Takedown Report

Participants now inbounds with one point of contact in high school wrestling

This fundamental change to high school wrestling was one of six major changes impacting almost 30 rules recommended by the NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee at its April 1-3 meeting in Indianapolis. All recommended changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
Beginning with the 2024-25 season, high school wrestlers will be inbounds with only one point of contact of either wrestler inside or on the boundary line.
This fundamental change to high school wrestling was one of six major changes impacting almost 30 rules recommended by the NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee at its April 1-3 meeting in Indianapolis. All recommended changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
Previously, high school wrestlers were considered to be inbounds if a total of two supporting points of either wrestler were inside or on the boundary line. The two supporting points could be two supporting points of one wrestler or one supporting point of each wrestler inside or on the boundary line. “Without increasing risk, this change eliminates the subjectivity of the out-of-bounds call,” said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of sports and student services and liaison to the Wrestling Rules Committee. “The change also helps officials to call ‘out of bounds’ more consistently, and it provides wrestlers, coaches and spectators a better understanding of out of bounds.”
While the One Point of Contact change will be noted under the definition of Inbounds in Rule 5-15, it also impacts a number of other sections in Rule 5 on Definitions, as well as Rule 6-4-1 on Stopping and Starting the Match.
In addition to the One Point of Contact change, points awarded for a Near-Fall have been revised in high school wrestling. Overall, the changes simplify the points awarded based on how long the wrestler is held in near-fall criteria. The change in Rule 5-11-3 is as follows: Two points will be awarded when near-fall criteria are held for two seconds, three points for three seconds, four points for four seconds and five points if the defensive wrestler is injured, indicates an injury or bleeding occurs after the four-point near-fall has been earned. These changes will affect other rules including individual match scoring in Rule 9. “The goal in wrestling is to pin the opponent,” Hopkins said. “Changing the near-fall points should motivate wrestlers to work for a fall.”
In another change in scoring rules, opportunities to earn more points will also be available when executing a Takedown. Beginning next season, wrestlers will be awarded three match points instead of two when securing a takedown.
The committee also approved a change regarding the Technical Fall. Rule 5-11-4a now states that “if a takedown or reversal, straight to a near-fall criteria creates a 15-point advantage, the match shall continue until the near-fall criteria is no longer met. Conclusion of the near-fall criteria is immediate.” The change clarifies when the technical fall has concluded in relation to the near-fall criteria being met. Hopkins said the offensive wrestler cannot be penalized appropriately after the technical fall has been earned. In another change, the 10-Foot Circle at the center of wrestling mats is now optional. Wrestlers now will be encouraged to “stay in the center of the mat” instead of “within the 10-foot circle.”
“The committee determined that the starting lines of a mat indicate the center of the mat and the 10-foot circle is no longer needed,” Hopkins said. “With the new mat designs that have a large mascot or logos, it gives a refreshing look to the mats. Wrestlers and officials know where the center of the mat is located without the 10-foot circle.”
Finally, the committee approved a new Referee’s Time-Out Signal. The signal, which is used in many other sports, is both hands/fingers pointing inward to the referee’s chest.
A complete listing of the wrestling rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at http://www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Wrestling.”
According to the 2022-23 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, wrestling is the sixth-most popular sport for boys with 259,431 participants in 10,962 schools. It also continues to gain popularity among girls with 50,016 participants in 6,545 schools nationwide. … more at … Highschoolot.com/Participants-now-inbounds-with-one-point-of-contact-in-high-school-wrestling

April 25, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

2024 NCAA Wrestling Championship Bonus Coverage: Part I

Extra stats, stories, facts, and findings from the 2024 NCAA D1 Wrestling National Championships.
The NCAA Championships wrapped up over a week ago, which has afforded myself and the inimitable Andy Hamilton enough time to compile a substantial list of stats, stories, facts, and findings from the tournament that may have escaped your attention. Some statistical information from the Mat Talk Online 2024 NCAA Wrestling Guide was used in this report.  We’ve got a lot of them, an even hundo, so we’re going to break them up into four more easily digestible articles. If you think we missed anything, or have anything for the corrections departments, please don’t hesitate to let us know!

Part II – Part III – Part IV

3 Facts About The 2024 NCAAs

1) Eleven wrestlers entered the tournament unbeaten on the season and four won titles — Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen and Penn State’s Levi Haines, Aaron Brooks and Greg Kerkvliet.
2) Four wrestlers came back to capture NCAA titles this year after suffering a loss at their conference tournament — Cornell’s Vito Arujau (133), Virginia Tech’s Caleb Henson (149), Iowa State’s David Carr (165) and Penn State’s Carter Starocci (174) 
3) The 72.5 points scored by second-place Cornell were the fewest by a runner-up team since Arizona State finished second in 1989 with 70.5. 

4 Facts About Cael Sanderson at the 2024 NCAAs

1) Cael Sanderson’s 11th NCAA title ties him with former Oklahoma State coach Edward Gallagher for the second-most in Division I history. 
2) Sanderson is now four titles from matching former Iowa coach Dan Gable’s record of 15. 
3) Sanderson coached four champs and eight All-Americans, running his Penn State totals to 38 champs and 86 All-Americans at 14 NCAA Championships. 
4) Sanderson also guided his athletes to 15 podium finishes during his three seasons as Iowa State’s head coach from 2007-09. Two Cyclones won titles during his tenure in Ames — Trent Paulson in 2007 and Jake Varner in 2009.   

3 Facts About Arizona State at the 2024 NCAAs

1) The last four years have been fruitful for the Sun Devils. They’ve averaged 4.5 medalists per year during that stretch.
2) Richard Figueroa won the first NCAA title for Arizona State since Zahid Valencia became a two-time champion in 2019. 
3) Figueroa is the second Sun Devil to win a title at 125, joining 2011 champ Anthony Robles. 

3 Facts About Ohio State at the 2024 NCAAs

1) Ohio State has had an All-American every year since 2006 and at least three AAs every year since 2015.
2) Jesse Mendez became Ohio State’s first NCAA champ since 2018 when he won the 141-pound title. In 2018 it was Kyle Snyder winning his third NCAA title at 285. 
3) All three of Ohio State’s All-Americans are underclassmen. That’s the most Young Bucks on the podium since 2016, when four freshman or sophomores from Ohio State made the podium. … more at … Flowrestling.org/NCAA-wrestling-championship-bonus-coverage

April 25, 2024 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment