Do better SCHSL....

[serenadingsyren]

If you don't want to hear me complain about this year's State Tournament I advise you to look away now. Really there are better things you could do with your day. LOOK AWAY!

This years State Tournament shall henceforth be referred to as A Series of Unfortunate Events.

SCHSL should be ashamed. You added an extra division because of football. We get that. Its stupid, but whatever. 5 classifications is highly unneccesary in this state, in this sport, and for the Anderson Civic Center, but this what what we were given. Wrestling always gets shafted in this state. This is no secret. Football is King, ALL HAIL.

You had A WHOLE FREAKING YEAR to plan this. You could have done it properly but NOOOO. You pooped the bed. I don't even think you care. We were in a sub-par venue, this is no surprise, we have always known this venue is not good for a State Wrestling Championship. It has a very limited amount of seating, no room for warm-ups, and is overall very awkward. I'll get to my main point now.

THE FINALS. It's not rocket-science, people. You have 1&2A, 3A, 4A, and 5A. That equals 4 mats needed for the finals (look at me, I did some math. YAY). WHY THE HECK would you have the matches scattered like a chess board across the 6 mats you had out? With all of the people there to help is it really that difficult to roll up 2 mats, move the 4 remaining to the center and wrestle the matches on those mats? NO. Instead you leave 2 empty mats to be filled up with wrestlers (most of whom weren't competing in the finals, I might add), fans, lazy refs and the like. Oh, but "If you are going to be on those mats you MUST kneel". PATHETIC. Who is going to make them? You and what army? So the people sitting on the sides in the bleachers can essentially only see two mats at a time, the mat closes to them in the center and the mat on the far side of the arena on the same side. KEEP PEOPLE OFF OF THE MATS, Stop wrestling if you have to. People paid to see wrestling. Some just enjoy watching it and when they aren't focused on a specific mat they deserve to be able to see all of the matches. Show some respect to the wrestler's who busted their tails ALL SEASON to make it to that moment. Everyone should be able to see them win or lose, triumph or defeat. They earned that time in the "limelight" and that is what it should be. A SPECTACLE, not a DEBACLE.

THE "PARADE OF CHAMPIONS". That was the worst parade I've ever seen. BAR NONE. You pull these kids away from their warm-ups, to have them line up and come out, turn the lights off (just like in years past. HERE WE GO! The 2017 State Finals YEAHHHHH! So excited. I usually tape this on my phone every year because it is so cool. The lights are off, the wrestlers are hyped, the crowd is energized. All of the parents are anticipating the names being called out, the records being announced, the wrestler shaking his opponents hand, the crowd cheering as they return to their spot, bouncing on their toes, ready to perform. Ready to win. But this, this year was a Series of Unfortunate Events. No fanfare here. The lights come on as soon as the wrestlers are paraded out, the refs get their awards on the side where we can't even see them, and then you send the wrestlers walking off wondering what the heck all of that was about. Nice Job.

I was hoping it would get better but it didn't. You set up 3 podiums and only used one. HA! The one you used was in front of the grey mat, crowded with people. BUT YOU MUST KNEEEEL. Yeah. Right. You barely finished announcing the weight classes and placers before the other wrestlers were on the podium. When wrestling began again some matches were already into their second minute before they were introduced. So disrespectful. Names were flubbed, some downright the wrong wrestler announced (this happened multiple times).

I feel bad. I feel for the wrestlers and for the fans. I understand 5 classifications (4 state matches for each weight class) is alot. I understand that the finals already took a while to begin with, and if done properly could have taken even longer. BUT, these wrestler's didn't choose to add another classification. They chose to practice, to dedicate, to sacrifice to get to that State Finals match and they deserved all of the fanfare as the State Champs had before them. We should do better for them. We should do better for the sport of wrestling. For the fans, for the parents, for the coaches who sacrifice alot to mold these kids into better wrestlers and awesome young men.

SCHSL, just do better. Listen, learn, improve. Hopefully I can say next year that this year was just a fluke. Hopefully....

 

[swollen1]

Sorry to say but not gonna happen. We have tried to do many things as a Coaches Association but it all gets shot down. Most people/coaches don't want states in Anderson. Wanna know why it is....because SCHSL has someone up there, not affiliated with them, that is willing to do his best to set it up and run it. Ask yourself, how many people from the SCHSL were there this weekend? I saw Mr Singelton there to drop off the medals. Next thing I know I'm looking at twitter and I see a picture of him with a headset on at one of the AAA boys basketball tournaments. Hell, that wasn't even the state championship.

My advise, go to social media and tag SCHSL and tell them how you feel. Go to your principals and ADs and let them know what a joke it is. Write the SCHSL and flood them with calls. They won't listen to coaches, maybe they will listen to parents and fans.

By the way, I agree 100% with everything you said. I was talking with a Div 1 college coach that was there and he said that every year it is the worst atmosphere state tournament for fans and wrestlers that he goes to and the worst venue he has ever seen a State Tournament held.

 

[serenadingsyren]

I copied and pasted to their official FB page, and they deleted it within 5 minutes. This is WAR.

 

[TILTSFORDAYS]

Agreed something needs to be done!

 

[BuckkillerSC]

If you don't want to hear me complain about this year's State Tournament I advise you to look away now. Really there are better things you could do with your day. LOOK AWAY!

This years State Tournament shall henceforth be referred to as A Series of Unfortunate Events.

SCHSL should be ashamed. You added an extra division because of football. We get that. Its stupid, but whatever. 5 classifications is highly unneccesary in this state, in this sport, and for the Anderson Civic Center, but this what what we were given. Wrestling always gets shafted in this state. This is no secret. Football is King, ALL HAIL.

You had A WHOLE FREAKING YEAR to plan this. You could have done it properly but NOOOO. You pooped the bed. I don't even think you care. We were in a sub-par venue, this is no surprise, we have always known this venue is not good for a State Wrestling Championship. It has a very limited amount of seating, no room for warm-ups, and is overall very awkward. I'll get to my main point now.

THE FINALS. It's not rocket-science, people. You have 1&2A, 3A, 4A, and 5A. That equals 4 mats needed for the finals (look at me, I did some math. YAY). WHY THE HECK would you have the matches scattered like a chess board across the 6 mats you had out? With all of the people there to help is it really that difficult to roll up 2 mats, move the 4 remaining to the center and wrestle the matches on those mats? NO. Instead you leave 2 empty mats to be filled up with wrestlers (most of whom weren't competing in the finals, I might add), fans, lazy refs and the like. Oh, but "If you are going to be on those mats you MUST kneel". PATHETIC. Who is going to make them? You and what army? So the people sitting on the sides in the bleachers can essentially only see two mats at a time, the mat closes to them in the center and the mat on the far side of the arena on the same side. KEEP PEOPLE OFF OF THE MATS, Stop wrestling if you have to. People paid to see wrestling. Some just enjoy watching it and when they aren't focused on a specific mat they deserve to be able to see all of the matches. Show some respect to the wrestler's who busted their tails ALL SEASON to make it to that moment. Everyone should be able to see them win or lose, triumph or defeat. They earned that time in the "limelight" and that is what it should be. A SPECTACLE, not a DEBACLE.

THE "PARADE OF CHAMPIONS". That was the worst parade I've ever seen. BAR NONE. You pull these kids away from their warm-ups, to have them line up and come out, turn the lights off (just like in years past. HERE WE GO! The 2017 State Finals YEAHHHHH! So excited. I usually tape this on my phone every year because it is so cool. The lights are off, the wrestlers are hyped, the crowd is energized. All of the parents are anticipating the names being called out, the records being announced, the wrestler shaking his opponents hand, the crowd cheering as they return to their spot, bouncing on their toes, ready to perform. Ready to win. But this, this year was a Series of Unfortunate Events. No fanfare here. The lights come on as soon as the wrestlers are paraded out, the refs get their awards on the side where we can't even see them, and then you send the wrestlers walking off wondering what the heck all of that was about. Nice Job.

I was hoping it would get better but it didn't. You set up 3 podiums and only used one. HA! The one you used was in front of the grey mat, crowded with people. BUT YOU MUST KNEEEEL. Yeah. Right. You barely finished announcing the weight classes and placers before the other wrestlers were on the podium. When wrestling began again some matches were already into their second minute before they were introduced. So disrespectful. Names were flubbed, some downright the wrong wrestler announced (this happened multiple times).

I feel bad. I feel for the wrestlers and for the fans. I understand 5 classifications (4 state matches for each weight class) is alot. I understand that the finals already took a while to begin with, and if done properly could have taken even longer. BUT, these wrestler's didn't choose to add another classification. They chose to practice, to dedicate, to sacrifice to get to that State Finals match and they deserved all of the fanfare as the State Champs had before them. We should do better for them. We should do better for the sport of wrestling. For the fans, for the parents, for the coaches who sacrifice alot to mold these kids into better wrestlers and awesome young men.

SCHSL, just do better. Listen, learn, improve. Hopefully I can say next year that this year was just a fluke. Hopefully....

I don't know who you are BUT YOU ARE SPOT ON!!!! Everything you said, just spot on. Thinking about everything you just said and how true is makes me sick to my stomach. I'm am disappointed from the top down. The wrestlers, coaches and fans deserve better!!!! Maybe you people would travel 2 hrs south and watch how GA runs theirs and learn something. Especially the sorry ass refs!!!

 

[Scratman88]

Try leaving a rating on the SCHSL Facebook page instead of a regular post. I am pretty sure you can't delete a rating. Or post in you own status with @schsl Facebook page with hash tags. The more people who do it the better.

 

[SCWC]

Wasn't there a brawl that broke out at GA States this year?

 

[scbuckeye99]

Kind of surprised they didn't have tappers out on the mats. The reaction time between the clock expiring and the official blowing the whistle was at least a good second or two off in each case I saw. In state caliber matches that's a huge difference.

As long as they don't move it back to a High school or do what they did 10 years ago and have 3 separate high schools host i'll be fine. For those who have short term memories or just don't know, there was a time when 4A was at one high school, 3A at another and 2A-1A at yes a third. You wanna talk about a sham (yes sham not shame, although shame could also work), that right there is a sham.

 

[I Am Just A Dad]

https://www.facebook.com/South-Carolina-High-School-League-131892396877804/

 

[SButler]

Wasn't there a brawl that broke out at GA States this year?

There was One wrestler that hit his opponent and the appropriate action was taken.

 

[serenadingsyren]

Kind of surprised they didn't have tappers out on the mats. The reaction time between the clock expiring and the official blowing the whistle was at least a good second or two off in each case I saw. In state caliber matches that's a huge difference.

As long as they don't move it back to a High school or do what they did 10 years ago and have 3 separate high schools host i'll be fine. For those who have short term memories or just don't know, there was a time when 4A was at one high school, 3A at another and 2A-1A at yes a third. You wanna talk about a sham (yes sham not shame, although shame could also work), that right there is a sham.

I remember when they did it at separate schools. That sucked too. Just because it has been worse doesn't mean it couldn't be better. Why should we settle for SCHSL throwing us a bone by letting us have it at a "Civic Center" that isn't adequate for the event? The fact that there was an Upper State Basketball Tournament in the area that actually received video and photography coverage from the SCHSL on social media and the STATE Wrestling Tournament and FINALS received none is a travesty.

 

[serenadingsyren]

My condensed version (200 word limit) I will be sending as a "Letter to the Editor" to as many outlets as I can. Already sent to "The State".

The South Carolina High School League should be ashamed of themselves and the way they ran (or decided not to run) the SC State Wrestling Championships this weekend. Barely any coverage or photography of the event on any social media platform, an inadequate venue for the 7th or 8th year, and a very poorly executed finals. No one was there from the HSL and if they were they did not do anything helpful or constructive. The finals were abysmal. The Parade of Champions was a joke, no fanfare, no announcement of the wrestlers and their accomplishments until they were already in the second minute of their matches. Names of Champs and Finalists were flubbed and sometimes the wrong name was announced. Fans in the stands could not see. This was the result of virtually no crowd control during the finals. So many errors and oversights were a complete disservice to the athletes who worked so hard to be there. They deserved better. The fans deserved better. And now, we will DEMAND better. We will keep demanding better until something changes. Until someone at the SCHSL cares as much about wrestling as they do about football and basketball. WE ARE WRESTLING.

 

[SCWC]

There was One wrestler that hit his opponent and the appropriate action was taken.

Yes 1 wrestler...

More than a handful involved and coming out of the stands....

 

[serenadingsyren]

The fact is, if that had occurred during our state finals, the consequences would have been astronomical. Fans were ALREADY out of the stands, overcrowded on mats. Kudos to the state of GA for handling the situation swiftly and effectively. SC wouldn't have had the chance because of the oversight of allowing anyone and everyone in the wrestling area in the first place. It would have been ugly and uncontainable. There are going to be disagreements, fights, headgear hazards (of which I saw many this weekend) at every state tournament. But you cannot tell me that it would not have been bedlam if that had occurred during our finals.

 

[BuckkillerSC]

View embedded media

Yes 1 wrestler...

More than a handful involved and coming out of the stands....

It doesn't matter that this happened in GA. I saw the police escort a guy out Saturday in anderson that was causing a disturbance on the grey mat during the finals. Why were all those people allowed there? That was a stupid idea by someone. Who?

GA still runs a much better state tournament with much better officials. SC needs to learn a few things from Ga. if they don't want to, then we will continue to have shitty a tournament and officials. It is getting worse!!!!

 

[Wrestleil1]

The weekend in Anderson-I’ll keep it clean, I’m disappointed in the haphazard way it was run:

• First off, appoint a tournament director that has scouted other tourneys and understands
  
  
• Easily could improve in the same location- don’t run it like a kids tourney
  
  
• Keep the parents off the sides of the mats
  
  
• Grab some sponsors, get a network wi/mi fi service going so you can mat side live stream it and not blame the facility as the problem. Nice cop out, like you didn’t know this already.
  
  
• Sponsors bring in extra support & cash to the event, invite a few wrestling gear companies, let AT&T or Verizon put a temp network in and give them a booth area
  
  
• Buy banners signifying how big the weekend is & actually put them up
  
  
• If restrooms are limited, have housekeeping on the ball to clean & refill restrooms
  
  
• Have a Grand March and announce the finalist individually, who cares how long it takes, we are all their interested in our sport
  
  
• Break down the Finals to 4 mats, center the 4 in the middle, and keep all the fans in their seats and sightlines clear for all to see and video from the stands
  
  
• By breaking down the mats, you can have one end of the gym designated for the award stands and use some of the above mentioned banners as backdrops for the awards stands, rope it in such a way that it allows the parents to fill in for pics and clear out the area after the awards are done for each weight class. Have a sheriff in the area to support a staff member shooing parents out of the area
  
  
• Put a voice or two at the announcer stand that can pronunciate and doesn’t sound like they just came from their moonshine still
  
  
• Refs-Make more good calls than bad, the head ref needs to kick some in the a$$ as the Asst Ref was often caught spectating and not officiating the clock and their positioning. Then the heavier head ref (I think) that didn’t have anything to do with the match comes out and tells the two what to do.
  
  
• If a new spot is found, make it a facility that bleachers are elevated in such a manner that only wrestlers and coaches can be down on the floor. This helps for viewing, picture taking, along with video.
  
  
• Table workers-request representation (picked by the team’s coach) from the top 8 teams of each division. 5A Lower State has 8 crews, 5A Upper State has 8 crews, do the same with 4A, 3A, 2A, 1A or figure the math that each session shift is covered. Maybe 16 crews from each division isn’t needed.

 

[caspioa]

Lots of good ideas in this last post. Wonder how some of this can be implemented. Who is ultimately in charge of this State Finals Tournament?

 

[SButler]

Again, it was unfortunate that a wrestler ran and sucker punched an opponent, but again I think it was handled as quickly and effectively as possible.

SC could learn from GA when it comes to running Youth events up to the HS State tournament. Some of it obviously is out of the wrestling communities hands and held up by folks like the SCHSL. GA puts out a more professional/polished product at every level, but they still aren't satisfied with where their state is at . I feel at the youth level we still struggle to increase our numbers through growth and retention because we are still keeping 5-6 year olds in a gym all day with 1.5 hours in between matches. One day they will get it!

 

[Eagle Hater 3333]

And we charge crazy admission to attend youth events. Every GA youth event we have attended has been $7 max admission and that's for the entire family! In SC it cost $15-20 to attend for three people. In Ga, $7

 

[Eagle Hater 3333]

Have the following places been contacted about hosting?

Winthrop? Newberry? Limestone? Coker? Surely the league can pay a few more dollars to hold on a college campus if any of those schools are interested.

 

[darth vomitus]

God I soooooo agree with the OP - hell, I even agree with Swollen WHICH NEVER HAPPENS! The SCHSL has a long tradition of treating the sport of wrestling shamefully. All that matters to them is football and basketball - a trait that is also found in Athletic Directors that double as head football coaches. I tried pasting the OP's post (sorry to plagiarize) on the SCHSL FB page and apparently it did not take. I did, however, send the same post via private message.

No doubt the people running the event try their best, but the Anderson CC has NEVER been a good venue. Did anyone actually think this event would run smoothly with the addition of another classification?!? I sure as hell didn't.

Did anyone see the video of Coach Emily of Midland Valley getting harassed by security for COACHING FROM BEHIND HIS CHAIR?

Unfortunately there are very few venues that could adequately host the tournament, and the best centrally located venue (Carolina Coliseum) is a no go because the SCHSL does not want to pony up the money.

I've said this before and will say it again even though I know none of you want to hear it: Make South Carolina a single division state for individuals. Have a "State Tournament" for each classification separately to qualify the top kids for an actual state tournament the following week. That should get the numbers down enough to fit everyone in a large high school in Columbia (middle of state) as well as deciding who is the absolute best wrestler in each weight.

 

[BuckkillerSC]

The weekend in Anderson-I’ll keep it clean, I’m disappointed in the haphazard way it was run:

• First off, appoint a tournament director that has scouted other tourneys and understands = Someone that knows how to actually run a tournament.
  
  
• Easily could improve in the same location- don’t run it like a kids tourney = I'm not sure about Anderson but treating it like a kids tournament is correct.
  
  
• Keep the parents off the sides of the mats = bubba ref was running coaches and wrestlers away from the mat ends or wall sides. Why? There should be an area for coaches and wrestlers. Warm up mats? Where?
  
  
• Grab some sponsors, get a network wi/mi fi service going so you can mat side live stream it and not blame the facility as the problem. Nice cop out, like you didn’t know this already. Today's technology and you do nothing to help with this. That's just being lazy or ignorant.
  
  
• Sponsors bring in extra support & cash to the event, invite a few wrestling gear companies, let AT&T or Verizon put a temp network in and give them a booth area Wrestling tournament sells wrestling gear, shoes, etc... great idea for ATT and Verizon but someone is too lazy to work on this.
  
  
• Buy banners signifying how big the weekend is & actually put them up. The more advertising the better the tournament. But let's just hurry and get it over with. right?
  
  
• If restrooms are limited, have housekeeping on the ball to clean & refill restrooms.
  
  
• Have a Grand March and announce the finalist individually, who cares how long it takes, we are all their interested in our sport. Who cares how long this entire tournament lasts. If it takes 3 days then so what. It's not for SCHSL, its for the wrestlers that has worked hard, some all year.
  
  
• Break down the Finals to 4 mats, center the 4 in the middle, and keep all the fans in their seats and sightlines clear for all to see and video from the stands. this is just common freaking sense. Whomever had the idea of how it was Saturday should be ??????? I really can't say that on here.
  
  
• By breaking down the mats, you can have one end of the gym designated for the award stands and use some of the above mentioned banners as backdrops for the awards stands, rope it in such a way that it allows the parents to fill in for pics and clear out the area after the awards are done for each weight class. Have a sheriff in the area to support a staff member shooing parents out of the area. This is a good idea but Instead of doing this, we let the wrestlers that's ready to wrestle get cold by waiting on the awards to be given. Not even a mat to stay warm on because you let a bunch of people fill them up. Stupid decision.
• 
  
• Put a voice or two at the announcer stand that can pronunciate and doesn’t sound like they just came from their moonshine still. That's a fact. perfect analogy on this one.
  
  
• Refs-Make more good calls than bad, the head ref needs to kick some in the a$$ as the Asst Ref was often caught spectating and not officiating the clock and their positioning. Then the heavier head ref (I think) that didn’t have anything to do with the match comes out and tells the two what to do. This is a huge problem for SC. This is what I think. Carlos and Todd (needs call stalling more) is by far two of the best. Most all of ref's that were there this past weekend should never ref a wrestling match again. EVER!! SC should start over and let Carlos and Todd pic them all.The shitty ref's was the icing on the cake. Your lack of knowledge of wrestling is just amazing to me. I'm surprised that you could even keep a regular job. if you worked for me, I'd fire your asses. Wrestlers should be made to wrestle in the champion round instead of letting them stall and run circles the whole time. You guys are pathetic!!!
  
  
• If a new spot is found, make it a facility that bleachers are elevated in such a manner that only wrestlers and coaches can be down on the floor. This helps for viewing, picture taking, along with video. There absolutely should be a place for the coaches and wrestlers. It is their day. Instead bubba ref tries to run everyone coach and wrestler off. great job bubba making a few dollars being an ass for a weekend.
  
  
• Table workers-request representation (picked by the team’s coach) from the top 8 teams of each division. 5A Lower State has 8 crews, 5A Upper State has 8 crews, do the same with 4A, 3A, 2A, 1A or figure the math that each session shift is covered. Maybe 16 crews from each division isn’t needed. I agree with this.

Excellent post!!!!!!!!

I know everyone that had anything to do with this tournament is watching this forum. You owe every wrestler, coach, parent and fan an apology for this crappy tournament. All points in Wrestleil1 post is valid and true. I added my 2 cents to his and they are in red!

 

[D11WrestBest]

As far as the name issues, that falls solely on me. That was the result of running the tournament on two different softwares and me not comparing back to the main software. It is the one thing I am most upset with this weekend.

I started helping run this tournament because of the lack of coverage these phenomenal athletes were receiving at this level. I do this for the love of the sport and the kids who dedicate their time/life to it...they deserve the exposure and recognition we are trying to get them. If there is one thing I am most upset with from the weekend...it is the screw ups with the names.

To Gustavo Pardo and his family...I am sincerely sorry for the mistake I made in the announcement of his Championship match. I guarantee you, for as long as I am involved in running this event, that will never happen again.

Also, apologies to the 2 3A champions we incorrectly announced after their finals wins. We will do all we can to improve ourselves in this regards in the future.

These mistakes had nothing to do with the SCHSL, they were solely my mistakes...and trust me, nobody feels worse than me about them...these athletes deserve better!!!

 

[serenadingsyren]

Share away, Darth! I sent the condensed version as a "Letter to the Editor" to The State, The Herald, Greenville Times, and The Post and Courier.

It needs to be known (well beyond these forums) that we do NOT like the way the state tournament has been handled and the fact that it is getting worse every year.

 

[caspioa]

Class act D11 for sharing.

We should all be careful to criticize people who are volunteering and trying to help.

Best thing we can all do is get involved and participate in the improvement planning for next and future years.

 

[D11WrestBest]

In regards to the internet, this is the first year we tried it. It worked great for the first round and 1/4, but as more people entered the arena and were connecting to the network, it overloaded it That is not something we could have seen in to the future and predicted happening. It happened and we were quickly able to switch our plans and keep the tournament moving. Not sure why it would be said it is a copout. We have run the tournament for years in as close to real time coverage as possible...I tried to step it up this year and we did for at least the 5A QF and part of the 4A QF.

I am working now with the Anderson County IT people to get this right for next year and hopefully have a dedicated network of our own to use that we will not have issues with. I will work all year long to get this right as I believe these athletes and their families deserve this coverage. Trust me, I want what you want for these athletes and I am trying all I can to get it. My hands are tied as well...I thought this would finally be the year!!! That is the second biggest disappointment of the tournament that I have. It was great when it was up and running.

 

[BuckkillerSC]

In regards to the internet, this is the first year we tried it. It worked great for the first round and 1/4, but as more people entered the arena and were connecting to the network, it overloaded it That is not something we could have seen in tot he future and predicted happening. It happened and we were quickly able to switch our plans and keep the tournament moving. Not sure why it would be said it is a copout. We have run the tournament for years in as close to real time coverage as possible...I tried to step it up this year and we did for at least the 5A QF and part of the 4A QF.

I am working now with the Anderson County IT people to get this right for next year and hopefully have a dedicated network of our own to use that we will not have issues with. I will work all year long to get this right as I believe these athletes and their families deserve this coverage. Trust me, I want what you want for these athletes and I am trying all I can to get it. My hands are tied as well...I thought this would finally be the year!!! That is the second biggest disappointment of the tournament that I have. It was great when it was up and running.

"The SCHSL was presented with an unbelievable business plan to take the tournament somewhere else. Got shot down. There are places that want to host it but that would mean SCHSL would have to do a little more. They don't want to. They were even told that if they lost money it would be covered. They said no go."

