Middle school wrestling: WIAA good or bad?

Paul Ellenbecker · January 28, 2016, 07:38:13 AM

Hello all, I know this was discussed in the past but what advantages does the WIAA provide for middle school wrestling? We are looking at dropping WIAA at the middle school level because we feel our community can decide what is best for our student-athletes. I'd like to hear back from some people about what they view as pro and cons. Thanks for any input.

ramjet · January 28, 2016, 07:52:18 AM

I see no advantage at the middle school level.

Most all schools and coaches realise tha Middle school wrestling is the building block to high school wrestling. Why be bogged down by beauracracy?

Jimmy · January 28, 2016, 07:54:30 AM

That settles that.

catzfan · January 28, 2016, 10:30:56 AM

the only issue that needs to be considered is that you are WIAA for all MS sports or none....can't pick and choose. very few reasons across the board to be WIAA but there are a few that, at times, may benefit the school/kids/programs....

FinalWord · January 28, 2016, 10:45:32 AM

Food good! Fire bad! WIAA bad!

bulldog · January 29, 2016, 10:51:27 AM

IMO...WIAA is completely worthless at the MS level. (At times I feel the same way at the HS level). It constrains kids who want to get in extra matches "in season". You can only go to the meets scheduled by your school. Nothing outside of that. So if your MS is off for a weekend you cannot go to a Youth Tournament. WIAA does nothing for MS...WWF runs the regional and state series so other than setting up constrains what advantage does it offer?

Also IMO...either all MS should be WIAA or none. But again, WIAA feels they cannot enforce a policy that all MS are part of the WIAA. I think they could but again, I would rather see them completly out of MS involvement...period

Unless someone knows of a real advantage for a MS being part of the WIAA...I would be interested in hearing the advantages. I have not seen one reason why a MS is part of the WIAA. Anyone have any reasons why a MS would be part of the WIAA?

MNbadger · January 29, 2016, 12:41:10 PM

I MN the MSHSL has nothing to do with MS sports. The only thing is if you wrestle matches in MS and then go to the high school, those matches count toward your 36. So, a MS wrestlers can do their MS season and other tournaments if they wish.
Of course they can't if they are a varsity wrestlers in 7th or 8th grade, they are then effectively "high school wrestlers"

Handles II · January 29, 2016, 01:00:18 PM

MNBadger, their matches outside of school would also count if they were JV in MN. 36 match limit for anyone JV or varsity. Now in reality that would only matter if they were going to wrestle as a "member" (active or a back-up) of the team for either team or individual sections/state.

So I agree, the WIAA isn't a benefit, but just a hindrance for Middle School wrestling (and maybe MS sports in general?).