Understanding the section team tournament
If you are a little confused by the first part of wrestling's team postseason, don't be disappointed. I had to read the WPIAL rules again to make sure. Here's how it goes, I think:
The top five teams in each section advance to the WPIAL Team Tournament this year. There, that's the easy part.
As you know, each section was divided in half in Class AAA and AA, called subsections. That's why there is an 'A' and 'B' designation on the standings below. The top three teams in each of the subsections will compete Wednesday, Jan. 26, mostly for placement in the WPIAL Team Tournament.
Ah, but that makes six teams, right? Well, sort of.
The No. 1 teams in the subsections wrestle the No. 2 teams in the other subsection at one site. Last year, the matches were held at the top team in the B sections. This year, the top finisher in A gets to host the matches. The winners of these matches wrestle for the section title, the losers wrestle for third and fourth place.
The third-place finishers from each subsection will wrestle each other - not sure where yet - and the winner advances to the WPIAL Team Tournament, where it will probably be fed to the top seeds. The loser goes home.
That's how you get the five teams.
Any team that makes the finals of the WPIAL Team Tournament in either classification gets invited to the PIAA Team Tournament, which as you might know from my previous posts is one of my favorite tournaments, even if it's a shameless money-grab, waste-of-time event that simply makes the hotel rates go up in Hershey and costs thousands of dollars for the participating schools, and . . . well, OK, enough.
Hopefully, you have a better understanding of this event, now. Feel free to correct me or leave a question.
The top five teams in each section advance to the WPIAL Team Tournament this year. There, that's the easy part.
As you know, each section was divided in half in Class AAA and AA, called subsections. That's why there is an 'A' and 'B' designation on the standings below. The top three teams in each of the subsections will compete Wednesday, Jan. 26, mostly for placement in the WPIAL Team Tournament.
Ah, but that makes six teams, right? Well, sort of.
The No. 1 teams in the subsections wrestle the No. 2 teams in the other subsection at one site. Last year, the matches were held at the top team in the B sections. This year, the top finisher in A gets to host the matches. The winners of these matches wrestle for the section title, the losers wrestle for third and fourth place.
The third-place finishers from each subsection will wrestle each other - not sure where yet - and the winner advances to the WPIAL Team Tournament, where it will probably be fed to the top seeds. The loser goes home.
That's how you get the five teams.
Any team that makes the finals of the WPIAL Team Tournament in either classification gets invited to the PIAA Team Tournament, which as you might know from my previous posts is one of my favorite tournaments, even if it's a shameless money-grab, waste-of-time event that simply makes the hotel rates go up in Hershey and costs thousands of dollars for the participating schools, and . . . well, OK, enough.
Hopefully, you have a better understanding of this event, now. Feel free to correct me or leave a question.
posted by Joe Tuscano at
10:22 AM
7 Comments:
Not all that complicated:
1-2 in each subsection have clinched WPIAL Team Tournament berths.
Wed., Jan. 26th
At A-1 (6:00 pm): A-1 vs. B-2, B-1 vs. A-2.
8:00 pm
Winners meet for Section title.
Losers meet for 3rd/4th.
Also at A-1 (4:30 pm if possible) A-3 vs. B-3. Winner is 5th and qualifies for WPIAL Team Tournament. If A-1 can't accommodate the 5th place match, it will be scheduled somewhere else. A-3 seems likely site this year. B-3 next year (in keeping with the rotation).
What's so hard to understand?
Wish I had put it that well. Thanks.
Joe, has it right it's just a money grab event what 5th place team will get a past the first round if theyaare paired up with the first four seeds. Fans get ready to give the WPIAL AND PIAA you're hard earned money for a meaningless so called team championship. It wouldn't even make me mad if the O-R didn't even cover it.
Ask the kids on that 5th place team that qualifies for the wpial team tourney and gets a chance at an upset, i bet they dont think its meaningless
Former Wrestling Fan....
To reply to your comment, Central Catholic will enter as a 5th place team after losing close ones to Franklin Regional and Kiski. They were ranked #2 all season long
Well, your confusion has been reduced to brackets...that should help...
http://www.wpial.org/1011wrresults.asp
You can also find the brackets on the blog.
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