How about a positive slant? Best call. Best offical.

I used to be hard on them. Then i did it for ONE year. I am no longer hard on them. Yes, they do make mistakes. Everybody does. It is an impossibly hard job. And, without them - we would have no matches. So, how about a POSITIVE thread on them for a refreshing change?!

I think there are quite a few good officials. Here are a couple of my favorites that did a good job every time we saw them this year.

Wade Krein from Saint Francis is pretty darn good. He deserves to be at a State Tourney.

Lisa Woody from Atwood is another one that does a good job and will not be outhustled by any official out there. Her hard work was finally rewarded this year as she became the first female to ever work a KSHSAA State Toureny at the 3-2-1A State.

I also think Darren McMullen from Norton does a good job. He has worked really hard to improve as an official and I think he is better than a lot of officials that get State bids.

Of course, there are a ton of other good officials out there that I appreciate very much. I just wanted to point out a couple who maybe do not get the recognition they deserve for doing a good job.

A fans perspective,

Metro Classic 2006:

275lbs Match in OT. Both wrestlers already warned once for stalling during the match. Levi Bowen (KS) backs Levi Thompson (MO) off the mat twice. KS fans screaming for the stall. You could feel the ref thinking about putting up his fist for the stall. No call, restart, Bowen gets the takedown.

While a stall could have been called, I enjoyed watching the match play out with a takedown...especially with the dual on the line.

I was smiling all night thinking about the match especially when the entire stadium (MO and KS fans) were chanting Levi..Levi..Levi.

I'm not sure about a specific call, but I do remember this one specific ref whom I thought rarely would ever make mistakes. I'm not sure of his name, but he had sort of a Tom Selleck look going on, only not as rugged.

I would have to say that retirement is the best call some of them could make.

Oh my God, that is one of the funniest things I have ever read on this forum.

There have been a few that retirement was the best call they ever made!

I always observe who the officials are when I arrive at a tournament. I had a good feeling when I saw the four officials working the Concordia tournament this year (Warkentine, Smith,?,?). I've seen all of them work before and felt everyone would be treated fairly - I was right, they were a good group. Of the half dozen officials working the regional at Chapman I thought there was only 1 weak official - that is an excellent ratio. I was extremely disappointed in an official at the Herington tourney early in the year, thank goodness it got better as the year went along.

Once when I was wrestling Devin Bahm I had to fight off of my back for the 1st period (longest 2 minutes of my life) and then in the second period my shoulders were flat on the mat. The ref called the pin = good call.