This is in another thread. Is this true? Do you know about this? Could this be more successful? Could this work?

 

[D11WrestBest]

If you are asking me, I do not know anything about this proposal. Reading it here is the first I have heard of anything in regards to it.

 

[ParTerre57]

To put weight on the SCHSL, I still think the lack of showers at the Anderson Civic Center should be the cornerstone the case is built around. It's actually shocking that it has been allowed to continue with that key issue not being addressed.

A kid loses Friday night and wrestles all the way back for third on Saturday around 3pm. The vast majority of hotel room checkouts, even late with a late checkout, are not that late leaving no opportunity to shower. It really is outrageous when you think about the length of time these guys are going, post competition, to be able to bathe. It's appalling.

 

[BuckkillerSC]

To put weight on the SCHSL, I still think the lack of showers at the Anderson Civic Center should be the cornerstone the case is built around. It's actually shocking that it has been allowed to continue with that key issue not being addressed.

A kid loses Friday night and wrestles all the way back for third on Saturday around 3pm. The vast majority of hotel room checkouts, even late with a late checkout, are not that late leaving no opportunity to shower. It really is outrageous when you think about the length of time these guys are going, post competition, to be able to bathe. It's appalling.

And another completely valid point. Perfect Parterre57!!

 

[LittleLeon]

Do anyone know how many future years we are contracted to use the Anderson facility?

 

[darth vomitus]

"The SCHSL was presented with an unbelievable business plan to take the tournament somewhere else. Got shot down. There are places that want to host it but that would mean SCHSL would have to do a little more. They don't want to. They were even told that if they lost money it would be covered. They said no go."

This is in another thread. Is this true? Do you know about this? Could this be more successful? Could this work?

I'm not positive, but I believe this was a few years back in regards to getting the Coliseum. I do know that some people that care greatly for the sport in this state attempted to obtain a larger venue through the SCHSL with no success.

Judging by DII comments, looks like it will be there at least through next season. And I don't think anyone should cast dispersion on DII or the hosts of the tournament. Every event will have some bugs as new things are tried whether that is due to an attempt to improve the tournament or being forced to make changes because an unnecessary classification was created. The problem that has existed for many years and has been exacerbated this year is that the Anderson CC is not an appropriate venue.

I like the approach of making the issue the lack of proper shower facilities especially with the concern over skin infection; although, I think there is a shower in the official's changing room - I snuck in there two years ago to do a #2. That might just be a good approach. I'm sure the SCHSL would not want a lawsuit when a kid gets ringworm or - gasp! - the dreaded "H" word...

 

[BulldogZ91]

Maybe another suggestion to the SCHSL would be to not hold more than one event in a particular area. For example, if the bball upperstate championship is going to be in Greenville then the wrestling finals have to be somewhere outside, let's say, a 50 mile radius, maybe? Let's be honest here wrestling in this area is not going to draw the kind of crowds that football, basketball and in some cases baseball. But, that doesn't mean put the wrestling crowd over in the corner and think it'll appease them. That's not how it works. When my nephew went to wrestle in Fargo, Indiana, Iowa and Mass he said it was crazy how many people were there.

 

[BulldogZ91]

I've got another question...I'm not asking any of you guys to out yourselves but are any of you actual HS coaches? Do the coaches themselves harbor these same feelings but are afraid to speak out to their "boss" the SCHSL? I see the guy from Eastside catch alot of flack on here for his alleged tactics but would a guy like him and maybe some others have the kind of clout to step up and demand a change to the SCHSL? You never know, maybe behind closed doors the coaches are fine with the venue, format, timing, etc.

 

[D11WrestBest]

Some of the posts posted are from HS coaches. And the coaches do fight it, but unfortunately it is done through their AD's....so we know where that gets most of them.

 

[BuckkillerSC]

I've got another question...I'm not asking any of you guys to out yourselves but are any of you actual HS coaches? Do the coaches themselves harbor these same feelings but are afraid to speak out to their "boss" the SCHSL? I see the guy from Eastside catch alot of flack on here for his alleged tactics but would a guy like him and maybe some others have the kind of clout to step up and demand a change to the SCHSL? You never know, maybe behind closed doors the coaches are fine with the venue, format, timing, etc.

