Takedown Report

High School News – # 29

TDR Editor’s Notes ; A look over some wrestling news from across the USA as high school seasons are delayed, in doubt and even two states have cancelled.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1 } – What will high school wrestling look like this winter?
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced state governing bodies to scramble their high school wrestling plans. The prep season kicked off this past week in some states, while others have already pulled the plug on high school wrestling for 2020-21. 
Here’s an unofficial look at how states across the country are moving forward with information compiled by the Trackwrestling staff that’s subject to change.  … rest of story at _{https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1607399620373&twSessionId=ilvlpofpoc&postId=888088135&mc_cid=c2c44a5110&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

2 } – OSAA DELAYS OREGON HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING TO START MAY 10 AND END A SIX-WEEK SEASON IN LATE JUNE
by Jerry Ulmer, OSAAtoday
In a much-anticipated move, the OSAA on Monday decided to push back the start of its sports seasons as it continues to navigate the COVID-19 crisis. The executive board moved to adopt a three-season plan with six-week seasons, starting with fall sports contests March 1 and followed by spring (April 12) and winter (May 17). The seasons include an “opt-in culminating week,” an option for postseason competition. Fall sports practices are scheduled to begin Feb. 22, except for football, which will start Feb. 8. Spring and winter practices begin April 5 and May 10, respectively.
Editor’s Note: This means that wrestling will begin practices on May 10, with a first day of competition on May 17. The six-week season will end in late June. “It’s a moving target,” OSAA executive director Peter Weber said of altering the calendar. “We needed to make a decision. I think the board made the right decision.” … rest of story at _{https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/December/07/Oregon-pushes-high-school-wrestling-from-May-through-June?mc_cid=c2c44a5110&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

3 } – PIAA adjusts winter sports schedules in reverse, keeps starting date
MECHANICSBURG – The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) did not make any adjustments to the start of winter sport seasons during a board of directors meeting Wednesday afternoon, which will allow athletic competitions to begin tomorrow.
The board did make several adjustments to winter seasons, which includes extending the end-of-season deadline to the date of state championships, and considered a proposal brought forth at the beginning of the board meeting to push back winter seasons.
State College Superintendent Bob O’Donnell, who attended Wednesday’s teleconference as a guest, proposed that all PIAA competitions be pushed back until Feb. 1. O’Donnell, who is a former high school basketball coach and said he is an advocate for playing sports this winter, explained that his school district has had over 50 positive tests within the last 10 days and believed sports should be suspended until Feb. 1.
Though a motion to suspend the start of competitions was never made and a vote never occurred during the meeting, the PIAA approved motions to extend district deadlines, push back state championship dates for each winter sport and allow teams to participate in contests until the date of state championships in an attempt to create a flexible season. … rest of story at _{https://www.thedailyreview.com/piaa-adjusts-winter-sports-schedules-in-reverse-keeps-starting-date/article_9ad76f4b-4b70-5107-af1c-11857b593f9b.html?mc_cid=d179f0f753&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

4 } – MSHSL Releases Wrestling Guidance and Information
The Minnesota State High School League released guidance and information for the 2020-2021 wrestling season. Information covered in the released document includes practice protocols, equipment usage (mats, water bottles, workout clothing), locker room use, masks/face coverings, official’s uniform and equipment, site set-up, pre-competition protocols, competition protocols, and post-match protocols.
Winter 2020-2021 Wrestling Guidance and Information … rest of story at _{https://theguillotine.com/2020/11/mshsl-releases-wrestling-guidance-and-information/?mc_cid=870ca1d130&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

5 } – Earl Smith breaking down the Vengeance in Virginia on December 6
Earl Smith talks Vengeance in Virginia coming December 6. The event, which starts at 3 p.m. at Top of the Podium in Sterling, will feature 18 bouts with a mix of high school boys, high school girls and one college all-star bout. Information can be found at VirginiaWrestling.com.
Live streaming will be available on Trackwrestling.com.
SHORT TIME SHOTS
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga announced on Wednesday that the 2021 Southern Scuffle has been canceled. Full details can be found at GoMocs.com, but congratulations 2020, you’ve already screwed up the first two days of 2021. We know for certain that the Virginia Duals and Southern Scuffle are two tournaments that have been axed for the first part of 2021 and it goes without saying that the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, which would take place this coming weekend, has also been sacked. The Midlands hasn’t made an official announcement, but … rest of story at _{https://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/short-time/earl-smith-breaking-down-the-vengeance-in-virginia-on-december-6/?mc_cid=29548697b5&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

