crazyotto

I think in terms of depth there is no contest. DI is heads and tails above the others. That said, there is not a lot of money available at the DI level, 9.9 schollies total per team. So, I would guess that many top level DII, DIII, and NAIA can compete at the DI level.

I agree with your point that allowing an outside influence seed the wrestlers is a poor idea. The wrestlers decide this in their regional placement. Outside of that, regional pairings at the state meet should be random. True enough there will be finals type matches in the semis. Quite honestly, it should be that way. Most weight classes should have more than two top flight wrestlers which means semis are a blast to watch! Using GMV example: Cooper, Myers, and Marinelli were all worthy of making the finals (was Kowal here as well or had he already dropped?), as it should be. Do you think this could be done through separation of returning state champs/placers?

Thx all for the enlightenment. I can see where there are situations in which the top guys in a class come out of the same region. In many cases the top guys are returning placers. Separation can be given to these returning placers. Criteria can be put in place in which returning placers from the same class a year prior are given 1st order of separation, from a different weight class 2nd order, etc..... Another question if I may. Are all 32 slots seeded? Or is it just the top four?

Damn straight, grappler. I did not know this. I have heard many comment on this "why isn't the state tournament seeded?" So I assumed it was a total blind draw. Thanks for setting me straight on this. Help me out once more.....Is the regional a blind draw? Perhaps that is where the confusion is. And, if it is a blind draw then that should be changed through a seed meeting. Thanks again.

Heck yes. The best wrestling is generally qtrs and semis. We agree on something!!! but ya still gotta seed

What was the attendance at last years state? What is capacity of Alltech? This will drive the venue options as well as location. Also, I can see where this could be pared down to a two stage regional->state event rather than three stages. Seeding is a must. It makes no sense to not seed. Choose a weight class, any class. There are usually three or four boys that are ahead of the pack. Now, there is a distinct possibility that #1 meets #2 in first rd and then #3 in 2nd round. Now you have put two of the top three in the conso bracket through benign neglect. Neither has a shot at making finals, or even semis. not only are the top guys knocked down but this produces a very anticlimactic semis and finals. Every inseason tournament worth its weigh is seeded. We see it from little league up to the pros in every sport.

Agree with bigedcoach. Great match between two evenly matched wrestlers. Myers slide by is a thing of beauty. I don't think Cooper saw it coming. Myers leg defense at end of 2nd was great. Cooper was in deeeeeeep and could not finish. Myers definitely stalling in 3rd, did he ever take a step forward? Cooper pushing the action looking for td and stall call. I think the ref did a nice job, could have given the stall warning sooner but I think he did a nice job. Two good wrestlers can make life easy or miserable. These guys made it easy, very clean match with no crazy scrambles. A wrestling fan can only hope for a re-match. My bet is that one of these guys goes 60 (the winner of this match gets choice, ha!) so they both have clear path to state finals.

Here is the schedule. It is a drawn out event, especially for the winning wrestlers. Look at the down time between matches, it is unacceptable imho. Use DI for example: Win 1st round match on Thurs at 6:00, wait until 11:30 Friday to wrestle again. Win that qtr match and wait until 6:30 to wrestle semis. Then wait 24 hours to wrestle in finals. This is due in part to the fact that all three divisions are wrestling simultaneously, even with the staggered schedule. Primarily however, the event is drawn out to increase the gate. A ticket is needed for each session, either through an all session pass $75 or individual sessions at $15. For the fan the event moves along well and the parade of champions gives me chills every year. http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/wr/boys/stsched.htm

Thanks for the update. Congrats to Stephen! Congrats to both! This is great for the entire state!

The gate is split between the host and the state. Host keeps concessions. I stand by my belief that a trip to state must be earned. Kids get it. I have witnessed many a kid get excited about qualifying for district. For many, the district meet is the toughest comp they will see all year. For others (St Eds, Graham, Perry, Moeller), winning/finishing high at state is the goal. To boil it down: sectional is like the first round or two of the KY state. District is the next few rounds and state is the qtrs-semis-champs. As for ranked wrestlers getting left behind due to tough district assignments, yes it happens a couple of times every year. Although, if you can't get out of your own district then your probably weren't going to place high at state. Seeding at sectional is done via committee, while district and state seeds are earned via results at prior event i.e. a 2nd at sectionals gets you a 2 seed.

