Wrestling Matters
October 6, 2007
Wrestling Committee Explores State Regional Format
Proposals Being Developed Jointly by NYSPHSAA and NYSWCA

Multiple-Entries To Regionals and States Would Be
Proportionally Based On Number Of Schools

Competitors Would Wrestle Their Way Into the State Finals Tournament

On Monday, October 1, 2007, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Wrestling Committee considered the concept of a state wrestling tournament format with state regional tournaments and voted overwhelmingly to consider it further at their next meeting.

The State Regional Tournament concept was developed by a working group appointed by NYSPHSAA Executive Director Nina Van Erk that included the Coaches  Association and members of NYSPHSAA’s Wrestling Committee. Working together over the past few months, the group settled on the state regional tournament concept as a way to address the Coaches Association’s concerns regarding opportunity and proportionality while following NYSPHSAA’s system of sectional representation and NYSPHSAA’s Championship Philosophy.

 “This is a major positive development for wrestling in New York, said NYSWCA President Rich Romeo. During the past four years, the state wrestling tournament has changed for the better – increasing participation and adopting a form of multiple-entry. This concept builds on those changes by using state regional tournaments to better insure deserving wrestlers have the opportunity to compete in the state tournament”.

Under the concept, sections would send multiple entries to state regional tournaments where wrestlers would compete for the right to advance to the state finals tournament. The format would bring some numerical balance to the qualifying process as both the state regional and state finals tournament would be organized by proportionally allocating multiple entries to the respective sections and regions based on the number of schools in each. The numerical balance together with multiple-entry would give every wrestler a similar opportunity to reach the state finals tournament.

“This format best represents what schoolboy wrestling is all about. The state regional tournaments would act as an equalizer – leveling the playing field. Under this format, the best wrestlers, the best teams, and the best sections will control their own destiny like never before,” said Romeo.

The State Regional Tournament proposal is believed to be a more viable alternative to previous NYSWCA proposals and many believe it has the best chance of winning final approval from NYSPHSAA’s Executive Committee. Sections could still continue their own sectional tournament traditions and costs would be minimal.

"The working group will be developing State Regional Tournament proposals for each division that will be considered at the next meeting of NYSPHSAA’s Wrestling Committee,” said NYSWCA Executive Director Dick Farfaglia. “We will be sending along further details in our annual enrollment newsletter later this month. In the meantime, as always, questions, comments and suggestions are welcome”.