Wrestling Advisory Committee
Minutes
March 6, 2007 • 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: David Laxton, Suwannee HS (Live Oak); Mike Crowder, Lincoln HS (Tallahassee); Kevin Carpenger, Lake Brantley HS (Altamonte Springs); Tommy Montero, Robinson HS (Tampa); Russ Cozart, Brandon HS; Frank Pettineo, Cardinal Gibbons HS (Fort Lauderdale); Moises Rivera, Miami Sunset HS; and Vic Lorenzano, St. Cloud HS. 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 2006 committee meeting were reviewed and accepted as written. Unanimous (Motion Crowder, Second Morris).
7. General comments regarding the 2006-07 FHSAA Wrestling Manual were very positive. Mr. McLaughlin reviewed editorial changes that will be made in sections 103.05, 105.03(5) and 106.05(2).
The FHSAA calendar was also discussed. The fact that fall sports are starting one week later than the 2006-07 calendar and the winter sports are staying in the same time-frame causes an additional week of overlap which is especially significant between football and wrestling. In 2007-08, the last regular season football game will be the same week as the pre-season wrestling classic. With football players being required participate in 5 practice days with the wrestling team after the football season is completed, these student-athletes will miss two weeks of the regular season. Student-athletes in schools where the football team goes deep into the playoffs could miss as many as six weeks of the wrestling regular season and not participate in a wrestling match until after the Christmas break. Detailed information regarding the following recommendations that passed can be found on the attachments to these minutes.
2006 Recommendation #2 [106.03]: Change the date of implementation of the growth allowance to December 26 of each year. Unanimous (Motion Crowder, Second Cozart).
2006 Recommendation #3 [104.03a]: Permit combination tournaments to include both dual meet format and individually bracketed tournament format. Unanimous (Motion Pettineo, Second Montero).
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 Crowder).
8. The 2006 state wrestling tournament was discussed.
The coaches were disappointed that the warm-up area in the meeting hall complex was not utilized like in previous years. Mat sections in three of the four tunnels leading to the arena floor is not adequate space for a good warm-up.
Some provision needs to be made for those coaches accompanying their wrestlers to the weigh-ins each day. Currently coaches have to sit or stand in the hallway outside the weigh-in area while their wrestlers are being weighed-in. A large room with chairs would work great. Also, the concession stand in the meeting hall complex should be open so that those individuals waiting could get a cup of coffee, etc.
The mat breakdown after the consolation finals and before the championship matches was disorganized. The championship matches started over 30 minutes behind schedule and lasted until after 11 p.m. when the team awards were presented. This is not fan friendly, not conducive to good media coverage of the FHSAA Wrestling Finals, nor is it good for those schools returning home that evening. The committee strongly recommends the last session of the tournament start 30 minutes earlier (3:30 instead of 4 p.m.) and that a plan be in place to quickly remove the extra mats from the 3rd/4th and 5th/6th matches so that the event can run more smoothly.
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 (like the regional wrestling tournaments) 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 as well as the way the officials treated the coaches were expressed. McLaughlin informed the committee regarding the selection process used to determine the officials at the FHSAA Wrestling Finals.
9. National Federation wrestling rules were reviewed. Rules by state association adoption were briefly discussed. Rule 8-2-5 will be strictly enforced at the FHSAA Wrestling Finals in the future. 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 Wrestling Coaches Advisory Committee. McLaughlin pointed out that there are no anticipated changes coming in weight classes.
10. Old Business—There was one holdover recommendation from 2006.
2006 Recommendation #5 [NFHS rule 4-5-1]: Allow tournament directors to do weigh-ins by teams instead of individuals by weight class. Unanimous to deny (Motion Cozart, Second Pettineo).
11. New Business.
2007 Recommendation #1 [NFHS rule 4-5-1]: Change the weigh-in procedures to a mat side weigh-in. To deny 7-1 (Motion Laxton, Second Cozart).
2007 Recommendation #2: Establish a dual team wrestling tournament. The FHSAA staff will determine logistical details. Unanimous (Motion Pettineo, Second Cozart).
2007 Recommendation #3: Change in pre-season classic format to allow JV teams to compete. Unanimous (Motion Crowder, Second Rivera).
12. Mr. McLaughlin indicated that there seemed to be no increase or decrease in the area of sportsmanship. McLaughlin reviewed one instance of poor decision making by a coach and a wrestler at the FHSAA Wrestling Finals.
13. Discussion was also held on the following items:
a) Mr. Cozart informed the committee about the high school wrestling show that ESPN is putting together for next year. The same individual who produced “Two A Days” which, was about high school football, will produce this show.
b) Contracts for tournaments and what happens when a school does not adhere to a signed contract. Mr. Thornton in the FHSAA Office handles all such disputes.
c) A Master Wrestling Assessor Training session is scheduled during the Florida Athletic Trainers Conference on April 13 in Altamonte Springs. Mr. McLaughlin indicated that individual e-mails have been sent to all current wrestling assessors informing them of this opportunity.
14. In conclusion, Paul McLaughlin thanked all the committee members for time commitment to serving on the committee.
15. Mr. Lorenzano adjourned the meeting at 1:08 p.m.