Takedown Report

How to improve PIAA Wrestling, part 1: Bring back the dual meets

Interesting and valid point of view.
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Like other high school sports, wrestling has declining participation and attendance. Four years ago, Northern Lehigh was the District 11 Class 2A team champion. Now, the Bulldogs struggle to fill half a 14-man lineup. They are not alone. Last season, 93 percent of Pennsylvania dual meets had at least one forfeit. Coaches, officials, wrestlers, fans and administrators agree things have to change. This three-part series looks at possible options for a sport that continues to have a passionate fan base but pales in comparison to previous decades.

“Wrestling with Progress,” a three-part series on what can be done to revive high school wrestling in Pennsylvania (Jesse Musto / The Morning Call)
Gene Waas told the security officer in the Easton Area High School parking lot that he was the referee that night for the 1988 wrestling showdown with rival Phillipsburg. The cop laughed at the 27-year-old, who was forced to park across Route 248 in the Kmart parking lot. “Later when he had to walk me back to the locker room after the match,” Waas recalled, “he apologized. He thought I was lying.” Rest of the story at https://www.mcall.com/sports/varsity/mc-spt-state-of-high-school-wrestling-series-dual-meets-0212-story.html?mc_cid=a34acd1440&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

February 25, 2019 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized