Sometimes an upcoming event can spark memories of a past column or
discussion.
discussion.
The CIF State wrestling meet takes place Friday-Saturday at Rabobank Arena
in Bakersfield. I had the opportunity to cover the event five times (1999-2003) at
the Spanos Center at the University of the Pacific in Stockton. The event is the
Yankee Stadium of high school wrestling and moved to Bakersfield after 2003
because the Spanos Center did not have the space to meet the growing demand
for attendance, thus moving to a bigger venue.
in Bakersfield. I had the opportunity to cover the event five times (1999-2003) at
the Spanos Center at the University of the Pacific in Stockton. The event is the
Yankee Stadium of high school wrestling and moved to Bakersfield after 2003
because the Spanos Center did not have the space to meet the growing demand
for attendance, thus moving to a bigger venue.
States such as Iowa, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania are widely
regarded as high school wrestling hotbeds. That notion is largely based on depth
of nationally ranked wrestlers, in same cases on a per capita basis.
regarded as high school wrestling hotbeds. That notion is largely based on depth
of nationally ranked wrestlers, in same cases on a per capita basis.
During my tenure as a sports reporter, I wrote a column about how California has
a more difficult high school state wrestling tournament than any of the
aforementioned states. Not once in that column did I say California had better
wrestlers but I had a few readers reply vehemently to the effect of “how dare you
say California has the best high school wrestlers! Pennsylvania has more nationally
ranked wrestlers!” I had the same discussion with an old college friend nearly 20
years ago while in Las Vegas for Super Bowl weekend. This friend, who is from
Ohio, vehemently says, “Ohio! Ohio! Ohio!”
a more difficult high school state wrestling tournament than any of the
aforementioned states. Not once in that column did I say California had better
wrestlers but I had a few readers reply vehemently to the effect of “how dare you
say California has the best high school wrestlers! Pennsylvania has more nationally
ranked wrestlers!” I had the same discussion with an old college friend nearly 20
years ago while in Las Vegas for Super Bowl weekend. This friend, who is from
Ohio, vehemently says, “Ohio! Ohio! Ohio!”
Which state has the best wrestlers? I’m not even remotely qualified to answer. Plus,
that term is subjective. If a certain college football program sends more players to
the NFL, does that make them the best program? No because it is not a college
football program’s job to be an NFL proving ground.
that term is subjective. If a certain college football program sends more players to
the NFL, does that make them the best program? No because it is not a college
football program’s job to be an NFL proving ground.
However, to this day, I stand firmly behind my argument that California has the most
stringent state wrestling tournament because it does not separate its weight class
champions by division. As of 2014, Hawaii, Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky and New
Jersey were other states that do not separate their weight class champions by
division. Conversely, Iowa and Ohio have three divisions per weight class.
Oklahoma has four while Pennsylvania has two.
stringent state wrestling tournament because it does not separate its weight class
champions by division. As of 2014, Hawaii, Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky and New
Jersey were other states that do not separate their weight class champions by
division. Conversely, Iowa and Ohio have three divisions per weight class.
Oklahoma has four while Pennsylvania has two.
What I mean by not separating state champions is that if, for instance, you wrestle
in the 145-pound weight class and take first place in your bracket, you are the
champion of that class for the entire state. Conversely, the states that have multiple
divisions within a weight class will have a Division I champion, Division II champion,
Division III champion and so forth.
in the 145-pound weight class and take first place in your bracket, you are the
champion of that class for the entire state. Conversely, the states that have multiple
divisions within a weight class will have a Division I champion, Division II champion,
Division III champion and so forth.
Those who advocate a single-class tournament, like myself, believe that having
multiple state champions takes away from the concept of state champion. Those
that favor classed state champions would argue that school size and competition
have an impact on a wrestler’s success.
multiple state champions takes away from the concept of state champion. Those
that favor classed state champions would argue that school size and competition
have an impact on a wrestler’s success.
That argument is not without merit because by sheer numbers a school with 2,000
students is going to have more youngsters from which to draw than say a school
with 500 students. In addition, some wrestlers may compete in leagues that feature
more stringent competition.
students is going to have more youngsters from which to draw than say a school
with 500 students. In addition, some wrestlers may compete in leagues that feature
more stringent competition.
In team sports, having classed champions make perfect sense. In sports like
football and basketball, you have players with different sizes, speed and skill level.
In such sports, you can match up the highest level Div. V team against the lowest
Div. I team and have a competitive game. On the other hand, if you match up a
top-end Div. I team against a top-end Div. V team, I’d put my the deed of my house
on the Div. I team.
football and basketball, you have players with different sizes, speed and skill level.
In such sports, you can match up the highest level Div. V team against the lowest
Div. I team and have a competitive game. On the other hand, if you match up a
top-end Div. I team against a top-end Div. V team, I’d put my the deed of my house
on the Div. I team.
Wrestling, however, is a different dynamic because combatants are only going
against people that are in the same weight class. It’s not like football where a fast
200-pound linebacker is going to outclass a small but fast 130-pound running
back. In wrestling, 145 pounds is 145 pounds. It does not matter if you are from
a school of 2,000 kids or 200 kids.
against people that are in the same weight class. It’s not like football where a fast
200-pound linebacker is going to outclass a small but fast 130-pound running
back. In wrestling, 145 pounds is 145 pounds. It does not matter if you are from
a school of 2,000 kids or 200 kids.
Which state has the best wrestlers is open for debate and I won’t argue with which
state one gives. However, there is no gray area that there is a huge difference
between being the champ of your weight class throughout the entire state versus
the champion of your class within your division. Think of it like this, when you are
the champion of your weight class for the whole state, there is no “what if” factor.
You have gone through every division. If you are say the Div. III 145-pounder, you
only had to go against Div. III wrestlers. The youngster owes no apologies. He
can only do what is asked of him.
state one gives. However, there is no gray area that there is a huge difference
between being the champ of your weight class throughout the entire state versus
the champion of your class within your division. Think of it like this, when you are
the champion of your weight class for the whole state, there is no “what if” factor.
You have gone through every division. If you are say the Div. III 145-pounder, you
only had to go against Div. III wrestlers. The youngster owes no apologies. He
can only do what is asked of him.
However, any high school wrestler worth their salt should want the challenge of
being an unclassed champion.
being an unclassed champion.
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