6/02/2009

Wrestling change

Not that you would be able to find information about this on the PIAA web site, but the PIAA has voted to not release the predrawn brackets for the individual wrestling tournament until the weekend before the start of the tournament. Normally, the brackets would appear on the PIAA Web site, showing the district matchups for the tournament. For example, if a wrestler was third in the WPIAL (District 7), he could go the predrawn bracket and see what place wrestler from another district he will have to wrestle in the first round.

Apparently, some wrestlers were attempting to manipulate where they would be in the bracket by either forfeiting out or simply losing on purpose. If a wrestler knew that there was a good chance a defending state champion was going to be on his side of the bracket, he might be able to manipulate his way to into the other side of the bracket.

The other problem that was popping up was that some districts finished their tournaments two weeks before the state tournament while others were done on the weekend before the state event. Wrestlers or coaches would be able to attend other district tournaments to scout their future opponent.

The PIAA posted the predrawn brackets on its Web site, normally around the start of the season.

I'd like to give you a little more information on this but the minutes to the PIAA meeting is not on the organization's Web site. At least, I can't find it. That's not all that surprising because this Web site was put together by someone who failed to go to Web site construction school.

4 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

This has been going on for years. When i was in h.s. 25 years ago i knew guys that would throw matches in the regional to get away from other wrestlers at states in the bracket.

Tuesday, June 02, 2009 5:45:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why not have all districts wrestle the same weekend?

WPIAL AA needs combine section and WPIAL. This would shorten the season.

Here is another valid thought. Make District team tournaments, weekend dual tournament. Do the same for the State team tournament. The entire thing would be over in two weeks.

Shortening the season will help the sport.

Wednesday, June 03, 2009 1:12:00 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Question is, will there be a random draw. Without a random draw not posting the brackets will have no effect as the bracket placement is merely a rotation. I forget in which direction it rotates, but its either 2009's 285 placement becomes 2010's 103 or the other direction. Posted by the PIAA or not if they don't change to a random placement procedure, the same situation will persist, you will just have to fill in the blanks

Friday, June 05, 2009 6:06:00 AM  
Anonymous Joe said...

From what I understand, it will be a random draw. But, again, since the notes were quickly removed from the Web site, I am not sure.

The rotation process, I assume, will no longer be used because it's too easy to figure out. But it's possible the PIAA could come up with one, two or three different rotations so you won't know where a wrestler will be placed.

I doubt it will be drawn from a hat.

Friday, June 05, 2009 10:19:00 AM  

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