IHSAA alters state wrestling tournament format

The Board of Control for the Iowa High School Athletic Association voted to change the formats of the state wrestling tournaments Wednesday.

The Board approved moving the date and site of the State Dual Team Wrestling Tournament and switched the traditional state tournament back to a three-day event from the four-day format that had been in place since 2003. The goal is to join the events to create four days of state wrestling, featuring the best individuals and teams during the same time frame in the same venue.

"I think bringing the two tournaments together is going to give more wrestlers recognition because it's going to give those wrestlers, who are competing in the dual team on Wednesday, even though the number of spectators may not be the same, we hope its going to give them the same type of recognition and it is going to be as important to them in the dual team tournament as it is for the wrestlers who qualified for the individual tournament," IHSAA Assistant Executive Director Alan Beste said. "I just think it's going to be good for the kids."

The U.S. Cellular Center, formerly known as the Five Seasons Center, has hosted the State Duals since 1994. Renovations to the USCC forced the IHSAA to search for a site for the 2012 State Duals. Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Director of Sports Tourism Mary Lee Malmberg said her organization had a good relationship with the IHSAA while hosting the event.

The decision was met with a mix of disappointment and understanding.

"Obviously, we hate to lose wrestling," said Malmberg, noting the tournament brought in an average of $379,000 in visitor spending the last 10 years."It's been a great event to have, but we've had it since 1994, too. We know when they are looking at what is best for the kids and the sport it's something we can certainly understand."

Malmberg said she figured a lot of factors were considered, and the work on the USCC accelerated the change that might have been unavoidable in the future.

"The timing is interesting with the remodel of the U.S. Cellular Center," Malmberg said. "I believe this is a decision we would have seen happen very soon anyway."

The IHSAA praised Cedar Rapids and the host group for their work over the nearly 20 years it ran the tournament in a press release. Beste was quick to point out the decision was not made based on the previous experiences here or the renovations.

"With us going to the three-day tournament and moving duals in ahead of it that will be a permanent change," Beste said. "The determining factor was not that we weren't going to be at the U.S. Cellular Center in 2012."

The State Duals tournament will remain a 24-team tournament with eight teams in each of the three state classes. Previously, quarterfinal losers were eliminated with semifinal teams awarded for top-four finishes. Now, each team is assured of three duals, vying for top-eight places.

Qualifying for Class 3A State Duals will be prior to district meet and based on the top 16 ranked dual teams in the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association polls competing in regional duals.

The traditional state tournament changes from a 10-session format when it was a four-day event to a eight. The wrestling will extend later in the evening with multiple classes wrestling during the same sessions on the second day of competition. With multiple classes wrestling in the same session, quarterfinal losers will have more time between their loss and their consolation match that could end their medal hopes with a loss.

The move to a three-day state tournament seems to be well received. Beste said coaches and administrators have been suggesting a return to the more condensed schedule. Other recent concerns include wrestlers who don't qualify for district meets in Classes 1A and 2A have to hold their weight down for three extra weeks until state duals competition and the double-elimination aspect to the tournament.

The IHSAA approached the Wrestling Advisory Committe, made up of representatives from IWCOA, with the changes based off prior recommendations.

"It was very much a joint effort," Beste said. "We had the skeleton laid out and then at the committee meeting they helped us talk and work through the actual day-by-day format of how it would work the best."

The change does come with its share of concerns. Cedar Rapids Kennedy Coach Brent Paulson said one of his concerns is wrestlers health over the four day stretch where a wrestler could compete in nine matches in a four-day stretch against the highest level of opponents.

"People who wrestled understand the grind of the state tournament," said Paulson, mentioning he wonders how important coaches and wrestlers will consider State Duals with individual state immediately following it.

Iowa City West Coach Mark Reiland has guided teams to the State Duals the last nine seasons, reaching the 3A finals in eight of those trips. The Trojans have won five duals titles, including the 2011 championship with a 33-19 win over Bettendorf. He said elite wrestlers won't be affected by another day of competition and that wrestlers are just as likely to be injured during practice that day. The change won't be an issue for many teams, according to Reiland.

"It really is only affecting 24 teams," Reiland said. "For the most part, most aren't affected by the change. There are only 24 teams going to wrestle an extra day."

The State Duals always presented a challenge for coaches and wrestlers to remain motivated after wrestling in Des Moines. The decision avoids the let down after individual competition is finished.

"The state finals will be the end all," Reiland said. "I think the state finals should be the "Crown Jewel" but I don't know if wrestling the State Duals the day prior is the answer but that's what we got right now."

The IHSAA press release said the State Duals attracted an average of 5,200 fans each year. Reiland said he thought the move could lead to larger crowds for the State Duals finals.

"People comiong to town for Thursday, they'll show up for the finals which they may not have driven across the state to watch," Reiland said. "Since they will be in Des Moines I think it will be a little better attended."

Coaches will face a dilemma in sitting some wrestlers down for dual competition when they have individual goals to consider the next three days, especially if a team is out of contention for a championship. Forfeits or non-qualifiers could become more prevalent to avoid wrestlers being injured or possibly being scouted.

"I think it's going to come down to depth," Reiland said. "Coaches will have to be smart in how they do things."

Paulson said he likes the tournament returning to a three-day event, wrestling to eight place in state duals and trimming the extra week after the end of the individual state tournament. He said every session during the state tournament will be packed.

"It will create a great atmosphere," Paulson said. "I think it will be an electric in there."