Well, it all happened again. The bad and the good.
The bad: An elite wrestler wanted to avoid pain & a loss — cries twice to stop the match, getting himself out of a dangerous position and triggering a “do-over” and a referee who didn’t know the rules cheats Jack out of match-winning points.
The good: Jack is the epitome of sportsmanship and handles the situation like a champ (unlike his parents!).
For the record, the rules relating to injury (or crying) time outs when then defensive wrestler is in a nearfall criteria or when criteria is imminent are as follows (from the NFHS 2008-09 rule book):
- Criteria is imminent and the referee stops the match due to injury timeout (or crying), 2 NF points are awarded.
- Defensive wrestler is in nearfall criteria and the referee stops the match due to injury timeout, 3 NF points are awarded. (So if the defensive wrestler is in nearfall criteria for even 1 second before the injury timeout is taken, 3 pts should be awarded.)
- Defensive wrestler is in nearfall criteria for five seconds and the referee stops the match for an injury timeout, 4 pts should be awarded.
So, Jack should have received at least three, if not four points, when his opponent cried out. He got nothing.
All we can tell him is that the ref is human, he made a mistake, you should have gotten the points.
My favorite moment from the situation was when Jack was on the podium (see photo, but ignore his t-shirt) and took it upon himself to say “Congratulations” individually to all the other wrestlers (criers and non-criers).
We didn’t tell him to do that, he did it himself. (And if you know Jack and how shy he is, for him to spontaneously speak to ANY stranger is a big deal!)
In the end, it’s just a wrestling match and we’re onto baseball season now. But I’m glad that Jack handled it so well and it reminds me of another one of my favorite things about Germantown Academy.
We’ve been in zillions of high school gymnasiums the past few years and all of them have the names of their sports stars on banners on the walls — conference champs, statistical leaders, etc. Germantown is the only school we’ve seen that does things differently.
Germantown has had many, many elite athletes in many sports come through the school. None of those athletes are recognized on the gym walls for their on-field accomplishments.
The names that Germantown chooses to honor are the team captains. Team captains are not alwas the best athletes, but the are the best leaders and best at demonstrating sportsmanship.
After the way Jack handled the past two tournaments, I think he’s on his way to being on one of those walls.
ETA: More on crying out from PA Junior Wrestling Message Board:
There will be a comprehensive “Crying-Out/Stoppage” Clinic after weigh-ins (Free to all State Qualifiers). Absolutely no referees will be permitted.
You can expect an informative and interactive session covering the latest techniques that will enable your “Little Warrior” to steal his spot on the PJW Podium.
Skills that will be covered include:
1. The always popular “Twirling Finger” (Effective techniques from all positions)
2. Double-Twirling Finger (Dad and Wrestler Required)
3. Approaching the Scoring Table / Questioning all calls a.k.a. Delay of Game (Whining Coach or Dad Required)
4. Use of fake medical devices and props (Empty prescription inhaler required)
5. Loosening the Headgear / Maximize your rest time
6. Spitting out your mouthpiece (An often overlooked but effective stoppage technique)
7. The Universal Choke Sign. Note: We will play a medley of actual screams and choking noises so you leave with real-world skills. CD’s available for purchase.
8. Calling for the garbage can a.k.a. “I have to vomit”. Who’s going to stop you on this one?
9. Time management – Using your blood and injury time to the fullest
10. The “I Lost My Contact Lens” Maneuver (Short acting class included)We will also have Hollywood approved “Blood Capsules” available for sale. Just bite down on one of these for an immediate stoppage! Ask about our TOURNEY PACKS to ensure that you’ll have enough for the later rounds.
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