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Discussion Topic: Lag Time Topic: Increased Sophistication
Justin Hayes added to this discussion on July 31, 2020
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I'm still impressed with how sophisticated wrestling in the USA has become since I started wrestling in 7th grade (1986).
OPPORTUNITY
I went to the Greater Columbus Wrestling Camp (DiSabato) once, learned a ton from a very young Jeff Jordan (counselor; the irony is rich on this one), and entered a few springs tournaments. I knew of "The Garage" in West Liberty-Salem (Dernlans) but wasn't sure if that was an "invitation only" scenario (in my immaturity I would have been too fearful to go at the time). I would occasionally go to the Princeton Center on the west side of Dayton to "Force One", which was a highly unstructured, unmonitored practice setting, but otherwise there just didn't seem to be much opportunity. However, I get the impression this was a SW Ohio wrestling deficiency in light of reading posts from my Cleveland area OWN brothers? In our current era, a wrestler at all levels is only limited by his/her financial resources and commitment to train.
TRAINING PARTNERS
The sport inherently requires good training partners. It is now commonplace to transfer into a school District or actively participate in a club setting to shore up any training partner deficiencies.
BIGGER, STRONGER, FASTER
We have quite a bit of data at this point on how to maximize strength/conditioning. However we approach it, we have a much stronger grasp of hydration. Oh, and the option of an "8th Grade Redshirt".
DIGITAL LEARNING/SCOUTING
I remember watching a few grainy VHS tapes of Gene Mills, Joe Seay, and Iowa Public Television "Best Of" series. With the Internet, we have more accurate and useful intel on technique and scouting than we could have ever imagined (within hours!).
*Is baumspage still the "go to" tournament/results program?
COACHING
An entire generation of high quality coaches have been wrought in the furnace of all of the above.
What else?
What is your compare/contrast experience/observation perspective?
What is better now? What is worse?
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Discussion Topic: Lag Time Topic: Increased Sophistication
Brian Nicola added to this discussion on August 6, 2020
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I think the internet is a big factor. I graduated in 1991, and by the time I was a junior, was pretty committed. Open mats and clubs were very, very word of mouth; it was nothing to roll up to a quality but medium sized open mat and find that it was off that week.
That said, I found consistency at the Stark county programs with pop: Glenoak, Perry and Lake, Louisville, with occasional North Canton open mat. All were excellent, but with the exception of Perry, there wouldn’t be 50 high end kids there. More like 5 and then some above average kids to fill out the space.
As I type this, I realize the role of internet and recruiting. For example, Coach Richard Wince was the HC at glen oak through my junior year, then coach Ferrar took over. No one even knew but Wince took the college job at NAIA Gardner Webb. I don’t think many or any stark county guys went there but plenty would have. I would have looked. But no one knew.
Anyway, I never headed to the mythical Solon open mat. However, the Perry open mat, even before they became national level, was violently tough. You could find a ton of tough kids in that room on the regular.
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Discussion Topic: Lag Time Topic: Increased Sophistication
Justin Hayes added to this discussion on August 6, 2020
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Good stuff, Brian.
I think our age demographic is the last that recalls life without Internet-dependence.
And rotary dial, landline telephones. :)
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Discussion Topic: Lag Time Topic: Increased Sophistication
Jeff Streu added to this discussion on August 9, 2020
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Quote from Brian Nicola's post:
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"However, the Perry open mat, even before they became national level, was violently tough. You could find a ton of tough kids in that room on the regular."
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Agreed. I've been to a couple of Perry's as a coach. A former wrestler of mine, who I would have described as a mat rat who loved to drill hard, told that he even he used to dread going to Perry's open mats. He said he would sometimes look at a convenience store on his drive up there and think "maybe I should just stop for some doughnuts instead of going there." Years later he told me this and said: "Coming from me, that says a lot about their practices."
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Discussion Topic: Lag Time Topic: Increased Sophistication
Scott Nicola added to this discussion on August 9, 2020
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Good topic. I was a big open mat guy and Perry was the place to be in Stark County in the early/mid 90's as my brother said. Not uncommon to have 2-3 state placers in a round robin group. It drew not only Canton area but also some tough Akron area guys as well. I went to Louisville a lot because it was close,they had State placers the weight below me and the weight above above me, and I really liked Coach Berkebile and Coach Stoffer.
I think one of the big changes now is the elite level clubs and individual training. I remember it being either camps or open mats. There may have been a few offseason clubs in the early mid 90's but not nearly as many. From a learning new technique standpoint bi weeekly club is probably better for retention, but there is something to be said for going to camp for a week of wrestling, staying in dorms/eating in dining hall, and having some independence. It got me excited and motivated about going to college.
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