(Part 2 of previous post)
It is the place where every college wrestler dreams about being for their final match of the season.
On the elevated mat in the center of a sold-out arena on Saturday afternoon at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.
It also is the place the best officials in the country aspire to be. And like the wrestlers, the officials have to earn that trip for the season’s most important matches.
While the wrestlers battle through four grueling rounds to land a spot in the championship matches, the 20 officials who work the NCAA Division I meet are evaluated by a group of 10 people during the first five sessions.
The officials are ranked one through 20 by the evaluators, with the top 10 being selected as lead officials for the 10 championship matches. The other 10 work as assistants during the finals. The officials do not learn their rankings until after Saturday’s consolation finals.
“I have seen a guy blow a call in the quarterfinals and it knocks him out of the top 10 even though he is a top official, “said Lynn Dyche, coordinator of evaluators for the Division I championships. “The competition is so close that a missed call can really cost you.”
The evaluators’ ranking system also determines who returns for the following season’s NCAA meet.
The NCAA Wrestling Committee can change as many referees as they think necessary, but typically turn over the bottom four ranked referees each year.
“The top 15 is tough to break into, “Dyche said. “It is important to bring in new guys because some guys are getting older. Plus there are very good officials out there who deserve an opportunity.”
The 10 evaluators are a group of five former officials, who have worked the NCAA tournament, and five former college coaches.
Five evaluators will be assigned to watch 10 officials in a session with the other five evaluators watching the other 10 officials. The evaluators then switch and watch the other 10 officials in the next session.
The evaluators continue to flip-flop through the first five sessions.
Each evaluator likely will see each official work anywhere from five to seven matches over the first five sessions.
Officials are evaluated on mechanics and how they give signals, positioning, overall consistency, knowledge of the rules, recognition of stalling, acceptance of criticism, ability to make tough calls, decisiveness, hustle, their appearance, how well they protect the student-athletes and how they deal with coaches.
“In our evaluations, we give positive feedback, “Dyche said. “We provide encouragement and try to help the officials.”
The 10 evaluators are paid $150 for the weekend, plus their hotel room is taken care of.
“The evaluations are critical, “said Pat McCormick, the NCAA’s supervisor of officials. “We want the best officials working the biggest matches. You want guys up on the platform for the finals that you trust and guys who are not going to get in trouble.”
2004 Officials Evaluators
Joe Cesari, Ashland, Pa.
Lynn Dyche, San Jose, Calif.
Ed Kelly, Cantonsville, Md.
Ray Mainville, South Meriden, Conn.
Ralph Manning, Tahlequah, Okla.
Jim Phillips, Lebanon, Ore.
Mark Piven, Savannah, Ga.
Ed Steers, Charleston, S.C.
Bob Triano, Columbus, Ohio
Eldon Zimbleman, St. Francis, Kan.
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