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#1

WIWrestling Main Forum / Re: Update Coaching Contact Ru...

Last post by mulletwrestler - Today at 02:34:59 PM

It has to be the same across the board.  There were multiple HS coaches in the corners coaching this past weekend.

#2

WIWrestling Main Forum / Re: Update Coaching Contact Ru...

Last post by 21Headlocks - Today at 01:32:21 PM

My 2 cents:

To basically circumvent current rules in place that protect coaches and student/athletes from the "more, more, more" mentality and say that Greco & Freestyle is different , I believe is irresponsible.

As a high school coach of 30 years that had wrestlers consistently qualify and place at the State tournament, I have a different view regarding that some coaches vote against the idea of having more contact time  - and it's not because they "don't want to look bad" compared to neighboring communities.

I contend that maybe some coaches are capable of getting great results in the time that they work with their wrestlers from Nov - March.  And in reality, if you're not able to move the needle with regard to in-season success during that time, then maybe you need to look in the mirror and reassess what and how you're doing business.

I also believe there is value, which I saw through the years with some of our wrestlers, in the Greco/Freestyle wrestling. However , instead of being in the practice room in the Spring/Summer, rely on your in-home club to deliver the coaching, practice , strategy, etc.... This allows your high school coaching staff to get the natural time-away break from their athletes as well as the athletes getting a break from their coaches. That's a good thing!!  And, the kids are still getting exposure to the positive benefits of what Greco/Freestyle wrestling offers.

More time together with their high school athletes is a slippery slope.  I believe it puts undo pressure on the athlete to do "more" and that's not a good thing.  It's ok to tell kids to take a break, be a kid, enjoy/experience other things than wrestling.  We'll get together again in Nov. and work hard through March!

Again , this is my view, but it's based on high-level success through the years. And, success was achieved through not only hard work in the practice room, but also by teaching our athletes the value of being a good team mate, good student, being ethical , not taking short cuts, etc...core value type of things.  You can do all of this from Nov - March and have your wrestlers reap the benefits..."more" time together is not the simple answer nor is it the "right" answer from where I stand.

Respectfully,

Success without "more"

I completely agree with this. I saw quite a few HS coaches coaching at various Greco/Freestyle events this year. You need to have rules against HS coaches doing this so these athletes can thrive in other sports and have that balance in the non-contact months. Most Greco/Freestyle wrestlers have connections outside of their HS coaches to work on those which should be considered their own season. I understand some kids may not have the resources to go to these training facilities but that's where local wrestling clubs should step in, NOT HS COACHES. It's unfair to the coaches that follow the contact rules, especially since there seems to be a correlation with the HS coaches I saw not having much success in their respective schools. Just my two cents. I agree the WIAA needs to clarify/redefine the rules around it.

#3

Discuss Wisconsin Collegiate Wrestling - All Divisions / Re: Challenger to Cael/PSU/NLW...

Last post by bigoil - Today at 01:07:57 PM

Agree with what is being said by Barry, dman and asdf.

If you look at badger wrestling aside from the room, which is the same room many of us went to camp in 40+ years ago the other facilities and amenities UW brings are right up there. They fly to meets, World class lifting literally outside the wrestling room, nutritionist, and strength and conditioning. A former wrestler as an AD.

RTC transparency needs to improve no doubt.

#4

WIWrestling Main Forum / Re: Freestlye Champs for each ...

Last post by Armdrag - Today at 12:33:45 PM

For sure......I know a few that hit 3 different clubs

#5

WIWrestling Main Forum / Re: Update Coaching Contact Ru...

Last post by bulldog24 - Today at 12:05:13 PM

As a HS coach I had to sit back and watch three of my wrestlers as a fan due to the rules.  I was able to coach my son and another wrestler who is a senior.  These rules are stupid, IMHO. I understand the intent, but with freestyle and greco having their season in full swing during the school year makes this really hard on our sport.

I agree 100%! The rule is stupid, and I was in the same boat as you. It is extremely frustrating watching one of your wrestlers out there on the mat wrestling, and they can't have a coach in their corner, while their opponent has their club coach.

#6

WIWrestling Main Forum / Re: Update Coaching Contact Ru...

Last post by panther93 - Today at 11:38:38 AM

As a HS coach I had to sit back and watch three of my wrestlers as a fan due to the rules.  I was able to coach my son and another wrestler who is a senior.  These rules are stupid, IMHO. I understand the intent, but with freestyle and greco having their season in full swing during the school year makes this really hard on our sport.

#7

Discuss Wisconsin Collegiate Wrestling - All Divisions / Re: Challenger to Cael/PSU/NLW...

