Best D1 Regional Matchups

[tyben]

3 really interesting regional match-ups this weekend in D1 that will eliminate 3 top teams before we get to the dual portion of the team state qualifier.

#3 Milton and #6 Mukwonago.  Mukwonago beat Milton 44-33 earlier this season and either team could win team state if they make it, also have to likely wrestle Stoughton in the team sectional to make it to state. I see at least 1 quality starter for Milton was out in that first dual plus haven't heard if the older Nilo is making a return for the post season?  Mukwonago, fresh off beating #5 Arrowhead in their conference tournament, has a solid lineup all the way through with a of couple studs, Milton has more studs but also has some weights that won't score well, similar to Arrowhead.

#4 Holmen and #9 Wis Rapids. Again, either of these teams could win team state if they make it. This will be the first time these teams see each other this season and there is going to be a lot of interesting match-ups. Holmen has a great senior class, some really good wrestlers and their depth gives them lots of options to complete their lineup. Either there is great parity in D1, the ranking committee is way off, or both, when a #9 team has as good of a chance of winning team state as anyone else. I think Rapids got the Jacob Ward treatment after losing to WW, we all know they are better than #9 and were missing some key components. 

#2 Marshfield and #7 Wausau West. Marshfield beat WW in a dual 48-21, WW won the conference tournament ahead of Rapids and Marshfield that each were missing key components.  Wausau West is led by their upper weights being so dominant and in general a team that has great team energy. If you follow Marshfield you know they have hammers, but a log jam in the middle weights creates a dilemma of trying to win a regional while trying to give the kids the best chance to win or place high at individual state. Most of the teams above have the same dilemma, put the best regional scoring team on the mat or put kids in the best place to win an individual state title, but Marshfield might struggle the most with this scenario. 

There is a real chance that the #2, #3 and #4 teams in D1 could be eliminated on Saturday.

[Redeemer]

Good overview, and I agree... it is a bit crazy that 3 of the arguably top 8 D1 teams will be eliminated on regional day.

It would be nice to see all these teams in the Fieldhouse going after it, excellent fan bases making team state duals that would be worth watching.

[Houndhead]

Good overview, and I agree... it is a bit crazy that 3 of the arguably top 8 D1 teams will be eliminated on regional day.

It would be nice to see all these teams in the Fieldhouse going after it, excellent fan bases making team state duals that would be worth watching.

Instead, we will be treated to some blow outs at team state duals because some of the best teams are eliminated in an individual tournament.

[Wis-Mallard]

Good teams will be eliminated in a dual format in regionals or sectionals too. Perhaps you could seed the sectional for a dual format. There would be incredible blowouts in first couple rounds of a dual tournament. Do all teams really want to be in dual format tournament for the postseason? In football, teams have to qualify for playoffs. In basketball, softball and other sports every team is in the playoffs. Do we need to have a top seed like Holmen wrestle a low seed like Onalaska in the first round of the hypothetical WI dual meet tournament series?

[DocWrestling]

On regionals weekend which would be open if you create a super-sectional.

Top half of teams are seeded into brackets like football with top teams spread out.

Those teams that do not make it to team state they could have their own individual tournaments on that Saturday

[Houndhead]

Good teams will be eliminated in a dual format in regionals or sectionals too.

Yes, but the best dual team would advance, not the best tournament team.

[Redeemer]

Seed the top 32 teams in a bracket via a coach's meeting, and let them wrestle Tuesday night in quads to make 8 teams advancing to state.

[tyben]

Good teams will be eliminated in a dual format in regionals or sectionals too.

Yes, but the best dual team would advance, not the best tournament team.

I think this is the biggest point to be made. If we were eliminating teams based on duals we solve a huge problem. Top 2 or 3 from each regional advance, then seed the teams.  Get rid of the Tuesday night team sectional, and have the top 16 (top 2 from regionals) or even top 48 (top 3 from regionals) start wrestling Friday of team state weekend.  16 teams would be very easy, 2 duals Friday and 2 on Saturday. 48 teams would be more complicated but you could add the Tuesday night back in with the top 16 teams getting byes and add a round Friday of teams state. 

I'm sure it happens more than we know it, teams having to make a decision on trying to make a run at a team state title versus putting kids in the best position to place at individual state, isn't right, and solving this problem is relatively easy.

[Numbers]

Good teams will be eliminated in a dual format in regionals or sectionals too.

Yes, but the best dual team would advance, not the best tournament team.

I think this is the biggest point to be made. If we were eliminating teams based on duals we solve a huge problem. Top 2 or 3 from each regional advance, then seed the teams.  Get rid of the Tuesday night team sectional, and have the top 16 (top 2 from regionals) or even top 48 (top 3 from regionals) start wrestling Friday of team state weekend.  16 teams would be very easy, 2 duals Friday and 2 on Saturday. 48 teams would be more complicated but you could add the Tuesday night back in with the top 16 teams getting byes and add a round Friday of teams state. 

I'm sure it happens more than we know it, teams having to make a decision on trying to make a run at a team state title versus putting kids in the best position to place at individual state, isn't right, and solving this problem is relatively easy.

This should be fixed but over 50% of the members do not care since they cannot fill 14 weights.  With no goal or hope of qualifying for team state, they do not care.

The teams that care are those with potential sectional placers that get bumped from the regional lineup due to better team members taking weight classes to attempt to qualify or place higher at the state individual tournament. 

Many strong dual teams have 3 or 4 wrestlers wrestle up a weight class most of the season for the team.  This is why having an individual regional tournament only qualifying the champion to a dual team tournament is flawed.  If the powers that be are not willing to seed/move teams (like football), and want to stick with one team qualifier per the teams at individual sectional placements, at least allow the top 2 or 3 teams per regional to advance to the dual team tournament format.

[Handles II]

Good teams will be eliminated in a dual format in regionals or sectionals too.

Yes, but the best dual team would advance, not the best tournament team.

I think this is the biggest point to be made. If we were eliminating teams based on duals we solve a huge problem. Top 2 or 3 from each regional advance, then seed the teams.  Get rid of the Tuesday night team sectional, and have the top 16 (top 2 from regionals) or even top 48 (top 3 from regionals) start wrestling Friday of team state weekend.  16 teams would be very easy, 2 duals Friday and 2 on Saturday. 48 teams would be more complicated but you could add the Tuesday night back in with the top 16 teams getting byes and add a round Friday of teams state. 

I'm sure it happens more than we know it, teams having to make a decision on trying to make a run at a team state title versus putting kids in the best position to place at individual state, isn't right, and solving this problem is relatively easy.

This should be fixed but over 50% of the members do not care since they cannot fill 14 weights.  With no goal or hope of qualifying for team state, they do not care.

The teams that care are those with potential sectional placers that get bumped from the regional lineup due to better team members taking weight classes to attempt to qualify or place higher at the state individual tournament. 

Many strong dual teams have 3 or 4 wrestlers wrestle up a weight class most of the season for the team.  This is why having an individual regional tournament only qualifying the champion to a dual team tournament is flawed. If the powers that be are not willing to seed/move teams (like football), and want to stick with one team qualifier per the teams at individual sectional placements, at least allow the top 2 or 3 teams per regional to advance to the dual team tournament format.

And this has been discussed plenty over the past 2-3 decades. Coaches must have their A.D's address this and the WWCA has to make it one of it's top priorities or it simply won't change. We have apparently pushed for seeding at team state over actually getting the best dual teams TO state. The cart is in front of the horse.

[DocWrestling]

95% of teams know they have know chance of qualifying for team state and do not care so they are apathetic about change in this area.  This is a system that makes no sense and thus the WIAA should just make the change without the coaches association