Longtime official has seen it all since 1971
Johnna Espinoza
The Idaho Statesman
NAMPA ” Wrestling has come a long way since Fred Hughes of Pocatello began officiating in 1971.
Back then, there was one classification. There were also concerns about some wrestlers losing too much weight and athletes possibly being exposed to blood on the mat.
The 65-year-old Hughes is thrilled to see the growth in high school wrestling and an increased interest in the health and safety of the athletes.
“The biggest change is the number of contestants participating, “Hughes said. “We had 16 kids (per weight class) coming to state (in 1971).”
Hughes, who was inducted into the Idaho Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1999, officiated at the state tournament from 1971 through 1999 and in 2001. He has been the state rules interpreter since 1986, which means he is in charge of the 16 officials at the state tournament. In all, he has worked 34 of the past 35 state tournaments.
The state tourney has grown from 224 athletes to almost 900 wrestlers this week in four classifications.
The state tournament was once held at a high school gym or a couple of gyms, such as Blackfoot, Moscow and Boise High, and has grown too large for those venues today.
“I see it as an opportunity for all kids to participate in this sport, “Hughes added.
The increased effort among administrators, officials, coaches and athletic trainers to improve the health and safety of the athletes is among the things that Hughes is most proud of.
“In the old days, they would have a towel in the corner and guys would go over and spit on a towel ” bleeding ” and then go wipe their face. I used to hate that. (Now) we take care of blood like that, “Hughes said. “We have really cleaned up that side of wrestling.”
Paper towels have replaced cloth towels, and athletic trainers wear gloves when they care for athletes.
The state also is in its second year of weight certification, which only allows wrestlers to drop 11/2 percent of their body weight per week, which has discouraged dramatic weight loss among athletes.
“Last night when we weighed in after matches, there wasn’t one kid who didn’t make weight. They jumped on the scale and they were out of there, “Hughes said.
Hughes was not a wrestler, but through refereeing he grew to love the camaraderie of coaches and officials. He also saw what the sport did for kids.
“It’s an individual sport and it teaches kids a lot of self-control and it’s a character-building sport. You’re out there by yourself ” you and your opponent ” and it takes a lot of guts to be out there on that mat, “Hughes said.
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