I'm sure the coaches would have to feel the same way and the coaches association should discuss this openly without having to worry about anything. This is affecting their wrestlers and our children. Someone on here knows the path we could take to help change this. I don't, but would be willing to help change the things we hate. I for one am disgusted and all my grievances are listed in the many posts from yesterday to today. I'll stand shoulder to shoulder with anyone that wants to change things and don't mind going toe to toe with anyone that wants to oppose it. I'm so mad about this past weekend that I'm willing to do anything to change this. Who knows how and what to do? There has to be someone. And I'm more than sure more people feels the same way I do.

 

[darth vomitus]

Share away, Darth! I sent the condensed version as a "Letter to the Editor" to The State, The Herald, Greenville Times, and The Post and Courier.

It needs to be known (well beyond these forums) that we do NOT like the way the state tournament has been handled and the fact that it is getting worse every year.

I just received an FB private message from the SCHSL thanking me for my "direct a descriptive comments," don't worry I informed them these were someone else's direct and descriptive comments that encapsulated my feelings, and directing any other concerns to Charlie Wentzky who is the Asst. Commissioner of Wrestling. His contact info:
charlie@schsl.org or 803.798.0120.

I also suggested Commissioner Singleton read the word so that he can further understand the depths of our displeasure.

 

[BulldogZ91]

To put weight on the SCHSL, I still think the lack of showers at the Anderson Civic Center should be the cornerstone the case is built around. It's actually shocking that it has been allowed to continue with that key issue not being addressed.

A kid loses Friday night and wrestles all the way back for third on Saturday around 3pm. The vast majority of hotel room checkouts, even late with a late checkout, are not that late leaving no opportunity to shower. It really is outrageous when you think about the length of time these guys are going, post competition, to be able to bathe. It's appalling.

This brings up another thing for me...not sure how to word it but I think another good idea and selling point for a larger, more organized venue would be to keep the wrestlers and fans separated. It's bad enough at ACC we all use the same restroom. Nothing more disgusting than the men's restroom at a wrestling tourney lol! Anyway, you see a kid lose, he's tired and in some cases emotional and he can walk right out into the same hallway as spectators. I think there needs to be a separate area just for the wrestlers that fans/parents are kept away from. You don't have that at ACC do you? I watched a kid beat my nephew a few years back and it was grueling. Kid left the mat and basically fell out on the floor in the hallway from exhaustion. I even asked him if he was ok, he was like "naw man that kid gets better every time I face him he's going to be a stud, I'm good. Thanks for asking." I like the way they do it at the Citadel. The fans are all seated above the arena. You see the wrestlers when they come into the stands after they've had a chance to settle down.

 

[serenadingsyren]

This brings up another thing for me...not sure how to word it but I think another good idea and selling point for a larger, more organized venue would be to keep the wrestlers and fans separated. It's bad enough at ACC we all use the same restroom. Nothing more disgusting than the men's restroom at a wrestling tourney lol! Anyway, you see a kid lose, he's tired and in some cases emotional and he can walk right out into the same hallway as spectators. I think there needs to be a separate area just for the wrestlers that fans/parents are kept away from. You don't have that at ACC do you? I watched a kid beat my nephew a few years back and it was grueling. Kid left the mat and basically fell out on the floor in the hallway from exhaustion. I even asked him if he was ok, he was like "naw man that kid gets better every time I face him he's going to be a stud, I'm good. Thanks for asking." I like the way they do it at the Citadel. The fans are all seated above the arena. You see the wrestlers when they come into the stands after they've had a chance to settle down.

Great point! In an already overcrowded venue, having wrestlers who just lost (or won) barreling past you (super sweaty) because of their post-match tunnel vision (bless it), makes it very difficult and awkward to get around as a spectator. It would really help if they actually had a warm-up/holding area for them.

 

[serenadingsyren]

I just received an FB private message from the SCHSL thanking me for my "direct a descriptive comments," don't worry I informed them these were someone else's direct and descriptive comments that encapsulated my feelings, and directing any other concerns to Charlie Wentzky who is the Asst. Commissioner of Wrestling. His contact info:
charlie@schsl.org or 803.798.0120.

I also suggested Commissioner Singleton read the word so that he can further understand the depths of our displeasure.

LOL "direct and descriptive" Love it! Thanks for keeping me updated. I will definitely delve into this further and explore my options for having our voices heard even louder!!