Central Ohio Down??

• maddog140

  Why is Central Ohio so down this year?? We never have the talent, dept wise, to compete with Cleveland but we usually have at least one or two boys that are in the conversation for a state title. I feel we have none this year. Besides schools constantly splitting, is there anything else holding us back?? Who can blame the Dayton schools for coming to Darby?? The Darby district beat FF last year at the state. Is that because of the Dayton schools coming to Darby?? Who is really representing Central Ohio? Dayton or Columbus?? I know we are better then this so what are we doing wrong??
  
  Just my 2 cents please feel free to slam me (cruiser_94) lol
• Westie101

  

  I eat cleveland kids for breakfast.
• OUdidntknow

  Just a guess, probably more recruiting and Catholic Schools in the Cleveland area...
• Tony Mead

  some great training facility's and clubs in central ohio that are producing state and national champs at the younger ages. only a matter of time all that hard work pays off.
• bw133

  agreed, Central district will rise soon enough.
• Bitterrunner-up

  Sounds like the high school version of the old Ohio State mantra..."wait 'till next year".
  
  The difference between Northeast Ohio and Central Ohio is culture.
• cruiser_96

  

  Not a slam, maddog... A jap whiz! Wow! you must have hit hard if you can't differentiate between the two.
  
  Personal opinion on the matter... 2nd, 3rd and 4th generations, along with culture. When aunts uncles, sisters, cousins and grandmaparents can think through a match just like coaches, and explain why shooting cross body is dangerous, getting out of your stance is never beneficial and how to navigate out of a front headlock with maximum efficiency, you have something special.
• rassler

  30+ year jump in organizing youth programs has certainly helped the NE. Long before the OAC state tourmnaments, the NE had youth "state" championships that basically covered NE Ohio and organized teams frequently crossed the state line and competed in PA. Throw in a large number of big Catholic schools, rampant junior high redshirting and excellent coaching and you will have your answer.
• cruiser_96

  

  The more I read about NEO, the more I think most of it comes down to making this sport a priority. Maybe even using the life skills learned in the sport to enhance ones abilities in the sport. (A little circular reasoning there, but less circular, more enhancement.)
• monarchpride

  It's a culture, they seek out the competition regardless of result, many elsewhere focus on winning even if they aren't beating anyone any good
  
  Agree with cruiser a greater knowledge base of the sport
• monster xv

  Off season training! It all comes down to what you are putting into it in the off season. There is a ton of spring wrestling that takes place around the state and country, central Ohio is simply not represented. Coaches in central Ohio have failed to put together competitive clubs, organized open mats, and (most notable) utilize the talent from tOSU.
• ksig489

  monster xv;682690 wrote:Off season training! It all comes down to what you are putting into it in the off season. There is a ton of spring wrestling that takes place around the state and country, central Ohio is simply not represented. Coaches in central Ohio have failed to put together competitive clubs, organized open mats, and (most notable) utilize the talent from tOSU.

  
  I agree with some of this...the open mats thing is ridiculous! We have 20 schools in central Ohio competing for open mats. Years ago a few of us tried to organize one school a day around the city. Monday-Friday with a site close to each point on the compass and one central location. We passed out flyers at the sectional seeding meeting to all sites. What happened? 15 more places started open mats before we could even get going and all of a sudden instead of 50 kids at one site, we had 6-8 kids at 6-8 sites. How is that making guys better?
  
  As for the culture...In the Cleveland papers you see articles about wrestling all the time. In the Discrap we are listed in the "7 day index of OTHER sports". There are still more football articles on their website than wrestling and we are IN SEASON!
• cruiser_96

  

  monster xv;682690 wrote:Off season training! It all comes down to what you are putting into it in the off season. There is a ton of spring wrestling that takes place around the state and country, central Ohio is simply not represented. Coaches in central Ohio have failed to put together competitive clubs, organized open mats, and (most notable) utilize the talent from tOSU.

  
  There are plenty of clubs, clinics, tournaments and open mats going on here. I can honestly say that our open mats have (I'd like to think) elevated a number of Central Ohio wrestlers. Members from our team would be 1/10th, maybe even 1/20th of that total number.
  
  To me, your quote affirms my point of making success in this sport a priority. And for whatever reason, kids in NEO have done, are doing and will continue to do it. Not sure why, but they do. And I'm guessing that that is what this thread is about... The "WHY".
• lowsingle174

  Wrestling Northeast Ohio and coaching in Central ohio there is a huge difference between the two. I would say that culture plays a big role, so does expectation. Kids in cleveland and akron/canton areas expect to place and win state tournaments. Kids in central ohio are just happy to get there. JMO
• cruiser_96

  

  Something else I just thought of... not that it is the sole reason, but who knows...
  
  In Columbus, it's Ohio State or nothing. In NEO, it's CSU, KSU, NDC, Edinboro, John Carroll, BW, ... who am I missing??? Would you count Ashland? Maybe you do, maybe you don't. But my point is, there are viable options to hit that "Perfect ZONE" for kids wanting to do wrestling in college. That zone being far enough from parents to "do" college, but close enough to receive the support (and other $tuff) you need to not crash and burn.
  
  Imagine: 3 kids of various ages, in a college that is 30 minutes for their Alma Mater, revisiting during breaks... that's kind of big. Not to mention - as someone stated previously - the spring and summer opportunities!?!?! Endless possibilities. The college wrestlers have to stay sharp, so they want to roll. 3 Frosh, a soph., and two juniors jump on board and you have an incredible nucleus.
  