6 } – Big changes made for MSHSAA winter championships
District assignments set for basketball, wrestling
There are drastic changes in the postseason formats for the Missouri high school basketball, wrestling and swimming and diving championships. The MSHSAA announced these changes on Friday along with district assignments for basketball and wrestling and class assignments for swimming. Of course, concerns about COVID-19 led to the modifications, which include changes in playing dates and locations. And some of these changes increase the possibility of allowing fans to attend. …
WRESTLING
Wrestling remains four classes for boys and one for girls, but that’s about the only similarity to last season. The number of boys districts has been doubled from four to eight. Fewer wrestlers and coaches in each district not only helps with safety but also could make it possible for fans to attend.
The top-four finishers in each weight class at district will not qualify for the state tournament. Instead, they will advance to a sectional tournament, which will have eight-man brackets determined from two districts. The top-three finishers at sectional advance to the state meet. Three qualifiers from four sectionals produce a 12-man bracket instead of a 16-man bracket. And the 12-man bracket is a must because there will be four one-day state tournaments. Yes, instead of a three-day state tournament comprised of all four classes, each class will have a one-day tournament. The site or sites for these tournaments have not been finalized. It  … rest of story at _{https://www.joplinglobe.com/sports/local_sports/big-changes-made-for-mshsaa-winter-championships/article_5542f50c-94ba-5b55-a056-82dba9351de6.html?mc_cid=1d3b41c6e1&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

7 } – The Dan Gable Donnybrook
CORALVILLE (November 11, 2020) – The Dan Gable Donnybrook, a premier high school wrestling tournament scheduled to take place at Xtream Arena & GreenState Family Fieldhouse in Coralville December 4-5 has been cancelled. “While we are confident in our abilities and the facilities at Xtream Arena to reduce the amount of exposure to our athletes and fans, it isn’t prudent at this time to proceed with an event of this size given the recent explosion of cases locally and across the country,” said Luke Eustice, Manager of Sports Development at Think Iowa City, the tournament organizer. “Safety is number one.” Originally planned for 33 teams, the tournament was already going to be smaller than the original vision due to the pandemic. “For one, not all schools are competing in any athletics yet. … rest of story at _{https://www.thepredicament.com/2020/11/the-dan-gable-donnybrook/?mc_cid=ebacab18d4&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

8 } – Official COVID-19 high school wrestling rule: you can wrestle but no shaking hands
In Ohio, high school wrestling season began with some questionable new rules set by the Ohio High School Athletic Association. Notably, reports WLWT5, “Student-athletes are permitted to wrestle, but must refrain from handshakes before and after the match.” From WLWT5:
All those on the team bench also need to observe social distancing of 6 feet[…]
To conclude the end of match procedure, the official may point to the winning wrestler while raising his or her own arm (with open hand) having the requisite wristband color (red/green) of the winning wrestler. … rest of story at _{https://boingboing.net/2020/12/04/official-covid-19-high-school-wrestling-rule-you-can-wrestle-but-no-shaking-hands.html?utm_content=bufferf7837&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer&fbclid=IwAR17a9VDmc5ik6F-BuO9DEaHLBKZHhXzzOHzvuSe6IZleLXEqDpn9KHqf-Y}

9} – Wrestling enjoyed an unprecedented decade
The year 2020 is wrapping up the most successful decade of local wrestling since its inception in 1948. Teamwise, our area has celebrated eight state championships in a ten-year period. Independence and Greenbrier West have carried the load, with the Patriots winning five state titles and West’s Cavaliers winning three. Greenbrier East’s Spartans contributed by winning their first ever regional title in 2017. In February 2020, Spartans coach Brian Miluk directed the first West Virginia Dual Team championship at The Greenbrier resort.. This was an event wrestling people have been wanting for years and Coach Miluk made it happen. It was first class. On the college level, Bluefield College started a wrestling team in 2018 and it has been well received. Last season, for the first time, WVU Tech hosted the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center. It was also a first class event. The Golden Bears were able to finish second in the tournament and qualified three individuals to the nationals. Individually, local schools have crowned 31 state champions since 2011.  … rest of story at _{https://www.register-herald.com/sports/wrestling-enjoyed-an-unprecedented-decade/article_2002f5bf-18f2-5f34-91bb-74bb4a4a6665.html?mc_cid=1d3b41c6e1&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

10 } – OUTSTANDING ATHLETES SHOWCASED IN GIRLS AND BOYS DIVISIONS AT WESTERN STATES TOURNAMENT IN UTAH ON SATURDAY
FARMINGTON, Utah – USA Wrestling’s Western States associations came together on Saturday to host another major tournament, with over 1,000 athletes from numerous states from across the nation able to show their stuff. At this event, the Western States organizers did not award Outstanding Wrestler awards, but there were outstanding wrestling performances at each and every level. The Girls High School division featured four nationally ranked wrestlers who won individual titles. Shelby Moore of the Takedown Express of Washington won the 126 pound title, pinning Mackenzie Shearon of COWA in the finals in 28 seconds. Moore is ranked No. 5 in the nation at 122 pounds. Moore’s White River High School teammate, Jenna Beddow of the Takedown Express, claimed the 115-pound title with a pin over Hania Halverson in 2:19. Beddow is ranked No. 15 in the nation at 117 pounds. Oregon star Tyler Richardson from The Factory was the 141-pound titlist, scoring a fall in 3:38 in the finals over Mariah Wahl of the North Montana WC. Richardson clocks in with a No. 10 national ranking at 144 pounds. … rest of story at _{https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/December/06/Western-States-Tournament-wrap?mc_cid=c2c44a5110&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

December 16, 2020 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized