The new wrestling phenomenon

The ascend to the state wrestling tournaments began last weekend.  The format used in Wisconsin includes a Regional tournament, an individual sectional tournament the following weekend and the individual state tournament the weekend after that.  In between the regional tournament and individual sectional tournament is the team sectional (Tuesday).  The team state tournament is one week after the individual state tournament.

This year has presented a unique set of circumstances for a number of wrestlers and wrestling fans.  It's crucial that we discuss what has led to these if we desire to see this sport grow.  I fear that we're "cutting off our nose in spite of our faces" and we're beginning to see detrimental consequences to our short sightedness.  In some cases (maybe most cases), I'm only speculating, however, more times than not, where there's smoke, there's fire.

I browsed through the individual rankings and last weekend there were 19 ranked or previously ranked athletes who did not participate at the Regional tournament.  With limited research on internet forums and Facebook, it's safe to conclude that nearly all of them were due to injuries that occurred late in the season (this number doesn't include athletes who had season ending injuries prior to Christmas).  Some of these athletes suffered concussions and were not cleared to compete.  In 2011, legislation began on Wisconsin Act 172, better known as the Youth Athlete Concussion Law.  It was passed last summer and has been in full effect during the 2012-13 wrestling season.  As a result, medical professionals, coaches and parents have been much less lenient on allowing athletes to participate with concussion symptoms.  I support the impact this law has had on youth sports, but there's more here than concussions.

The number of "elite" athletes (based on rankings) that are sidelined for the tournament series seems to be uncharacteristically high.  Add to this the number of unranked athletes that didn't participate and the large number of injuries has almost become a phenomenon.  Of course, many previously undiagnosed concussions that are now diagnosed affect this number.  Another interesting piece of the puzzle is how prevalent it was to see individuals move UP one or more weight classes.  Historically, wrestlers "drop" a weight class at the end of the season (a practice I generally don't promote).  Based on the ranking this year, more actually went up for the regional tournament than went.  Obviously, I don't know the reason behind every weight change.  I know some wanted to fit into a weight class that provided more opportunities for success.

I believe the major contributing factor to the increase in injuries, regardless of the concussion law, is the rigorous competition schedules.  Nearly 75% of ranked athletes in Wisconsin have already competed in over 40 matches.  Over 25% have more than 45 matches with 2-3 weekends left of the season.  Many of the individuals who have over 40 matches have competed in some of the nation's toughest tournaments (WI holiday tournaments, The Clash, Cheesehead, etc.); sometimes in consecutive weeks.  It's gone past the old adage, "it's making them tougher" as it's made them susceptible to a significantly increased number of over-use injuries.  Neck problems, back problems and aches and pains are not normal for teenaged athletes.  Acute sports injuries will always occur (sprained ankles, broken hands, etc.) as they're part of the inherent risks of competition.  Chronic sports injuries, on the other hand, occur when there is a lack of foresight from athletes, leaders (coaches, administrators) and parents.

Is it possible that our high school wrestling season is too long?  Does the WIAA allow for too many competitions?  Are chronic sports injuries a result of negligent and uneducated coaches and parents?  Is it possible that the attitude that coincides with mental toughness in "working through" injuries is antiquated?  Are we really doing what's best for these teenagers?

Of course, there are parents and coaches who assure us that the rigors of high school athletics are part of life.  They're convinced that competitions ultimately make athletes better (instead of properly training and evaluating) regardless of the toll it takes on a body.  I'm inclined to think otherwise, especially considering how the rigors of everything else they're doing has ramped up.  The demands of a successful academic schedule, other sports, strength training, etc. have squeezed out the margin for error and, unfortunately, we haven't raised our awareness or standards within the wrestling community to compensate for it.  Hence, we have state powerhouses with half of their starting line-up on the bench during tournament time and others underperforming when it matters most.  It's clear that athletes, coaches, parents, athletic trainers, etc. are worn out.

The wrestling community can begin the steer the ship in the right direction by engaging in important conversations and remaining objective about it all.  The length of the season - when it begins and concludes - needs to be on the table.  How the post season is approached needs to be in the conversation as well.  Tuesday night team sectionals are not good for wrestling.  One of my athletes was injured on a Tuesday night and was forced to withdraw from individual sectionals as a 42-0 senior and I experienced 7 hours in a bus on a school night (3 1/2 hours each way) as a junior in high school that night.  There can be a better way.  We can save athletes and save wrestling.

The principle of the path says that direction determines destination.  The path that you're on determines where you'll end up.  It's not your hopes, dreams, goals, ambitions or intentions that get you to the place you're going or where you'll end up; it's the path that you're on.  

Wrestling community, we're on a path and it's going to lead somewhere.  Is that somewhere really where we want to be?