by John A. Henning
WrestlingReport College Editor
Burlington, VT May 26, 2005. It’s a typical off-season for wrestlers competing for NCAA Division 1 programs; some enter free-style tournaments, some concentrate on academics, some concentrate on weight training and nutrition, and some do nothing at all. But the latter is rare.
The recruiting signing period is all but over. There will be a few late signings and a few transfers, but for the most part, fans are scurrying to evaluate who won the recruiting wars and who will be counted upon to impact the national scene in ’05-’06. Most recruits for elite programs such as Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Minnesota and Michigan will defer their eligibility, commonly known as “red-shirting. “The transition from high school to college is significant. Many, if not most, freshman need a year to physically mature, adjust to the intensity of big time college athletics, handle being away from home, and juggling academic pressures.
There are approximately 85 Division 1 programs that draw high school prospects from thousands of high school teams nationwide. In fact, wrestling is the 5th largest participation sport at the high school level. There are many more participants than roster spots at the college level. Many believe this makes it easier to recruit-at least in theory.
What is not a theory is the difficulty of winning an individual NCAA title, or team title for that matter. The competition is so keen, the margin for error so razor thin, that there is no longer a ‘sure thing’ come NCAA tournament time in March. The so-called ‘power conferences’ are the Big Ten (11 teams) and the Big 12 (5 teams). These 16 teams qualify about 1/3 of the NCAA tournament bids. Virtually all of these teams are large, state institutions that offer a diverse academic selection, in-state tuition incentives, first rate facilities, experienced coaching staffs and significant fan bases.
However, hope does spring eternal and the sport of college wrestling still has room for the underdog. For example, this past season Cornell from the Ivy League no less, finished 4th at the NCAAs. The year before, Lehigh University, a small, private school, finished 3rd. How does that happen?
Well, remember, there are only 85 teams and only about 20 teams that seriously concentrate on their wrestling programs. These teams all have the same things in common: administrative support (admissions), facilities (practice room, weight room, and arena), scholarship money (may take a variety of forms), and coaching expertise (the head coach supported by ‘weight coaches’ light/middle/heavy, plus a strength coach). Therefore, it boils down to a few intangibles: ability to relate, teach and inspire, fan support, and luck.
There is a difference between motivation and inspiration-the first is external and temporary, the second is internal and longer lasting. When a coach can inspire an athlete, causing that wrestler to take ownership, then coaching is a lot easier. When a coach recruits an athlete, they look for this quality and that’s where luck comes in. Many young men mature differently-some can handle college life and some cannot. Many high school stars do not go on to make their mark in Division 1 while many non-state champs end up as All-Americans. That is a paradox that perplexes many fans, but it is an eternal truth.
The Division 1 wrestling tournament is a big event for the NCAA and a good revenue generator. Loyal fans attend religiously and invariably find themselves rooting the hardest for individuals from small schools or teams outside the power conferences. It is one of the things that create unanticipated enjoyment. Every year, a top seeded wrestler from a big-name team loses unexpectedly in the 1st round-and the fans love it!
But why does college wrestling have such a loyal following? One explanation might be the nature of participation. Everyone has played football, basketball and baseball, but not everyone has wrestled. Having wrestled serves as a badge of courage and honor among the fans. It is rare to see a ‘wise guy’ wrestler. Maybe you see an athlete from another sport hot-dogging and show-boating, but I can’t recall a wrestler doing it that was worth his salt. It’s too hard a sport and the respect for ones opponent is tangible. Some of the most poignant moments I ever seen at any athletic event have occurred at wrestling matches. At its best, the one-on-one drama is hard to beat.
I would recommend attending a college dual in your area next year, or subscribing to an on-line service like WrestlingReport.com (free) so you can stay connected. Support can also take the form of financial donations to your institution since wrestling is not a revenue sport at most colleges. It will also show the administration that wrestling is important to their alumni. Tell ‘old wrestlers’ about the internet and how they can be easily involved.
Finally, be respectful of the athletes that compete and to the coaches that develop them. If you are, you will enjoy a lifetime of thrills and feel a connection like none other in sport.
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