Mark Palmer, Staff Writer @ RevWrestling.com
For many wrestling fans, serving as editor of a major amateur wrestling publication would be the ideal job. The opportunity to witness major wrestling events from press row “¦ get to go one-on-one with the top athletes and coaches in the sport “¦ and then share what you’ve learned with readers hungry to read what you’ve written.
Mike Finn is already living that life.
As editor of Wrestling International Newsmagazine — better known by the acronym W.I.N. — Mike is ultimately responsible for the content of this Newton, Iowa-based amateur wrestling magazine. Not just the stories, but the look of the publication as well.
Mike’s introduction to the sport
Mike Finn was born 51 years ago in Waterloo, Iowa, a community with a rich amateur wrestling legacy “¦ being perhaps best-known as the birthplace of Dan Gable. “I was a teenager when Dan was competing at Iowa State, “says Mike. “I followed his wrestling career with great interest.”
Mike is modest when he talks about his own wrestling background; “I wasn’t as good as my brother, who placed at states. “Mike competed at Waterloo Columbus Catholic High School until he was a senior, when he took time away from the sport and other activities to earn money for college “¦ which turned out to be the University of Iowa, where he earned a journalism degree in 1978.
The beginning of a writing career
Upon graduating, Mike left Iowa to launch a career in public relations in Memphis, where he stayed for a decade. However, he returned to his native state in 1988 to become editor of Voice of the Hawkeyes, which Mike described as “a magazine that covered the sports scene at the University of Iowa, independent of the school. We covered all sports, including and especially wrestling. This was when Dan Gable was head coach, and the Hawkeye program was winning national titles on a regular basis.”
“It was a great experience, “adds Mike. “I got to cover the NCAA’s “¦ Although the magazine covered various sports at Iowa, wrestling was the number one sport for me.”
Joining a W.I.N.-ner
In 2002, Mike Finn was contacted by Bryan Van Kley, publisher of W.I.N., and became the magazine’s editor in 2003.
(Mike jokes that, throughout his life and career, he has been following long-time wrestling writer and historian Mike Chapman. Chapman, also a native of Waterloo, was the original publisher of Voice of the Hawkeyes magazine “¦ then, later, launched Wrestling International Newsmagazine which he sold to Van Kley a few years ago.)
Powering up prep coverage
“W.I.N. covers all of wrestling, “says Mike. “We’re mostly known for our college and international coverage, but we’re trying to increase our high school coverage. We’re striving to bridge the gap between high school and college wrestling.”
“So many fans have a connection to the sport because they know a wrestler — their own kids, or a friend’s kids, “Mike adds. “High school is where the greatest numbers are in terms of participation. So many wrestlers have to give up the sport once they graduate high school because there are fewer college programs available nowadays.”
“Just because of the sheer numbers of participants and fans, we think it’s important to provide greater coverage of the high school wrestling scene throughout the country, “according to W.I.N.’s editor. “In addition, we think that college fans like to be made aware of the up-and-comers in the sport, before they’re in college.”
“We’re making a real point to provide in-depth coverage of national prep events like Beast of the East, the Clash, Reno Tournament of Champions, “Mike continues. “We also devote considerable attention to NHSCA events, and what goes on up in Fargo.”
“In February, we put out our annual high school state championship preview, “says Mike. “Rob Sherrill, a great writer, goes state-by-state to provide our readers with a picture of who to watch for at each state championship. There’s no one else who knows more about high school wrestling on a national basis than Rob.”
A more competitive market for wrestling magazines
In talking about how W.I.N. is expanding its coverage of the prep wrestling scene across the nation, Mike Finn then segues into the challenges facing all amateur wrestling magazines.
“Years ago, wrestling-specific publications filled a need not being met elsewhere, “according to Mike. “Outside of some wrestling hotbeds, the regular media — newspapers, TV — weren’t offering much coverage of the sport. These magazines and newspapers were created to fill that need, with some publications having a very specific focus on wrestling in a particular state or region.”
“Now, thanks to the Internet, fans can get results instantaneously, “says Mike. “Wrestling publications have to give fans more than what they can find online.”
To that end, W.I.N. seems to be stepping up to that challenge, starting with its large page format, colorful pages (including generous use of full-color photos of wrestling action), and snappy headlines that compel reader interest.
“Magazine pages need to come alive, “according to Mike. “We want there to be action on the pages. Not just with great photos, but also with sidebar features, stats and other elements which not only catch the eye of readers, but provide interesting, compelling information in a way that’s geared to folks who have grown up with TV and the Internet.”
“We want to stir up interest, “Mike adds. “We’re doing more profiles of specific wrestlers, to give readers insight into these athletes that they can’t find elsewhere “¦ Even when we cover events like the NCAA’s, we want to provide a behind-the-scenes perspective. Not just the scores and the stats, but the human-interest stories and background stuff about the wrestlers.”
Challenges facing college wrestling
While the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships still rank among the highest-attended events of all college sports, college wrestling continues to face tough times, with programs still being eliminated because of Title IX or budgetary issues.
“Fresno State was shocking, “says Mike Finn. “The decision to eliminate that program in California, which has the greatest number of high school wrestlers, demonstrates a lack of respect that some college administrators and some in the public have for the sport “¦ Sometimes it seems that wrestling is an almost forgotten sport.”
Mike is definitely not Mr. Gloom and Doom. “Those in the wrestling community need to emphasize the positives of the sport — elements such as leadership and character that come from wrestling. These positives should be so ingrained in the public at large, that, when a college considers cutting sports programs, the general consensus is, ‘You can’t cut wrestling, it’s too valuable.'”
“It’s important for the college wrestling community to focus on what it has, the positive aspects, the great athletes, the exciting programs “¦ It’s good to see that there’s more TV coverage of the NCAA’s, and that ratings are up, “says Mike. “Don’t simply focus on what you don’t have.”
Looking forward “¦ to the college season
When asked to gaze into his crystal ball as to what the just-started college season might hold, Mike Finn shares some interesting insights:
“¢ Minnesota: “It’s easy to see why they’re ranked No. 1, with all the talent on their roster. One question is, ‘Will Mack Reiter’s injuries be a factor in the overall performance of the team?'”
“¢ Oklahoma State: “A reloading year, but, for the Cowboys, that isn’t as much a problem as it would be for most programs.”
“¢ Iowa and Iowa State: “Having two new head coaches (Tom Brands at Iowa, Cael Sanderson at Iowa State) breathes new life into this rivalry. This new generation of coaches understands the legacy of their programs and will do a lot to fire up their wrestlers and their fans.”
“¢ “Ohio State is the sleeping giant — could be a top ten program.”
“¢ “Watch the east — Penn, Penn State, Cornell, Lehigh. There’s plenty of great wrestling there.”
“¢ “It’s amazing to see the level of talent coming straight out of high school these days. Look at how many kids do well as true freshmen. They’ve had so much experience before they even start college.”
“¦ and to the international scene
Mike also offered some thoughts on freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling from an American perspective:
“¢ “The U.S. wrestlers made an impressive showing at the 2006 World Championships. That bodes well for the future.”
“¢ “There have been wonderful success stories for the U.S. in women’s wrestling. Ideally, this success should translate into encouraging more women to compete in high school and college, which would do so much for the sport, and ensure its success at all levels.”
“¢ “Ben Askren could do so much for wrestling as a world competitor. He could be around for many Olympics “¦ He has the talent and the personality to generate lots of interest.”
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