Last post by asdf - Today at 11:26:30 AM

I'm not saying the UM does or doesn't care about wrestling, but curious as to the "why's" people think that they don't?  Seems like McIntosh goes to the matches.  They gave Bono a high paying contract.  I get the wrestling room isn't the greatest but I heard there are plans for that when they redo the football "stuff".  And the UW "sticking with" Bono doesn't mean they don't care about wrestling, but rather he really hasn't screwed up too bad at this point to just fire him with no plan in place.  I also believe if there was a chance the Badgers could get a David Taylor type head coach, and the UW had the financial backing to pay him and the wrestlers, I truly believe the UW would do so.  At the same time I have a hard time believing the UW is hurting for money.

My $0.02 for UW to even begin to compete with the Penn St.s, OKST's, etc....UW needs to bring in a big-name DT type coach, build the wrestling facility sooner than later, make amends with the Askren's (ex. hire one of them), and keep the AWA and other club kids in state at all costs.

IMO the UW admin and fan base do support the wrestling program.  Until recently (David Taylor, et al), Bono and his staff were one of the highest paid coaching staffs in D1 wrestling.  While the RTC appears to be doing very very little in regards to NIL, senior level development and overall anything it is right in the middle of financially funded RTCs year in and year out.

I would assume it is the responsibility of Bono and the the admin to locate the big whale type donors and that is a big part of what is missing.  If UW-Eau Claire athletic dept can find one so can Badger wrestling.

https://www.uwec.edu/finance-administration/county-materials-complex/


Another example is what Little Rock has done in a state with NO wrestling history in just 5 years. Think they were .5 points from Badgers at nationals, did not lose anyone to the portal and actually picked up a couple portal kids.  This article should be used as the template on how to build (or re--build) a program. It a pretty impressive story.

https://armoneyandpolitics.com/greg-hatcher-arkansas-wrestling/

#8

Discuss Wisconsin Collegiate Wrestling - All Divisions / Re: Challenger to Cael/PSU/NLW...

Last post by dman - Today at 10:58:19 AM

I'm not saying the UM does or doesn't care about wrestling, but curious as to the "why's" people think that they don't?  Seems like McIntosh goes to the matches.  They gave Bono a high paying contract.  I get the wrestling room isn't the greatest but I heard there are plans for that when they redo the football "stuff".  And the UW "sticking with" Bono doesn't mean they don't care about wrestling, but rather he really hasn't screwed up too bad at this point to just fire him with no plan in place.  I also believe if there was a chance the Badgers could get a David Taylor type head coach, and the UW had the financial backing to pay him and the wrestlers, I truly believe the UW would do so.  At the same time I have a hard time believing the UW is hurting for money.

My $0.02 for UW to even begin to compete with the Penn St.s, OKST's, etc....UW needs to bring in a big-name DT type coach, build the wrestling facility sooner than later, make amends with the Askren's (ex. hire one of them), and keep the AWA and other club kids in state at all costs.

#9

WIWrestling Main Forum / Re: Freestlye Champs for each ...

Last post by Fish - Today at 10:33:05 AM

another interesting stat, but would be fairly difficult to collect the data..........how many of these kids attend multiple clubs???

There's definitely a good number of kids that cross train at multiple clubs.  I know of a few AWA kids that drop in at Nazar once a week to get an extra practice in and to find different partners.

#10

Discuss Wisconsin Collegiate Wrestling - All Divisions / Re: Challenger to Cael/PSU/NLW...

Last post by Barou - Today at 10:26:36 AM

Some of you make it sound like Bono has not offered the elite Wisconsin guys.  If wrestlers choose other universities that is not all on Bono.  It takes both sides.

I think most people have been pretty clear that the frustration is Bono not signing the Wisconsin elite kids.  Isn't about not offering.  Nothing will change with Bono at the helm.  If I was a Wisconsin kid I wouldn't be looking at the Badger program. 

Can you expand on the why you would choose not to go to UW because of Bono at the helm?

Over the past few years I think all of the reasons have been stated to the point of kicking a dead horse.

Asking Barou his reason.

Well a few things I'd say.  1.) The trajectory of the program is not good.  I would think even the biggest Bono supporters would share that observation.  As it stands right now I would say PSU is more likely to have more national champions than UW has national qualifiers.  2.) The failure of the RTC.  Again, I think the biggest supporters can make the observation that the RTC has been managed poorly.  3.) Way better options.  I can't say definitively that Bono has character issues but they've certainly been called into question.  Askren never really gets into detail how things went south there but something happened and right, wrong, or otherwise there are a lot of people that trust Askren's judgment.  Probably doesn't hurt that Askren is a way more visible figure than Bono.  Doug Schwab, Brian Smith, Cael Sanderson, David Taylor, etc appear to be high character guys.  I wouldn't think twice about sending my kid to be part of Doug Schwab's program.  Do you think the same can be said about Bono?  Fortunately for Bono and his supporters McCintosh and UW don't care about wrestling.  Unless Bono can pull some magic out of the transfer portal UW is looking to have their worst year in over a decade.