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Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Ace on 2/23/2025, 9:29 am

I am a coach and have been participating in and going to the Mat Classic since the first one. The WIAA and Tacoma Dome continue to change the state tournament, but few of the changes are for the better. Here are some of my issues with this years experience.

We crammed a 32 person bracket into a day and a half. Tournaments for each division started earlier or went later with several logistical problems. Communication was awful.

The medal round matches were treated more like exhibition matches before the finals. Those medal matches were scattered around the dome with no clarity as to time or mat assignment. We had a kid wrestling for 5th/6th and his parents missed the match. The match was suddenly up on a mat not used by our division and there were only 2 other matches going on in the dome at the time. It was a disgraceful way to treat those kids/families finishing their season and high school wrestling with a state medal.

The metal detector thing is demeaning. At least create a 2nd entry point so we can move through faster in the morning and not have to stand out in the weather. I went out to the parking lot before finals and came back in. I was pulled aside and wanded because I left my keys in my pocket and set off the detector. Here I was, a coach who had been in and out of the tournament the entire event being wanded like a terrorist threat.

Leaving all the mats out for the finals does not create a focused championship finals experience. I know youth wrestlers are getting to wrestle on them today, but.... the high school wrestling community is being treated poorly in the modern Mat Classic

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Agreed on 2/23/2025, 10:18 am, in reply to "Worst State Tournament Ever!"

My kid was on the medical table vomiting and recovering when he was called 20 minutes after his tough as hell semis match. Pretty stupid and insulting. This is after the seeding debacle, but hey, wrestling ain't easy.

But why make it even harder?

I'm only commenting because I don't want someone to think you're a bitter parent/coach. My son needed at least 40 minutes to recover after his match. 20 minutes. Still can't believe it after waiting hours and hours for other matches to occur.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Dome on 2/23/2025, 10:37 am, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

I agree the tournament as a whole was bad. But the quick turnaround for consi semi after semis loss has always been that way.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Question on 2/23/2025, 10:47 am, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

I'm wondering about the issue of your son being called 20 minutes after his semis. Was he called to the mat itself for a match right then?

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Agreed on 2/23/2025, 11:09 am, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

Match right then.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Question on 2/23/2025, 3:50 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

Did somebody challenge it based on the 30-minute rule?

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by State ref on 2/24/2025, 10:59 am, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

They stuck to the 30 minute minimum rest before starting the match, but they were calling the matches early. There was quite a bit of "match ends, brief rest, called to the mat, sit at the mat for 5-10 minutes while we wait for time" which is not a real rest.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Ace on 2/23/2025, 11:16 am, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

Thank you for your comments. My position on the State Tournament is mostly from the place of caring about my wrestlers, families, and coaches. Your son deserved better. There is a very personal and emotional element that is unique to the sport of wrestling that needs to be respected and remembered by those running the tournament. I understand that several coaches have wanted to expand the state tournament to a 32-person bracket, but there is also an important and large group of coaches that need to be listened to. It is a group that cares about the sport and wants the state tournament to be a special event that takes care of all participants and continues with the traditions that have made the Mat Classic a wonderful culminating event. My biggest complaint though is how the 3rd through 8th place medalists were treated. Many of those kids were wrestling the last match of their lives. It was disgraceful to have them pushed through on 30 minutes rest and shoved off to a distant mat to end their wrestling career. Now, with no longer being included in the walk of champions they are shoved aside for the finalist to march in.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Dad / Coach on 2/23/2025, 8:39 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

I would say that my son a senior, and wrestling in college next year was one of those that got pushed to several different mats. One mat was actually being shutdown by the table help when they were told to open it back up. The chairs for the coaches were even taken away and had to be brought back. It's a shame that the tournament is more about money and not about the kids experience.
To me if felt his last match by the tournament was let's just get it done and move on. But for my son it was his last match ever in high school. Yes he placed but the tournament should have more respect for what all the wrestlers have done to get to where they are at and make them feel important not just a number to run through and get over with.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by 30 on 2/24/2025, 4:03 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

30 minutes is plenty! Club you get 15 minutes, so probably stick to school wrestling.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Ace on 2/25/2025, 7:28 am, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

That is the issue then. Do we run the state tournament like a club tourney or the Mat Classic?

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Weak on 2/25/2025, 6:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

We run it like WIAA wants and 30 minutes is PLENTY! If you aren’t ready in 30 minutes the other guy is in better tournament shape. Sorry not sorry.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by LC on 2/25/2025, 11:12 am, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

The vast majority of club wrestling is kids on 60 second rounds or junior high on 90 second rounds at a local tournament where the results don't matter in the grand scheme of things and most results are lopsided.