  
  Not saying that this happens in every room up there, but I'd take it ANY DAY OF THE WEEK!!! Heck, just getting alumni back in our room gives me a boost! Even if they were a (fellow) 4x sectional qualifier!
• Cthelites

  The open mat thing really does need to be more organized.
  I know Cruiser does a great job of getting the info out there.
  My son thought he trip to Solon open mats was great!
  Youd see some open mats on certain days in certain areas then wham all the sudden you see a school down the road hosting their own OM the same day/time.
  Off season clubs need to be more promoted and more regionalized.
  I see Olen, Liberty and Big Nut all have their own clubs and thats great, but why not do a Cent Oh North club and rotate the sessions between schools? Get a NW side with the Hilliards and Dublins to have a club.
  Same with the Eastside and Souside. Have some freakn dual meets against each other and/or mini tourneys.
  Make it fun for kids to stay involved in the off season.
  Form a Cent Oh team to compete with the big boys and travel together. Have a first team and second team ect.
  Just some ideas???
  I read where Cincy is trying to do these things. They are going to be a force in the very near future.
• Underrated

  I agree that the open mat thing is a part of it. I also think promotion of the sport is just as big a factor. I think the fact that almost all central district schools(D1) are in one big conference hurts more than it helps. The OCC does a terrible job of scheduling natural rivalries. There is no end of the season tournament to crown champions. These things would help promote the sport. The more promotion, the more athletes start wrestling and so on.
  
  I am also in agreement that the majority of the attitude of Central Ohio wrestlers and coaches is to focus on wins and not the competition level or process it takes to become elite level wrestlers and teams. To quote from another thread 'to be SOMEBODY you have to beat SOMEBODY'. I know with financial concerns at many schools travelling all over the state to wrestle is not economically feasible during the season. Thats where travelling to different parts of the state during the off season for open tournaments, FS/GR qualifiers and open mats would be a huge help. This needs to be encouraged and supported by coaches whenever possible.
  
  Well thats my 2 cents even though it may only be worth a penny.
• ksig489

  I would love to see our open mats organized! One site a day on a certain part of town. We (Licking Heights) would be happy to host as the East site and have a room plenty big enough for it.
  
  The problem is getting people to buy into it and not host competing sites.
• funkem123

  Team Ohio Strength was started last year with a bunch of central ohio wrestlers looking to take their talents to the next level. As a team we won The Tournament of Champions in the individual tournament, and we were runner-ups in the dual tournament.
• bigdogdad

  I guess I'd ask is wrestling the first sport priority for most of the wrestlers or is it football, baseball, or whatever? IMO the 189 maybe even 171 and above, football is the number one favorite. Therefore it gets the priority. During the summer when all the OM's are happening, how many are training for something else? I know from experience my son who was 2 time SQ, very likely would have placed at state this year, but decided not to wrestle. He wanted to get healthy, something he hasn't had the chance since 6th grade it seems, and prepare for college football. He wanted to get healed up and put on 20-30 lbs which he has. Heck 2 years ago the state champ as a junior at 215 for St. Paris didn't wrestle his senior year. I just don't think for the majority of kids in Central Ohio this is their passion. Not even sure the majority of SE or SW Ohio it is either. That is why you see the Northern schools win it most of the time. I don't have the time or desire to research it, but I'd bet in every sport in Ohio, boys and girls, there is probably some geographic domination at one time or another. It's like the market, it's all cyclical.
• shameless

  bigdogdad;682836 wrote:I guess I'd ask is wrestling the first sport priority for most of the wrestlers or is it football, baseball, or whatever? IMO the 189 maybe even 171 and above, football is the number one favorite. Therefore it gets the priority. During the summer when all the OM's are happening, how many are training for something else? I know from experience my son who was 2 time SQ, very likely would have placed at state this year, but decided not to wrestle. He wanted to get healthy, something he hasn't had the chance since 6th grade it seems, and prepare for college football. He wanted to get healed up and put on 20-30 lbs which he has. Heck 2 years ago the state champ as a junior at 215 for St. Paris didn't wrestle his senior year. I just don't think for the majority of kids in Central Ohio this is their passion. Not even sure the majority of SE or SW Ohio it is either. That is why you see the Northern schools win it most of the time. I don't have the time or desire to research it, but I'd bet in every sport in Ohio, boys and girls, there is probably some geographic domination at one time or another. It's like the market, it's all cyclical.

  Shame on you for allowing your son not to wrestle. Place/Win State THEN go discover your "passion".
• lowsingle174

  As a coach, you can't want it more than the actual wrestlers. High level wrestling is a lifestyle not just a sport.
• Cthelites

  Football is bigger up NE than it is here IMO.
• cruiser_96

  

  lowsingle174;682984 wrote:As a coach, you can't want it more than the actual wrestlers. High level wrestling is a lifestyle not just a sport.

  
  Who did you steal that from!? Excellent post.
  
  ps: My brother just relived the line, "What was the question?" Author, C. Adams. (and Caesar is NOT happy, btw!!!)
• lowsingle174

  I wish Jolly me Salinas would have been in our SEATING meeting. It would have been Spicy to say the least.
  C. Adams is a cast member of Monty Python.