My club had two wrestlers (Garrett Lange) and (Troy Fisher) that meet the requirements for the Triple Crown this year, but were not recognized for their accomplishment. I was told "they did not win a true Triple Crown" because of the number of wrestlers at their division. I guess the executive councel decided that they would combine weights to make the brackets harder, but still not include them in this award. This rule makes no sense at all! Our sport is under attack and being taken out of the Olympics, and we are not wanting to recognize kids that are wrestling all year so that they can get better and achieve what has been made out to be a big award. It was never the jacket that he wanted, but just to have his moment in the sun and for everyone to know that he did it. My son started at a very low level in wrestling and would have never thought he had a chance to achieve this goal. Now that he did it he feels robbed of it. Before Garrett’s finals match I told him to go out and show all of them that he was something special no matter what they say. He did and I could not be more proud. This year he has another chance of achieving that goal of TRIPLE CROWN, but now it seems a little tarnished and little less important in his eyes. I hope we can all learn from this. We all say we are doing all this for the kids, but it seems in this case we forgot that. As his dad I want to say that I am so proud of him! He makes me proud everytime he steps on the mat because I know how hard this sport is. WAY TO GO GARRETT AND TROY YOU DID IT!!!!!!!
The triple crown award was created without any rule or bylaw being written to clarify. Ned Price created this award in 2007. It was put in place to promote spring/summer wrestling. In 2009 and 2010 it became clear that it was counter productive as parents would NOT let us combine the weight classes to get kids matches. There were several brackets that had ONE wrestler. The parents/kids did NOT want to jeopardize their opportunity for the triple crown so they elected to collect their medal and go home. In 2010 the Executive Council voted unanimously to eliminate the triple crown award for age groups below schoolboy in response to the decision by the corporate board to combine weights in these same age divisions. Starting in 2011 there was only recognition for Schoolboy, Cadets, and Juniors. This decision was published in the minutes and there was no objection at the state body meeting. Schoolboy, Cadets, and Juniors age groups have structured USA weight classes as the FS/GR State tournaments are used to help set the line up for the FS/GR Dual teams that compete in June. No conspiracy or desire to not recognize anyone for their efforts and accomplishments. It was done to prevent controversy when bracketing. Wrestlers are not going to get better by getting a medal and not wrestling.
If it is important then someone can write a proposal and email it to Matt Treaster by July 31st and it will be discussed and made available to be voted on in the fall at the state body meeting.