Much different intensity and physical exertion than the consolation semifinals of a high school state tournament.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Huh on 2/25/2025, 6:16 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

Guess you haven’t been to high level club tournaments.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by LC on 2/25/2025, 6:29 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

You guess wrong. Keep trying!

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Then you don't pay attention on 3/13/2025, 8:42 am, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

High School age division in USA clubs events 2-2-2 or 3-3 for FS/GR, and yes 15 minutes is the turnaround in USA Wrestling events and 20 minutes in all UWW Events.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Lol on 2/25/2025, 8:02 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

High school is not that hard. 🙄 my kids get better competition at club. So nice try on your part.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by LOL @ Lol on 2/26/2025, 7:25 am, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

Ah, yes, the magical time of year where the keyboard dads (who are too fat to wrestle themselves) suddenly talk tough and think that fatigue isn't a thing and that 6 minutes of intense wrestling can be solved with 5 minutes of rest

Good thing we have guys like "Nacho Man" Randy Savage here to tell us what's up. Don't get any cheese on the keyboard! Ooooooh yeeeeaahhhhh!

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Ooops on 2/26/2025, 10:15 am, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

Ooops it’s 30 minutes of rest in high school if you cant recover the other kid is a better tournament wrestler.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Try to keep up on 2/27/2025, 7:32 am, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

Nacho Man was talking about how superior club is for only having 15 minutes of rest.

We all know that it's 30 minutes in high school. The adults are talking, try to keep up!

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Ooops on 2/27/2025, 10:39 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

Ooops you literally said 5 minutes of rest. So I was pointing out high school gets 30 minutes. That is plenty. Club only gets 15 makes for tougher kids. Maybe notice the post people are commenting on. Keep up!

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Adult on 2/28/2025, 8:28 am, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

You two are absolutely adorable with your petty squabbling.

Why don't you grow up and act like adults? Be a real example for the kids?

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by When on 2/28/2025, 3:54 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

When someone has a stupid argument they will be called out.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Adult on 3/1/2025, 4:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

You both had stupid arguments. Hence you both getting called out. Stop acting like little children.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Lol on 3/1/2025, 10:47 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

I’m rubber your glue whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you!

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by And the crowd goes wild on 2/27/2025, 2:22 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

It’s a new event, the bar has been set.

Lots of easy fixes for next year.

But the ADs have to engage the WIAA, not sure how many read this board.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Or on 2/27/2025, 10:40 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

Or even care about wrestling

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Lol on 3/13/2025, 9:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

2A, 1A, and B school were all wrestling Saturday after 3A, and 4A had their finals. And we got done at midnight. Do you propose breaking all mats down for Friday evening finals then set back up for Saturday morning? Then breaking down for Saturday finals then setting back up for Sunday?

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Chris Feist on 2/23/2025, 12:11 pm, in reply to "Worst State Tournament Ever!"

I agree that the new format for state wrestling was a disappoint. I was upset when the state coaches associations nd the wiaa did a way with regionals and expanded the brackets to 32 person. I have been disappointed in the direction of wrestling has been going in Wa for over a decade. Gonna direct more energy and efforts toward WSWA rather than Wiaa

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Failed experiment on 2/23/2025, 2:33 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

This was a fail. WIAA needs to admit that and move forward. I’ve been coaching a long time and this was bad. The rushed money grab of a tournament is absolutely horrible. The kids in the moment need to be what WIAA is focused on. If the Tacoma dome isn’t the place to do it than let’s move on. We already split the divisions in half. One year 3A/4A can host the state tournament in a different smaller venue on the west side. 2A and smaller can host in Spokane. Every other year you switch locations so schools share in traveling to east side west side. Go back to 16 man state or 24 man state. Every district gets 4 entries. tournament. The extra kids although being nice was a waste of time. I’d like to know how many first round pins there was in these blown up brackets. These kids stood no chance cause they didn’t deserve to be there but the WIAA/Tacoma dome profits from the 100% increase in fans. WIAA needs to do something about the amount of people on the floor. Coach access is a freakin joke. And for $37 u can buy any parent a coach pass. The amount of kids on the floor that were not wrestling was ridiculous. I’m talking 5-8 year olds walking around in the floor. Teams showing up with 8-12 coaches in which half of those are super parents who think they are coaches is crazy and is also where most of the issues lie when it comes to altercations. Sunday kids state is another money grab while the mats are out but that’s a completely different matter. WIAA needs to do better but they will not unless the actual schools complain and not just a bunch of parents on this message board

State

Posted by Wrestling Ref on 2/23/2025, 7:43 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

I was reffing this weekend. The one thing I didn't understand is why was every bracket 32. B 1A and were smaller than 16. So why make them 32.

