SCWAY America's Cup Suggestions

[tirapell]

Thanks to all who came out and supported the 3rd Annual America's Cup. I thought Ernie was nuts when he wanted to do this 3 years ago, but it's incredible what an event this become. I've learned a lot through the process and like we discussed earlier with regards to our own state, people love duals. The kids love them. The coaches love them. The fans love them. The best wrestlers around the country wouldn't leave their house to wrestle an individual event with these same rosters, but they'll travel 2,000 miles to be on an elite dual team. We need "team" back in wrestling, and this event has become one of my favorites of the year.

This year alone:
28 dual teams
8 out-of-state teams
415 wrestlers
Too many state champions, state place winners, and state qualifiers to count

Like all tournaments, this event is still a work-in-progress. If you have suggestions on how we can make it better, please give feedback. This is "our" event, and when I say our, I mean the state of California. This is the one time we get elite level talent to travel West and compete in our backyard, rather than us always having to fly to them. We want to continue to improve upon the event's weaknesses and get more people involved, from our state and others.

Already we've jotted down a few things that will help for next season but we'd love in-the-trenches feedback as well. I think next year we reach our goal of 32 teams for the first time, and the 4th Annual America's Cup is even better than it was this season.

A few questions to get started:

1. How much value does the individual event on Sunday add? Would you be interested in JUST doing the duals on Friday/Saturday?

2. Would you like a 7th dual (if possible)? These are elite level matches and kids are pretty beat up, but I could see adding 1 more match on Saturday if warranted, especially if we don't do the individual event on Sunday.

3. Do you like the current every team in the same tournament format? Or would you be interested in having 2 divisions -- Elite/All-Star Division and a Club Division?

4. Would you like to put together your own teams? Or do qualifiers work better?

5. How did the two locations work out, both Clovis and Buchanan? Anything that could make that easier on teams?


Thanks again and looking forward to improving the event.

Sincerely,
Adam Tirapelle

[oldref]

What about having the out of state teams bringing in a middle school team as well? Maybe even allowing the kids competing in the Jr. America's to wrestle in the appropriate division if you stay with the individual tournament. Coaches would have to declare at weigh ins what division and if the kid is staying for the individual tournament. That would give Dennis time to input names into appropriate brackets. That way if they don't parents can complain to their coach. Just my thoughts. Quality event as usual from Clovis, Madera South, Ernie and crew.

[Pin4Win]

This is simply a great tournament. Thanks for all who make it happen...its awesome. If there was one thing however, I would like the championship match pushed back until the other duals are done. Make it a bigger deal, like the Doc B or TV. That way all the coaches, wrestlers and fans can watch cali whoop up on these loaded out of state teams. But overall, its awesome!

[CorcoranCoach]

If the 2 finalist teams could have had a bye through the medal rounds, and then wrestled in that same corner, you would have something truly special. I heard that about 9 times during the final round.

It was all every other coach/athlete could do to not watch those matches and still try and compete in their own dual. Not complaining at all, It was one of the best wrestling experiences I have had.

A legit shot by shot announcer would be sick, maybe the flo wrestling guy, he does a great job at matside announcing.

[tirapell]

Last year we asked about doing it separate and most wanted to just wrestle and get out. Maybe now that the level continues to rise, more people would be interested in a separate final dual. And I agree, that mat in the corner surrounded by people where it's more like an arena than a mat is the way to go. We will keep the final match there for sure.

One thought: maybe the answer is a staggered start. If the final round duals start at 2pm, maybe the 1st/2nd place dual starts at 3pm instead of a full 2 hours later. That would probably allow most people time enough to wrestle and still catch the majority of the 1st place match.

When you see something like that CA Dream Team vs. Ohio Elite dual and the atmosphere it provides, it makes you wonder why we've gone away from that part of our sport.

[GoHounds]

1. How much value does the individual event on Sunday add? Would you be interested in JUST doing the duals on Friday/Saturday?

It is a tremendous value to the wrestlers that were not a part of the duals. We had guys who were on the Zone 5 Coastal Team and then I brought wrestlers to wrestle in just Sundays event. Please don't take this opportunity away for those not on the duals team to be able to wrestle top caliber athletes. Every single one of our boys who wrestled Sunday came away a better wrestler. There is no other way for them aside of going to Masters/State, to be on the mat with these guys. The experience they gained and memories made by participating in this event is priceless.

The one thing that was frustrating, was having wrestlers wait 5 hours before their first match, that made for a very long day.

[tirapell]

1. How much value does the individual event on Sunday add? Would you be interested in JUST doing the duals on Friday/Saturday?

It is a tremendous value to the wrestlers that were not a part of the duals. We had guys who were on the Zone 5 Coastal Team and then I brought wrestlers to wrestle in just Sundays event. Please don't take this opportunity away for those not on the duals team to be able to wrestle top caliber athletes. Every single one of our boys who wrestled Sunday came away a better wrestler. There is no other way for them aside of going to Masters/State, to be on the mat with these guys. The experience they gained and memories made by participating in this event is priceless.

The one thing that was frustrating, was having wrestlers wait 5 hours before their first match, that made for a very long day.

We will take all suggestions into consideration. Just know that the 3 days are killing us. We have to find a better way to make that 3rd day work, end earlier, and run smoother as far as inputting kids.

We're looking for ways to make it work and I appreciate the feedback.

[Coach Lawson]

Comments from the peanut gallery!

In no particular order.

1. I really dislike Memorial Day Weekend as the event date. It is personal for me, I have one son who plays in the Irvine Memorial Baseball tournament every year (I actually got to see all 6 games this year) and I have a daughter who always has a dance competion that weekend---it sucks and I did not see any of the dances but more important I did not see the hot moms either. I feel like I give enough to wrestling all year round to do it on a three day weekend. I'm not saying it is not a good date but it is a major bummer for me. I also wonder if you went a week or two later if you would attract more out of state teams becasue nobody has to rush back for finals?

