Questions
Why does the PIAA permit 10 schools to gather at one site for a dual tournament, wrestle all day long to determine a champion, yet needs two weeks to determine a district and state team champion?
Why is a new weight system in place that makes it more beneficial for coaches to scratch a wrestler because he is one or two pounds above his weight loss program rather than use him at a higher weight class without a penalty?
Why do we rue the fact some athletes just won't come out to wrestle, when we have a weight program like this one and a nearly three-week dead period from the final regular season dual meet to the first round of the individual tournaments?
If the team tournament is such a great event, why wasn't every site in the first round – which had four different schools competing – sold out?
If wrestlers are flexible enough to compete in different weight classes, why are there no numbers on the singlets to identify them so the fans won't be totally confused by what's going on?
Finally, why has the cost of a hotel room nearly doubled in price in Hershey for the PIAA Championships?
Why is a new weight system in place that makes it more beneficial for coaches to scratch a wrestler because he is one or two pounds above his weight loss program rather than use him at a higher weight class without a penalty?
Why do we rue the fact some athletes just won't come out to wrestle, when we have a weight program like this one and a nearly three-week dead period from the final regular season dual meet to the first round of the individual tournaments?
If the team tournament is such a great event, why wasn't every site in the first round – which had four different schools competing – sold out?
If wrestlers are flexible enough to compete in different weight classes, why are there no numbers on the singlets to identify them so the fans won't be totally confused by what's going on?
Finally, why has the cost of a hotel room nearly doubled in price in Hershey for the PIAA Championships?
posted by Joe Tuscano at
12:14 AM
3 Comments:
The reasons you put forth, in addition to some others, is exactly why I, as a fan since the early 60's, no longer attend matches much anymore. This year, I only went to the Powerade semi-finals (the finals weren't very appealing to me)and one other dual in which there were about five forfeits. I began seeing a drop-off in talent about three or four years ago and it continues to spiral downward. Needless to say, I may have made my last trip to Hershey too!
P.S. I also preferred the OLD Hersheypark Arena - the atmosphere there was uncomparable !
I was with you all the way up to the part about Hershey. The quality there is still strong and some of the future great collegiate wrestlers are on display.
I would say there are a number of reasons why wrestling talent has dwindled. Probably the two biggest are that there are fewer kids in the schools and they have more things they can do than 20, 30 years ago.
Teams are in poor shape, I'd say. Forfeits are a constant problem and the dropoff from the stars to the soldiers is deep.
Powerade is one of the best tournaments in the nation in the regular season. Where can you find a two-time state champion wrestling a one-timer in the finals? Only in top flight tournaments like Powerade.
Sometimes, I think wistfully about Hersheypark Arena, too. Then I remember the lack of space, the odd smells, the poor concession stand choices, the ugly locker rooms, paint chips falling from the wall, and the 8 a.m. start times needed to just get the tournament done before midnight.
Giant Center, yeah!
Joe,
I understand what you say about the new Giant Center and why you prefer it. Most of the reasons you cited as problems with the old arena are exactly why I loved it!! (Of course I understand that it may be different from a wrestler's standpoint, i. e. the poor locker room facilities) It must be me just longing for the times when wrestling was in its heyday. Oh, and one other thing the OLD arena had in it's favor - only FOUR mats - you could actually watch more wrestling that way!
Another reason, I think, for the lack of participation (forfeits) in h.s. wrestling is the length of the YOUTH wrestling season. This has been a pet peeve of mine for years. This wasn't a problem years ago. But, as you noted, kids and PARENTS have so much to choose from NOW. When parents are first exposed to wrestling, and see that they have to spend all those hours in the bleachers from mid-November to late March/early April (if you go thru JO's), they just don't stick with it!! Wrestling, unlike many youth sports, is more like work than fun for many kids! The YOUTH season has always been longer then the h.s. season - that's ridiculous and, in my opinion, causes many, many kids to drop by the wayside.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home