Splitting wrestling into 3 classes

[southpaw]

I haven't heard anything official from the PIAA but have heard many people around the area about making 3 classes (A-AA-AAA) for wrestling. In district 5 things would remain the same except that at current enrollments Bedford would stay AA and the other D-5 schools would be A.

Any comments?

[Head Roadie]

This is an idea that has been tossed around for not only Wrestling, but Track & Field as well.

It's not happening anytime soon though, unfortunately. The PIAA has very defined formulas for determing how many classifications per sport based on what they define as individual and team sports. WR and T&F are considered individual. Cross Country has lobbied and just been approved to change its status from an individual sport to a team sport....probably because teams also qualify for states.

Seems that the Wrestling TEAM championship tournament should at least be split into 3 groups though, since that is a true team tourney.

[southpaw]

The PIAA formula is great for being consistent with all sports but doesn't allow much flexibility. I guess being consistent is the best way to address all concerns. I question the policy of treating individual sports differently though to be thoroughly consistent all sports should receive the same treatment IMHO.

It would be nice though to see three classes. It easily could be done to just use two mats per class instead of the three currently and cut back on the number of wrestlers qualifying for the state tourney.

Track would be much more difficult to accomodate a third class at the state meet. I don't see how to do it unless you have two state meets and four classes. A-AA meet on Mon/Tue for A/AA and Fri/Sat for AAA-AAAA, or have the meets at different sites.

[4him]

Wrestling needs NO changes in regards to its classifications. I would rather see it go back to one class for the individual tournament than to see it go to 3 or more. I would be EXTREMELY agitated to see wrestling change to more than 2 classes for the individual tournament. The dual championships, I would be more willing to see change.

I think this is a matter of pride. As a AA wrestler, you already hear enough crap about how your medal or your state title is something less than AAA. Can you imagine if a third classification is added? This isn't AYSO: everyone doesn't play and everyone doesn't win! If it were, we would make 300 classifications so everyone could be a champion.

[4him]

While I'm attacking this issue of pride, let me mention something else. Having the choice this year of coaching at a D5 or D6 school, I chose to coach in D5 to help strengthen the competition. I like the thought of building D5 up and making it the best that it can be and not a tiny, worthless district. I like seeing these small schools get wrestling programs or have co-op's. It would be nice to see every school in the district be involved in wrestling. Maybe then being a District 5 champ will mean something more like being a D6 or D7 champ.

With that said, I think this should be the goal for every sport in the district. The better the competition is, the more pride you can take in winning. Why would you want to water down the competition just so you can win the title? I would rather be an Olympic contestant than a Special Olympics champion (seeing as I have no disability). It is my understanding that District 5 must vote to reinstate Somerset into the district and it has been voted otherwise. Why? Because they provide some legitimate competition? Have some pride, vote them in and strengthen the district for crying out loud!!!!

[Head Roadie]

Somerset asked (many moons ago) to be out of District 5 and into 6 because of their higher classification in almost every sport.

They have not asked to be back in D5 and quite frankly they won't be allowed back in because D6 won't let them, it will never come to a D5 vote and has not even been mentioned at any district committee meetings.

D6 has their schools in jail so to speak and will not release them. Lewistown and IV wanted out to go to D4 and several schools have petitioned to leave to come to D5 and D6 refuses. The last team D6 let go was Indiana to District 7 about 20 years ago.

[CRWizard]

Somerset should be wrestling district V. I see no reason for them to be in D6, and if i were their AD i would be flipping out.

It would be great for D5 competition if school like richland and forest hills wrestled with us (especially if districts moves up to UPJ), but its a snow balls chance in hades that would ever happen.

[southpaw]

I have to agree with HR. Somerset wanted out and thats what they got. If D6 let Somerset out now the floodgates would open up! I think Claysburg and Portage would be beating down the doors to get into D5.

Its has nothing to do with D5. As HR said D6 has their schools on a very tight leash!

[Head Roadie]

Not to mention Ferndale who leads District 6 in attempted secessions from that district to district 5 and several other schools!

[4him]

The reason Somerset was in D6 to begin with was obvious. It is kind of hard to have a district playoff when there is only one school in the district of that classification. However, in my conversation with a district committee member, I was told that it was D5 who would not allow Somerset back into the district. I'm aware that HR is also a committee member, but I'm just wondering why there are conflicting reports.

One additional question for you HR: Can a school surpass the district and go to the PIAA in such a request?