State Duals format

[BayouBear]

After reviewing the results of the DI Region tournaments, it occurs to me that it is completely unfair to allow only the DI Region winners into the State Duals while allowing three DII Region 2nd place teams and two DII Region 3rd place teams into the State Duals.

 

I am not saying the field for the DII tournament should be fewer teams. My point is ... it is time for the DI Region runner-ups to be included.

 

Take a look at the eight DI Region runner-ups. All are quality teams and all have wrestlers which should place in the State Traditional.

 

1-Dobyns Bennett

2-Karns

3-Cleveland

4-Hixson

5-Centennial

6-FRA

7-Kenwood

8-Bartlett

 

It is hard to believe that MUS or Brentwood Academy would win a match over any of the DI runner ups. The TSSAA would defend this by simply saying they are taking the top 8 DI and top 8 DII teams. But the problem is the 7th and 8th DII team is equal to the 20th or 30th or possibly 60th DI team. Why should MUS be afforded the opportunity to wrestle in the state duals when wrestlers from teams like Cleveland or Kenwood seldom or never get the chance?

 

In a time when we are doing everything we can to attract people to our sport, it would seem the TSSAA would be working towards those goals also. Maybe they should take a look at college and professional sports for a few tips on marketing. In every case, these organizations have repeatedly enlarged the number of teams that participate in post season play.

 

I don't know and can't seem to find the Mission Statement of the TSSAA. If the mission of the TSSAA is to insure fair and equitable play for all athletes, then a reorganization is past due.

 

Take a second and think of a DI 16 team tournament. The teams could be seeded 1 through 16 using the current year results, previous year tournament result, returning state qualifiers, returning placers and returning champions. Using 4 mats, both the DI and DII tournaments could be wrestled in two days.

 

Comparing wrestling to the other sports...The list below shows the number of teams in each State tournament. (All classes and divisions added together. These numbers do not include Region play.)

 

Wrestling-16

Girls Bowling-24

Boys Bowling-24

Girls Basketball-28

Boys Basketball-28

Baseball-32

Girls Softball-32

Girls Soccer-24

Girls Volleyball-24

Boys Soccer-24

 

IMHO wrestling is getting the shaft and particularly DI wrestling.

Edited February 2, 2004 by BayouBear

[best_of_the_west]

I agree with you, in principle. However, I think the tournament is set up to find the top team, not the top teams. Therefore, if you don't make it out of your region, you don't have a chance to be the top team. If the tournament was run your way, I would like to see the top 4 teams be recognized. Good idea Mr. BayouBear.

[BayouBear]

Oh, I very much agree. DII should award 4 places and DI should award 6 or possibly 8 places.

[UCfan1234]

Just for clarification Farragut didn't place 2nd in region 2, in fact they didn't even wrestle in the region duals

[BayouBear]

My apologies. Correction made

Edited February 2, 2004 by BayouBear

[MatWizard87]

i know in soccer two years ago my team went to the state tournament and only three other D1 teams were there. bearden cookeville cordova and clarksville were the only public schools.

[BayouBear]

The current soccer format is;

 

8 teams from DI Class A-AA

8 teams from DI Class AAA

8 Teams from DII

[dragonwrestler]

When do the state dual brackets come out?

[toobadtoosad]

Dragon Wrestler,

Are you nick Rogers the 119?

[best_of_the_west]

Collierville's 119 is Shawn Speroff.

[dragonwrestler]

No, Nick Rogers wrestled 119 his freshman year, which would be 3 years ago.

[Gripper]

I definitely agree with you BayouBear. Instead of just talking and complaining about it, how can anyone take any action? There does need to be some changes made for sure.