2. Duals--- I would suggest a varsity and JV 16 man bracket. My team would be JV but all the out of state teams would and all-star teams from all over the state could fit into a 16 man bracket and you could make a bracet where everyone wrestles 4 duals.

3. If you keep it the same as it now perhaps you could wrestle four duals the first day, 2 the second day and start the first round or two of the tournament so Sunday goes faster.

4. Wrestle your duals on Friday and Sunday and have your tournament on Saturday---Saturday would still be long but Sunday would be short.

Later,
Lawson

[tirapell]

1. I really dislike Memorial Day Weekend as the event date. It is personal for me, I have one son who plays in the Irvine Memorial Baseball tournament every year (I actually got to see all 6 games this year) and I have a daughter who always has a dance competion that weekend---it sucks and I did not see any of the dances but more important I did not see the hot moms either. I feel like I give enough to wrestling all year round to do it on a three day weekend. I'm not saying it is not a good date but it is a major bummer for me. I also wonder if you went a week or two later if you would attract more out of state teams becasue nobody has to rush back for finals?
I don't think there's ever a good weekend once you get to mid-May. Graduation. End of school. Beginning of summer. I don't think this one is going to change. Memorial Day at least gives Monday off to rest and recover, which maybe others don't need, but I needed Tuesday too.

2. Duals--- I would suggest a varsity and JV 16 man bracket. My team would be JV but all the out of state teams would and all-star teams from all over the state could fit into a 16 man bracket and you could make a bracet where everyone wrestles 4 duals.
We're looking at 2 divisions, but some of the alure is to come wrestle Ohio, Michigan, Idaho, Oregon, etc and you lose that with two divisions. Now the one division is basically just CA club teams, or a couple high schools put together. We'll keep kicking it around.

3. If you keep it the same as it now perhaps you could wrestle four duals the first day, 2 the second day and start the first round or two of the tournament so Sunday goes faster.
Unfortunately, I don't see going much earlier on Day 1 being an option. Teams have to get here from LAX. Also, school is in session on Friday. Coach T starts setup at 10ish in the morning. Check in starts at 1pm. Weigh ins at 2pm. Wrestling at 4pm. As it is, we finish at 9:30pm. I don't think we could push back another 2 hours to get 1 more dual in on Friday. I think the extra dual would have to come on Saturday. Something like:
Friday: 4pm, 6pm, 8pm
Saturday: 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm (maybe with a 4pm 1st/2nd match, to stagger start it a bit)

That would get everyone out by 6pm on Saturday, with an extra dual match.

4. Wrestle your duals on Friday and Sunday and have your tournament on Saturday---Saturday would still be long but Sunday would be short.
Won't happen. We raised this question. Many of the top teams just come for the duals. Believe it or not, these are very popular in the midwest and east. They do these dual events all the time. And what I've found from experience is the best kids love to be on an elite dual team. These same kids could care less to wrestle an individual off-season event. Duals will have to be the priority IF we want to continue to draw national level talent.

Just some thoughts after 3 years of doing this.

[rrockwell]

I sent you my suggestions a few days ago.

As an out of state team, obviously the less school we miss the better. For the group of kids I brought, we left right after school on Wednesday, drove 8hrs to Ashland OR, stayed the night, then practiced and drove the rest of the way afterwards. We got home early Monday morning and some of the kids still had to drive another 4hrs to get home. Some kids had to miss Wed and Thursday to attend. Staying Sunday would've meant missing another day.

Then you have graduation, finals week, etc to deal with. I know several of our better kids couldn't attend because of this. However, unless its deep into the summer, you will always have this problem. The only solution I can think of would be doing it the 3rd week of June or the end of June, but then you're dealing with the elite wanting to attend Freestyle stuff or training for Nationals. Memorial Weekend, as much as I feel for Lawson's argument, may be the only weekend we can do it in order to benefit the group as a whole. I myself, am now coaching the Cadet team at Fargo and will be missing my anniversary, my sisters 30th b-day and my sister in laws wedding. Needless to say, it will take me a decade to make up for that.

IMO, stick with the duals and try and work in an extra dual or some all-star exhibition matches and definitely, showcase the finals match. I understand we are wanting to not be stuck in there all day Saturday, but even with 32 teams and the amount of mats you use, we are still in good shape. Our unofficial dual state tournament is ran over 2 days on 16 mats and features 76 HS teams in OR. Getting in one extra round won't hurt people IMO.

Elite and Varsity divisions would be okay I guess, but it just depends on what your goal is. If your goal is to give everyone a taste of top level wrestling, leave it the way it is. If your goal is to have everyone compete to their level of ability, separate them. All first team elite teams, would be in the elite division. Any 2nd team from out of state would be in the varsity division. Then divide up accordingly. If you can get 16 out of state teams and 16 varsity level teams, with some out of state teams mixed in, that would be awesome.

Also, I know your goal is to get the midwest and east coast teams to attend, and I'm also sure you tried to get more local states to attend as well. Let's figure out what needs to happen to get both. There is no reason why CO, WY, MT, NM or UT couldn't either combine to make some teams or just bring an in state team. If we can drive 16hrs to make it happen, they can too, as a minimal cost. We charged our kids $200 each and that covered a shirt, a singlet, hotel and gas(the biggest expense), as well as me buying a team meal on Saturday(man wrestlers can eat). Next year, I think we'll get away with charging $225 a kid and be able to do the exact same thing. For 6 matches, memories, the best singlets at the whole tournament, great food, a nice hotel and a decent drive home, you can't beat that.