Point Pleasant - A Case Study
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 12:38 pm
Before we wrap up the 2019/2020 wrestling season and enter the regional and state tournament, we should all recognize West Virginia's current best team and what we know about them.
Here is what I know enough to feel comfortable is saying:
1. Point Pleasant won the state title in 2019 and returned the majority of their team. However, one must look further back to 2018. They returned many "bodies" but were in 4th place in returning state team points. What happened from 2018 to 2019??? How did a squad projected as 4th best become a dominant force that blew past the competition?
2. If you take AWAY all of the team points scored by Raike, Bartee and Short at the 2019 state tournament, they would have fell short by 1 point of STILL winning the team title. Please double check my math and scoring. One of Point's JV 106s could have stepped in that season and scored at least two points and secured the team title anyway. AGAIN, kick Short, Raike and Bartee off the team and they STILL would have won the team title.
3. Point implemented a wrestling focused strength program before the 2018/2019 season and has stayed with it. The program has measurables to indicate progress. Significant progress is recognized!!
4. Point continues to lift two days DURING the season. Maybe it is luck, BS or whatever...……..but I do not see Point wrestlers missing matches due to injuries. I also see some Point wrestlers EXPANDING their leads in rematches as the season progresses. As for the dominant Point wrestlers, they do not seem to be losing ground to their in state competition. A few exceptions exist.
5. Not to rip on the football program, but as an outsider looking in, Point's football team might do better if they start following the wrestlers' strength program. Point's wrestling team does consist of a few football players.
6. Point seems to ALWAYS post their scores on WVMat!! Nothing wrong with recognition and marking your kids' names into history. For me, it has been fun to meet current coaches and dads while watching their kids. However, it has been even "funner" to go back onto WVMat, search through the results of the past and see where these dads won matches to include a state title.
7. Point has an extensive recognition presence on Facebook. Pictures are posted and numerous "wrestlers of the week" are acknowledged. These "wrestlers of the week" have businesses names attached to them. I do not know the details but is shows community involvement. Some schools' wrestling programs appear to TRY to keep their wrestling schedule a secret.
8. Point started the season ready! What defines "ready"? Here is my definition that I am prepared to discuss with anybody. They had their team set, in place, on weight on DAY 1. With the exception of one wrestler delayed in joining the team due to a football injury, they had their starting 14 set. 13 starters starting on day 1. 13/14 = 92.86% in place on day 1. There has been no changing of weight classes, disrupting the squad's line up, etc. Set and ready on day 1 while the competition is playing catch up. When you start 10 steps behind, you will never catch somebody a head of you, unless they slow down.
9. Parkersburg South and Wheeling Park are the two best AAA wrestling teams. Point defeated both in head to head duals. Point has demolished all AA/A teams in head to head duals and won what could be viewed as the toughest WSAZ we have seen.
10. A special hats off to 106 Henderson and 113 Freeman. Two wrestlers that were JV last season. They didn't quit! I repeat, they didn't quit!!!! They stayed with the sport!! They are both top contenders for state titles this season. It is also obvious that there was an offseason plan to work these two into the line up while many other wrestlers went up 2-3 weight classes. Yes, kids grow. However, when wrestlers go up 2-3 weight classes, history has shown they almost always only maintain their winning ways if they increase their strength to body weight ratio. See #3 and #4 above.
Anybody and everybody can implement a strength program. Anybody and everybody can post scores and recognize their team. Anybody and everybody can have team rules. Anybody and everybody can find ways to determine the best line up and get kids on weight at least before Christmas.
I am simply giving credit where credit is due. Good luck to all wrestlers, all coaches, all refs, all fans and all parents as we wind down this great season that has been marked with positive advancements (WV Duals Championship, WV Girls' State Championship, Biggest WSAZ ever, a few improvements to existing events, some teams ramped up their schedules) in West Virginia wrestling.
Here is what I know enough to feel comfortable is saying:
1. Point Pleasant won the state title in 2019 and returned the majority of their team. However, one must look further back to 2018. They returned many "bodies" but were in 4th place in returning state team points. What happened from 2018 to 2019??? How did a squad projected as 4th best become a dominant force that blew past the competition?
2. If you take AWAY all of the team points scored by Raike, Bartee and Short at the 2019 state tournament, they would have fell short by 1 point of STILL winning the team title. Please double check my math and scoring. One of Point's JV 106s could have stepped in that season and scored at least two points and secured the team title anyway. AGAIN, kick Short, Raike and Bartee off the team and they STILL would have won the team title.
3. Point implemented a wrestling focused strength program before the 2018/2019 season and has stayed with it. The program has measurables to indicate progress. Significant progress is recognized!!
4. Point continues to lift two days DURING the season. Maybe it is luck, BS or whatever...……..but I do not see Point wrestlers missing matches due to injuries. I also see some Point wrestlers EXPANDING their leads in rematches as the season progresses. As for the dominant Point wrestlers, they do not seem to be losing ground to their in state competition. A few exceptions exist.
5. Not to rip on the football program, but as an outsider looking in, Point's football team might do better if they start following the wrestlers' strength program. Point's wrestling team does consist of a few football players.
6. Point seems to ALWAYS post their scores on WVMat!! Nothing wrong with recognition and marking your kids' names into history. For me, it has been fun to meet current coaches and dads while watching their kids. However, it has been even "funner" to go back onto WVMat, search through the results of the past and see where these dads won matches to include a state title.
7. Point has an extensive recognition presence on Facebook. Pictures are posted and numerous "wrestlers of the week" are acknowledged. These "wrestlers of the week" have businesses names attached to them. I do not know the details but is shows community involvement. Some schools' wrestling programs appear to TRY to keep their wrestling schedule a secret.
8. Point started the season ready! What defines "ready"? Here is my definition that I am prepared to discuss with anybody. They had their team set, in place, on weight on DAY 1. With the exception of one wrestler delayed in joining the team due to a football injury, they had their starting 14 set. 13 starters starting on day 1. 13/14 = 92.86% in place on day 1. There has been no changing of weight classes, disrupting the squad's line up, etc. Set and ready on day 1 while the competition is playing catch up. When you start 10 steps behind, you will never catch somebody a head of you, unless they slow down.
9. Parkersburg South and Wheeling Park are the two best AAA wrestling teams. Point defeated both in head to head duals. Point has demolished all AA/A teams in head to head duals and won what could be viewed as the toughest WSAZ we have seen.
10. A special hats off to 106 Henderson and 113 Freeman. Two wrestlers that were JV last season. They didn't quit! I repeat, they didn't quit!!!! They stayed with the sport!! They are both top contenders for state titles this season. It is also obvious that there was an offseason plan to work these two into the line up while many other wrestlers went up 2-3 weight classes. Yes, kids grow. However, when wrestlers go up 2-3 weight classes, history has shown they almost always only maintain their winning ways if they increase their strength to body weight ratio. See #3 and #4 above.
Anybody and everybody can implement a strength program. Anybody and everybody can post scores and recognize their team. Anybody and everybody can have team rules. Anybody and everybody can find ways to determine the best line up and get kids on weight at least before Christmas.
I am simply giving credit where credit is due. Good luck to all wrestlers, all coaches, all refs, all fans and all parents as we wind down this great season that has been marked with positive advancements (WV Duals Championship, WV Girls' State Championship, Biggest WSAZ ever, a few improvements to existing events, some teams ramped up their schedules) in West Virginia wrestling.