Re: State

Posted by No on 2/23/2025, 7:56 pm, in reply to "State "

They were 24. A 32 bracket with 8 byes. Some of the brackets were not filled to 24 due districts not filling all of their allocations at some weights, but they were 24-pwreon brackets based on the number of teams in the classification.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Coach/Dad on 2/23/2025, 8:50 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

You are correct. Take for example 4A 175. All but 2 of the matches were a pin. In 1A a kid made state that my son in the last several years has wrestled about 4 times and pinned him in 30-45 seconds each time yet he made state this year. He got pinned in both his matches in less than 3 minutes total.
I'm just saying this is not the format for a good state tournament.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Your delusional on 2/23/2025, 9:08 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

175, all pins? Just looked at that bracket. You are so wrong and off the mark!! What?!?

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Coach/Dad on 2/23/2025, 10:26 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

I didn’t say all pins. I said 2 were not. I should have been more specific also it was the first round.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by curious on 2/23/2025, 9:19 pm, in reply to "Worst State Tournament Ever!"

why were we treated like criminals and not like professionals? no respect to those who live on the eastside with staying on time. stop dragging out the tournament, there was no need for us to get out so late. we could not spend time in celebration with our teams afterwards for two reasons; 1. it was late 2. everything was closed. what was the worth of preordering product if it wasn't even ready? why can't coaches get a discount on food and drinks? the poor girls were treated less then the boys, why? they deserve to be up and center just as much as the boys. lots to be fixed. saw a lot of people on the floor that did not belong to program or was not part of any staff.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Huh? on 2/23/2025, 9:29 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

East side teams were detained and not allowed to leave until after the west side teams? I don’t believe you.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Critique on 2/23/2025, 10:04 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

Also, if you are too far to get down to look for near fall, or a possible fall- state wrestling isn’t the place to be officiating. Thank you for your service, maybe WIAA can put these gents on a table. This is not to flame, but these matches are pretty important to the athletes.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by 32 man way to go on 2/24/2025, 12:32 pm, in reply to "Worst State Tournament Ever!"

I am so tired of people from shitty regions saying this wasn't the right format!

32 man brackets are the best to get the right kids to the podium come the end of the tournament.

The old Region 4 routinely left #5 out (ALTERNATES) and they would have placed. They had beaten other regional champions throughout the year.

This format allows those kids (BOTH THE GOOD ONES AND THE BAD ONES) to get to the tournament. I am sorry you had to see 16 first round pins and that was unsettling for you.

Yes there needs to be some adjustments. Could go to a 3 day format and allow all classifications in the Dome at once (parking nightmare) but it keeps them all together.

I would rather go to separate locations for the 2A and down and stay with the 32man bracket. I am a huge fan of the Tacoma Dome hosting all of the tournaments under one roof but I am more in favor of the right kids having the opportunity to win state medals and not being left at home!!!!!!!

As far as someone needing :40 sorry the rule is :30 and the system is on go times so they couldn't have wrestled sooner than that.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by I’d on 2/24/2025, 4:07 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

I’d rather have regionals back

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Chris Feist on 2/24/2025, 1:12 pm, in reply to "Worst State Tournament Ever!"

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Teacher on 2/24/2025, 2:34 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

I am "disappoint" at your ability to put a sentence together. You should put some efforts towards proofreading.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Huh? on 3/2/2025, 1:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

At least Chris posted his name, You? Not so much.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Federal Way on 2/24/2025, 3:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

It's easier to get those transfers when they're still in WSWA before they're at another HS in WIAA.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Cfeist on 2/24/2025, 4:27 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

Noted. Agreed.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Steve Davis on 3/4/2025, 12:14 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

Coach, without bringing regionals back (WIAA driven) what can be done to improve State.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by not just wiaa on 3/5/2025, 1:34 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

It's not just the WIAA. There have been coaches from around the state calling for a straight to state model for nearly 10 years. The Wiaa part, imo, is that they just couldn't afford to run the regionals anymore. or finding space for them was getting harder. My understanding is some of the coaches thought process in the straight to state model was they would get their more deserving kids into the state tournament.

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Steve Davis on 3/5/2025, 8:01 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

I agree with what you said BUT the WIAA controls if we have regionals

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Welp on 3/5/2025, 9:50 pm, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

That backfired!

Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!

Posted by Coach on 3/13/2025, 9:48 am, in reply to "Re: Worst State Tournament Ever!"

I thought it was fine. Long days, need to figure that out, but other than that... what was the real issue? I'm struggling to find it.

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