Yes, 32 man is very much watered down. 16 man bracket is the way to go. The state can make more money by producing a sectional->divisional->state format. Sectionals are one day events, division and state are two day events. Lots of money in gate receipts, more fan interest in state as it would actually mean something to get there. Which, in turn would bring out more folks to watch.

I know it is only January, but this just might be the post of the year.

Yes, Cooper-Myers should be the final match of the evening.

The 16 v 32 man bracket is interesting. I do not like they way the system works in OH with 16 man brackets. Kids that win wait around forever to wrestle again. Especially when they reach the semis and finals. This is due in part to the fact that all three division state championships are held in unison, and in part because the OHSAA spreads things over multiple days to increase the gate and concessions. Mpire can speak to this. Though in KY I think a 16 man bracket will work. Tournament held over a two day period (Fairfield Invite was this way, no?), with not much waiting. I don't buy the 32 man bracket idea just to get kids involved. Kids wrestle because they love the sport, and this sport is not about handing out participation ribbons. Qualifying for state should be earned.

I would like to see a seeded tournament as well. EASILY done via a sectional->district->state format.

As interest in wrestling continues to grow, Alltech will fill up more and will "feel" like the best venue. If wrestling were to outgrow Alltech, then YumCenter might be viable. First order of business is to fill an arena.

Okay, I get it. somebody posted a video. I assumed it would be something earth shaking. In my opinion it was not. As for your assertion that I stir things up and then erase posts, well that just is not true. I looked at my posts after the earlier accusation and saw nothing. So, I will refer you to my posts. FIVE PAGES of posts. Supportive of your boys, supportive of KY wrestling in general. I watched the above video. Hemkreiter is huge. I would like to see the 11-2 beat down Austin put on him. I recall Austin beating Robinson (name?, kid from Indiana he beat at NHSCA), that kid was huge as well. Austin was in on a number of shots. He out techniqued the heck out of Robinson. Had he been the same size he would have teched him in two periods. As for Hemkreiter, I had never heard of him. I went to Baumspage and saw nothing of note. Did not know he made finals of SWOWCA. I do not follow Ohio D2 wrestling much, but I will keep and eye on him and Ross. A nice finish at Fairfield against many D1 teams, impressive. I gave props to CC on the Fairfield thread. In my opinion, CC would be top four in OH D2. This is a fair opinion as CC enrollment is probably closer to OH D2 than OH D1. Further, CC would score a lot of points in OH D1 tournament. Both Myers would place high (go check my posts) , Fausz and Hamilton would place as well.

I have repeatedly commented positively on your boys. My question was regarding why this win deserves its own thread. Nothing more.

You are wrong. Downright wrong. Pull up my posts, all five pages of them. Read up before you throw daggers.

This is what makes the win more impressive. Tight race for team title and CC rises while Fairfield (with more in champ semis) wilts.

Looks as though CC came through in the money rounds. Nice job. Dumb question: Rat tails earn team points? I've been around a long time but haven't had a kid on the mat in just as long so I suppose I am slipping. I did not think team points were awarded for rat tails. Thx

No offense meant. Please don't take this the wrong way (I have said nothing but good things about Austin) but how is a 3-2 win over an OH Div 2 district qualifier a big deal? The kid was 2 and 3 at his district, good for 6th place. Top four from each of four districts moves on to state and this kid was not among the top 16 in Div 2, not even top 20 for that matter. I would have put big money on Austin scoring bonus points against this kid.

"Alternate view" from flo. Yep, Dake had control before they went out. I have read answers from a number of refs on a few other boards that all agree with the call. This video (skip to the 8:30 mark) shows this. oops...........here's the link http://www.flowrestling.org/coverage/250076-Southern-Scuffle-2013/video/676687-Kyle-Dake-versus-David-Taylor-at-2013-Southern-Scuffle

Flo is covering the action live. Taylor majored Caldwell 10-0! I was expecting a win, but not by md. This sets the stage for Dake-Taylor. Will this be the match where Taylor breaks through Dake's defense? Penn State with 5 in the finals.