Wrestling Advisory Committee
Minutes
March 7, 2006 • 10 a.m.
Robert W. Hughes FHSAA Building
Gainesville, Florida
Paul McLaughlin called the meeting to order at 10 a.m. The following committee members were in attendance: Matt Morris, Bolles (Jacksonville); Mike Crowder, Lincoln (Tallahassee); Kevin Carpenger, Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs); Doug Hennighan, Cypress Creek (Orlando); Russ Cozart, Brandon; Frank Pettineo, Cardinal Gibbons (Ft. Lauderdale); Charlie Zies, Florida Christian (Miami); and Vic Lorenzano, St. Cloud. Paul McLaughlin, Director of Athletics; Denarvise Thornton, Sr. Director of Athletics; and Jamie Watkins, Associate Director of Athletics, also attended the meeting.
1. Mr. McLaughlin welcomed the committee members to the Robert W. Hughes FHSAA Building. He explained the procedure for completing the expense vouchers.
2. Mr. McLaughlin gave the committee members an overview of the purpose of the meeting.
3. Each committee member introduced himself.
4. The agenda was adopted as submitted. Unanimous (Motion Lorenzano, Second Crowder).
5. Vic Lorenzano, St. Cloud HS, was selected chairman by a unanimous vote.
6. The minutes from the 2005 committee meeting were reviewed and accepted as written. Unanimous (Motion Crowder, Second Morris).
7. General comments regarding the 2005-06 FHSAA Wrestling Manual were very positive. Detailed information regarding the following recommendations that passed can be found on the attachments to these minutes.
2006 Recommendation #1 [Appendix F VI c]: Allow wrestlers to petition to raise their minimum wrestling weight. Unanimous (Motion Crowder, Second Morris).
2006 Recommendation #2 [106.03]: Change the date of implementation of the growth allowance to December 26 of each year. Unanimous (Motion Morris, Second Crowder).
2006 Recommendation #3 [104.03a]: Permit combination tournaments to include both dual meet format and individually bracketed tournament format. Unanimous (Motion Pettineo, Second Zies).
2006 Recommendation #4 [Appendix F I (b)(3)]: Change weight certification variance to one pound from less than one-half pound. Unanimous (Motion Pettineo, Second Morris).
8. The 2005 state wrestling tournament was discussed. The coaches were disappointed in that an RFP was not done to find a larger venue where 12 mats could be utilized. Running a tournament of this size on 10 mats is not ideal. If 12 mats were utilized, the tournament could be completed in two days and save the schools considerable travel expense as well as reduce the time away from school by one day for all participants. Concerns about the consistency of some of the officiating were expressed. The new concept of a “teaching faculty” passed by the FHSAA Board should help solve this problem. The coaches would like to see additional scales used on the first day of weigh-ins to speed up the process. This would be a cost factor for the FHSAA Office because nine more officials would be used to manage this additional weigh-in area. The coaches would like an area to wait for their wrestlers during the weigh-in rather than having to sit or stand in the hallway outside the weigh-in area. The coaches thought the removal of the additional mats used for the 3rd and 5th place matches in preparation for the championship matches looked disorganized. The coaches would like to see the team standings posted on the video board on the main scoreboards at each end of the Jenkins Arena.
9. National Federation wrestling rules were reviewed. Rules by state association adoption were briefly discussed. Mr. McLaughlin reviewed the procedure that the NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee uses and the need to have any recommendations go through the regular process of the Coaches Wrestling Advisory Committee. McLaughlin pointed out that there was some talk to allow multiple participants at certain weight classes.
10. Old Business—There was no holdover recommendations from 2005.
11. New Business.
2006 Recommendation #5 [NFHS rule 4-5-1]: Allow tournament directors to do weigh-ins by teams instead of individuals by weight class. Unanimous (Motion Zies, Second Crowder).
12. Mr. McLaughlin indicated that there seemed to be a slight decrease in the area of sportsmanship during the past state wrestling tournament. McLaughlin sited two instances of poor decision making by coaches.
14. Discussion was also held on the following items:
a) Add examples to Appendix F (NWCA OPC). Staff can accomplish this.
b) The use of weigh-in sheets for large tournaments instead of individual Alpha Master Forms.
c) Mr. Lorenzano asked if the rules meetings could be reinstituted at the FACA Clinic. Mr. McLaughlin replied that the video streamed rules presentations were the way the FHSAA chooses to accomplish this task. FHSAA staff would be willing to attend the FACA Clinic to talk about sportsmanship, coaches education, etc.
d) A Master Wrestling Assessor Training session is scheduled during the Florida Athletic Trainers Conference on April 21 in Altamonte Springs. Mr. McLaughlin indicated that individual e-mails have been sent to all current wrestling assessors informing them of this opportunity.
15. In conclusion, Paul McLaughlin thanked all the committee members for their years of service on the committee. Outgoing committee member Hennighan was encouraged to re-apply since he was filling an unexpired term. There is also a vacancy for one coach in of the administrative section 3 (Tampa Bay area). Declaration of candidacy forms will be on the FHSAA web site in early September. Balloting will be conducted through the online video streamed rules presentations in October.
16. Mr. Lorenzano adjourned the meeting at 12:46 p.m.