Need help with wrestling

[User 149642]

Hey y'all, next weekend I'm being sent to cover a high school wrestling tournament. I've never watched a single wrestling match, let alone covered one, or a whole tournament for that matter. Are any of y'all able to give me a crash course on the basics and how tournaments work? Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[Moderator1]

Is it a team tournament, usually labeled something our other Duals, or an individual tournament?

I got my start in the business MANY years ago covering high school wrestling for a local weekly.

 

[daytonadan1983]

Write more about the wrestlers than the wrestling as you learn the sport.

Ask a lot of questions. You will never find a sport more cooperative.

 

[jr/shotglass]

If you're a wrestling neophyte, the biggest mistake you can make is trying to impress your readers by describing moves you don't understand. Just featurize, humanize the athletes and learn the sport at your own pace if you're going to be doing it for a while.

 

[cjericho]

Is it a team tournament or individual?

 

[User 149642]

It is a team tournament.

 

[Moderator1]

Find ONE good story on the winning team and tell it. Play by play is a no-go in most cases anyway but particularly in wrestling. Was the winning team a surprise winner? Why? Which wrestler did better than expected? Tell us about him. Was the team expected to win? Why? Which wrestler has helped the team to the favorite status? Tell us about him.

When I covered wrestling, it was five points for a pin, three for a decision and two for a draw. Now there are other options and I can't keep all of them straight.

Wrestling always had some interesting characters.

 

[jr/shotglass]

Match scoring, at least for Pennsylvania:

Takedown - 2 points
Escape - 1 point
Reversal - 2 points
Near fall - 2 or 3 points
You can earn penalty points too.

If you win by 7 to 14 points, it's a major decision, which is worth four team points rather than three.
If you reach a 15-point advantage, the match ends by technical fall, which is worth five team points.
Six team points for victory by pin, injury default, disqualification or forfeit.
Three team points for regular decision (fewer than 7 points).
Two team points each for draw.
And unsportsmanlike conduct can lead to a one-point team deduction.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[MisterCreosote]

A pin is 6 points.

In individual matches, just watch the ref, who will signal all the points. Just watch for near falls, as there is a point's worth of difference between a 3-second one and a 5-second one. But, in near fall situations, the ref will visibly count them off.

Watch for stalling. It gets warned a lot, but doesn't get penalized a lot.

 

[HanSenSE]

A pin is 6 points.

In individual matches, just watch the ref, who will signal all the points. Just watch for near falls, as there is a point's worth of difference between a 3-second one and a 5-second one. But, in near fall situations, the ref will visibly count them off.

Watch for stalling. It gets warned a lot, but doesn't get penalized a lot.

And make sure you have the colors on the ankle straps right.

 

[jr/shotglass]

At least once while you're there, stand up in the middle of a match, point and scream, "SPLADLE!"

 

[User 4332]

Watch Vision Quest tonight.

And then again tomorrow night.

And then again Friday night.

 

[justgladtobehere]

Most reporters wear a singlet.

 

[cjericho]

Most reporters wear a singlet.

With tights.

 

[cjericho]

Should've been more clear when asking if it was a team tournament. If it is team vs team, not individuals in brackets with team scoring, you don't need to worry as much about the red and green ankle bands. Are all the teams in your coverage area? The focus probably will be on the winning team, unless they're not one in your area. But if one or a few kids dominate, you could write a lot on them. Try to get records and places in the district, region and state for the schools in your area.

 

[User 149642]

Should've been more clear when asking if it was a team tournament. If it is team vs team, not individuals in brackets with team scoring, you don't need to worry as much about the red and green ankle bands. Are all the teams in your coverage area? The focus probably will be on the winning team, unless they're not one in your area. But if one or a few kids dominate, you could write a lot on them. Try to get records and places in the district, region and state for the schools in your area.

It is individuals in brackets with team scoring, I believe. Five of the teams are in our coverage area, so I'll probably focus on whichever teams/wrestlers from those schools do well.

Thanks for your help!

 

[jr/shotglass]

I equate team wrestling with team track & field. The participants can get excited about the team end of it, but the fans are there for the stud individuals.

 

[cjericho]

I equate team wrestling with team track & field. The participants can get excited about the team end of it, but the fans are there for the stud individuals.

Seriously? You ever cover any wrestling in the Lehigh Valley or Pittsburgh area? There's a number of schools in those areas where a dual meet is a lot bigger than the school's basketball game.

 

[jr/shotglass]

Seriously? You ever cover any wrestling in the Lehigh Valley or Pittsburgh area? There's a number of schools in those areas where a dual meet is a lot bigger than the school's basketball game.

You're right. It's more a matter of personal preference with me.

 

[User 149642]

My editor told me I only have to be there for the championship matches. These questions might seem dumb, but: how do I know which matches are the finals? And how do I find out the scores of the matches I can’t get to?