Post by WrestlingOldTimer on Oct 8, 2013 11:07:09 GMT -5
I am a huge fan of HS wrestling and football that was blessed with only girls. Even though only estrogen is found in my house I do religiously follow and often attend my district's wrestling and football events. I am just an outsider looking in and can only rely upon what I have seen and/or heard from inside sources over the years in regards to the local high school wrestling teams. There are a few issues that I have questions about so with this being a Rant and Rave forum where people can anonymously respond I thought that some questions could be responsibly replied to.
How is it that you have 4 high schools (Hickory, Great Bridge, Grassfield, Deep Creek located within a very short distance of each other) with common feeder middle school wrestling programs that differ so greatly in the quality of their high school wrestling program? Is it for "political" reasons? I have heard more then once that it has to do with "protecting a legacy" so the Great Bridge wrestling programs must be the "shining star" while the other programs may only follow??? If this is the case what legacy is being protected? My best guess is the ODU-Great Bridge connection..I don't know just speculation.
GB has certainly had its accomplishments with only a few years of an uncompetitive HS program while the others seem to more consistently struggle with developing somewhat of a consistent competitive program as a whole. Let me be clear, I am not talking about win records, just an upward progression in the development of a wrestling team/club. At a fan level this is very evident when attending the dual meets. Watch the wrestlers interactions with their teammates and coaches, pay attention to the amount of pride,passion and enthusiasm displayed by all involved. Watch how the coach interacts with the wrestlers and how he coaches on the mat. I know as an old school wrestler and life long fan of wrestling this "unspoken language" can speak volumes.
Each program mentioned has had or has their star athletes but when the whole picture is looked at something seems to be off. Is this just an invention of my own imagination?
i am not sure what politics need to be a part of high school sports but wouldn't it be beneficial for ALL to have competitive athletic programs instead of worrying about protecting something that really isn't relevant to producing our future leaders of America?
These High Schools are located close enough to each other with some of the same middle schools, so it can't be a difference in demographics, education, or raw athletic talent. For political purposes are certain programs having their hands tied behind their back? Or is it just the pride of wearing a certain singlet that can consistently catapult a team? I do know that a wrestling coach and his ability to lead and motivate is extremely crucial to a team. Just look at what Grassfield was able to accomplish during the first couple of years of opening the school and how it has now consistently declined as a team on the mat. How the coach that started the Grassfield program was able to move to another city and positively progress a program, and is now at his own high school....we will have to wait and see but I guarantee he will bring this program back up to being the "legacy" it's known for. This is just my rant and not a personal attack on anyone or program. If you have any opinions on these observations or lack there of let's keep it non-personal!
How is it that you have 4 high schools (Hickory, Great Bridge, Grassfield, Deep Creek located within a very short distance of each other) with common feeder middle school wrestling programs that differ so greatly in the quality of their high school wrestling program? Is it for "political" reasons? I have heard more then once that it has to do with "protecting a legacy" so the Great Bridge wrestling programs must be the "shining star" while the other programs may only follow??? If this is the case what legacy is being protected? My best guess is the ODU-Great Bridge connection..I don't know just speculation.
GB has certainly had its accomplishments with only a few years of an uncompetitive HS program while the others seem to more consistently struggle with developing somewhat of a consistent competitive program as a whole. Let me be clear, I am not talking about win records, just an upward progression in the development of a wrestling team/club. At a fan level this is very evident when attending the dual meets. Watch the wrestlers interactions with their teammates and coaches, pay attention to the amount of pride,passion and enthusiasm displayed by all involved. Watch how the coach interacts with the wrestlers and how he coaches on the mat. I know as an old school wrestler and life long fan of wrestling this "unspoken language" can speak volumes.
Each program mentioned has had or has their star athletes but when the whole picture is looked at something seems to be off. Is this just an invention of my own imagination?
i am not sure what politics need to be a part of high school sports but wouldn't it be beneficial for ALL to have competitive athletic programs instead of worrying about protecting something that really isn't relevant to producing our future leaders of America?
These High Schools are located close enough to each other with some of the same middle schools, so it can't be a difference in demographics, education, or raw athletic talent. For political purposes are certain programs having their hands tied behind their back? Or is it just the pride of wearing a certain singlet that can consistently catapult a team? I do know that a wrestling coach and his ability to lead and motivate is extremely crucial to a team. Just look at what Grassfield was able to accomplish during the first couple of years of opening the school and how it has now consistently declined as a team on the mat. How the coach that started the Grassfield program was able to move to another city and positively progress a program, and is now at his own high school....we will have to wait and see but I guarantee he will bring this program back up to being the "legacy" it's known for. This is just my rant and not a personal attack on anyone or program. If you have any opinions on these observations or lack there of let's keep it non-personal!