AA Top Six (Ranking v Finish)

[Rustavi]

Primarily, just wanted to congratulate those guys that worked to make their goals. For many, HS is the end of the line for their wrestling career, so kudos to all those guys who placed at the State Tournament who went into it unranked but were determined in pursuing their goals.

This is the quantity from the last Pin-TN rankings for each weight that will place in AA:

• Four each at 120, 132, 138, 152, 198
• Five each at 106, 160, 170, 182, 220, 285
• All Six at 113, 162, 145

In fact, before the last day, 145 still has a chance to be perfect in their placement.

I know of at least one guy who went all season unranked and will place. He had beaten ranked guys during the season but was probably considered marginal. I suspect there are others. (If you’re curious – no, I’m not kin to him – just know of him and the work he put in.)

Secondarily, I see some come on the boards and complain about rankings earlier in the season and throughout. I think the rankers, all in all, do pretty good. I looked but didn’t keep the numbers at this time last year, and I believe that Pin-TN was on 5/6 and 6/6 in the final rankings for 21-22 – so even a little better last year.

I think griping about being left out of the rankings is akin to a bench-sitter in baseball saying he should be batting 8^th or 9^th. You can avoid that by making yourself one of the top five batters. The thing about wrestling is that you get to go out and prove where you belong. I understand parents wanting their son to get some recognition, but we all understand that actually placing is preferred over ranking.

Finally, thanks to the coaches that put in the work and team parents that drive these guys all over the state at early and late hours.