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The
Draw Has Got To Go
(1/28/03)
I said it from the day they put it into effect. "Its just going to confuse the spectator that much more than they already are." I'm not talking about the avid wrestling fan; I'm talking about the new fans we are trying to attract to our sport. Some wrestlers' moms still don't understand all the rules. It's not just the mothers either, some fans still don't know what the coin flip before the dual is for. So why confuse the fans? Confusing the fans is actually the least of my worries about the random draw, a draw that decides which weight class will start a dual meet. Maybe its because I'm an old school guy with everything. I loved the fact that the matches would start with the lighter guys and end with the heavyweights. Everybody loves the heavyweights and almost all of them have nicknames. I remember going to a couple of duals back in the day when the dual would be tied going into the heavyweight match. Both times the whole gym was on its feet chanting their heavyweight's nickname. Now I know some of you guys are saying that a dual doesn't have to end with heavyweights to be tied entering the last match, but lets face it its not the same.
Besides the old school approach and confusing the fans, the biggest reason why I don't like the random draw is the chance that a dual might come down to the younger guys in the lower weights. Most of the time the heavyweight is an upperclassman that can handle the pressure better than the underclassman. I would hate to see a match come down to a freshman with little experience and lots of potential to see him lose the match and leave the sport because he feels like he let his team down. For all I know, maybe this has already happened.
They say by putting this rule into effect that it is going to prevent rapid weight loss. I highly doubt it has prevented it from happening anymore than it was before it was put into effect. Besides that argument, I don't see any other reason to have it. Some wrestlers have said that it actually affects their preparation for a dual meet. They have said that they like to know what match they are going to be before they get to weigh-ins. I do believe that the smart wrestlers get mentally prepared during the day and it helps them to know what match they are. Believe what you want but being mentally prepared is a big part of the match.
Some coaches like the random draw. They say they like the draw because their best wrestlers are in the middle weights and they would rather have the dual come down to them. Well that's fine but what about in five years when your best wrestlers are your upper weights, then would you still like the random draw? Those are the same coaches that change their mind by the year, or better yet by the team. What are we going to do next to confuse the spectators? I don't see anything good in the random drawing of weights and it has to go.
John Elmer
For
Wiwrestling.com
Yes Reprint It!!!
I have received some emails about permission to reprint my articles and post them
in wrestling rooms. I have even had one person ask for permission to submit some of my
articles in to local newspapers. Feel free to copy or reprint any of my articles as long
as you include my signature of John Elmer, wiwrestling.com. Also I am asking for feedback
on my latest article "A Weight Issue," especially from coaches and the wrestlers who cut
weight. I would also like to hear your opinions on mat side weigh-ins.
Written for WIwrestling.com by Freelance
Columnist John Elmer
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