to "make it to state".

A couple of years ago, at the state tournament, there were a lot of schools who only had one kid,  Teams like Kingsbury, South Doyle, Karns, Hillsboro.  When is the next time you are gonna see one of those kids at state?  Its gonna be a cold day in heck.....  I'm sure that will be good for recruiting wrestlers at those schools.  "Our last state qualifier was 5 years ago."  "Yeah Coach, no thanks."

And from another angle, there are a lot more kids in AA schools than A schools, but the same number make it to state?

According to the TSSAA website, AA has 126,773 students.  Single A has only 60,735.  Double the numbers, but the same size bracket for the state tournament?  Was someone worried that the A schools were going to be mad?

Girls - - I want the girls, but I have been told that the boy's bracket might have been cut to stay in line with what is offered for girls.  I would think that if the girls had the numbers that the boys had, it would make sense to have a 32 man bracket for them as well.

Sub-State - No reason for it.  I have yet to hear what was broken about our old system.  

Bottom line, as I have said many times, the more kids wrestling in the championship event, the better off wrestling will be in Tennessee.  We need to see more schools sending their teams to the state tournament with police escorts.  We need to see more billboards congratulating wrestlers making it to state.  We need to see more kids going back home and telling their friends about how they finally made it to state.  We need more mons and dads posting their kids picture on Facebook.  We dont need less of any of those things.

 

Well said and like I keep saying one of the worst decisions I have ever seen. 3 days for a 16 man bracket?  Really??? And yes more kids should come to state. I would completely support a 32 man bracket 

Edited February 8, 2022 by Mason422

[dbradford]

14 hours ago, mat73557 said:

Beware.  Rant ahead. 

A few things.  The board of control.  Most of the members have no skin in the game for wrestling.  While several of them are from schools that technically have wrestling programs, Bradley and Warren County are really the only schools who are invested in wrestling year in and year out.  (no offense to Hamblen or CR or those who are trying)

Morristown-Hamblen High School West

Memphis Central High School

Evangelical Christian School

Donelson Christian Academy

Webb School of Knoxville

Cane Ridge High School

Milan High School

Bradley Central High School

Warren Co. Schools (Director)

Loretto High School

Trinity Christian Academy

Fulton High School

Who are the "wrestling schools" in that list?

So when Mark Reeves or anyone else makes a suggestion regarding wrestling, they are almost always going to go a long with what his proposals are.  They dont know any better.  "A sixteen man bracket over three days?  Sure, sounds good to us."  Obviously, the board of control does not understand the sport of wrestling.

The 16 man bracket for AA is a load of crap too.  It does not hurt to have a 32 man bracket for the large schools.  For you purists out there who cry about only the best making it to state, the best kids are going to be there regardless.  Why shut out a bunch of kids who are on the fringe of being the best?  It doesnt hurt the tournament for them to be there and get put out on the first day. Now, a lot of schools will no longer have a state qualifier. 

"Oh tell them to work harder."  No.  That doesn't cut it.  If you really care about wrestling, you would want to give every kid the chance to learn and appreciate what wrestling offers... regardless if they have a mediocre coach, or are in a small town, or have administration that isnt supportive.  More kids need to "make it to state".

A couple of years ago, at the state tournament, there were a lot of schools who only had one kid,  Teams like Kingsbury, South Doyle, Karns, Hillsboro.  When is the next time you are gonna see one of those kids at state?  Its gonna be a cold day in heck.....  I'm sure that will be good for recruiting wrestlers at those schools.  "Our last state qualifier was 5 years ago."  "Yeah Coach, no thanks."

And from another angle, there are a lot more kids in AA schools than A schools, but the same number make it to state?

According to the TSSAA website, AA has 126,773 students.  Single A has only 60,735.  Double the numbers, but the same size bracket for the state tournament?  Was someone worried that the A schools were going to be mad?

Girls - - I want the girls, but I have been told that the boy's bracket might have been cut to stay in line with what is offered for girls.  I would think that if the girls had the numbers that the boys had, it would make sense to have a 32 man bracket for them as well.

Sub-State - No reason for it.  I have yet to hear what was broken about our old system.  

Bottom line, as I have said many times, the more kids wrestling in the championship event, the better off wrestling will be in Tennessee.  We need to see more schools sending their teams to the state tournament with police escorts.  We need to see more billboards congratulating wrestlers making it to state.  We need to see more kids going back home and telling their friends about how they finally made it to state.  We need more mons and dads posting their kids picture on Facebook.  We dont need less of any of those things.

 

you and I finally agree on something!  Good rant and very well  stated. 

[Justhere4myboys]

Has anybody else noticed that the D1 State Tournament Schedule has been pulled off the TSSAA Site. Is it too much to hope that we have been heard? I have received no reply from my email submission.

[sx1234]

Since everyone else is throwing out their ideas, ill throw mine out there too:

Since there are 4 divisions (A,AA, D2, and girls), and the cow palace is lock on location:

Each division has a 16 man bracket, the majority of the tournament should wrestled on Friday, building to the semi finals happening as a 'main event' type deal for Friday night.  Wrestle through the consolations that evening as well, but save all the medal matches to take place during the same time as the finals on Saturday. I think this should be done for several reasons- the kids that placed 6th through 3rd have to stay for podium pictures anyways- so have them wrestle while they're there. If the location changed, I would say keep the finals separate, but 4 mats in the cow palace feels empty, so I say keep 12 mats out there and have each weight class all wrestle at once. 

[Ummmno]

37 minutes ago, sx1234 said:

Since everyone else is throwing out their ideas, ill throw mine out there too:

Since there are 4 divisions (A,AA, D2, and girls), and the cow palace is lock on location:

Each division has a 16 man bracket, the majority of the tournament should wrestled on Friday, building to the semi finals happening as a 'main event' type deal for Friday night.  Wrestle through the consolations that evening as well, but save all the medal matches to take place during the same time as the finals on Saturday. I think this should be done for several reasons- the kids that placed 6th through 3rd have to stay for podium pictures anyways- so have them wrestle while they're there. If the location changed, I would say keep the finals separate, but 4 mats in the cow palace feels empty, so I say keep 12 mats out there and have each weight class all wrestle at once. 

I think that kinda takes away from the finals matches. Those should be the only matches going on. They earned the right to have all eyes on them at that time. 

 

Maybe wrestle all the other rounds immediately before then a quick change of the mats and go straight into finals.