Hello all,
This is my first time using this forum. This last weekend my 2 sons wrestled at Douglass. I would like to let everyone know how poorly this tournament was run. Every tournament is the same. They announce over the intercom over and over agian for the paernts, coaches and wrestlers (our kids) to take a knee. Well at Douglass this wasn't enough for them. They go above and beyond. The two individuals at the head table took upon themselves to yell at everyone to "control their kids now!" At one point their announcements came 48 seconds apart. They told or yelled at the kids that if "you're not wrestling next, you need to get in the stands!" As a former wrestler you can not expect the KIDS to be fully stretched and ready to go in just 3 minutes. That is if all matches go all 3 rounds. This tells me that kids safety was not in their interest what so ever. My oldest son did very well that day. He placed 1st for the first time in 4 years!! He was very excited. We purchaced a t-shirt (thank you t-shirt man) and then I told him to go to the head table and get his medal and bracket. This was about 20-25 mins. after his match. After not seeing him for another 30 mins., I found him waiting at the head table. When i asked what he was waiting for he started crying and said "they won't even talk to me." One of his team mates was sitting next to him waiting for his medal. He said as soon as the boys walk up to the table they told the boys "we don't have you medal, go away" before the boys could even say what they wanted. I told the lady at the head table that my sons match was finished over an hour ago and wanted to know what the problem was. She said she didn't have any control over 1st place medals. My sons coached and got his medal and bracket about 20 mins later. Who do these people think they are??? My son was on-top of the world. You couldn't wipe the smile off his face. In a split second the Douglass Jr wrestling staff ruined what he worked so hard for. Two days later I still can not believe how poorly the tournament was run and how rude the Douglass Jr wrestling staff is/was. The restrooms were the nastiest I have ever seen. The brackest were all grouped together in a 25 feet wall. This was very frustrating for everyone when checking the progress of the brackets. I hope everyone that was in attendence chimes in on this and lets Douglass Jr Wrestling this is NOT how to hold a tournament. I thank you all for your time.

Congrats to your son on the 1st place finish. Sounds like Dads day was extremely bad and unpleasant.

I really enjoy a wrestling tournament when the parents, coaches and wrestlers do stay in the stands. The view is so much better when people listen.

Kids do need to stretch out but not matside.

My son and daughter both wrestled there and I don't think it was as bad as some other tournaments we've been to this year. Yes, my daughter had to wait almost 2 hours to get her 1st place medal and bracket, but sometimes that happens. Maybe next year,they will have learned from their mistakes and make it better. Yes, the brackets were bunched up, but once you saw what bracket they were in and what match numbers, then you were done with it. You could also purchase one. The bathrooms did not seem bad to me, not like any other tournament. My only gripe was waiting for my daughter's and son's 1st place medals and brackets.

We have been to Douglas quite a few times and besides the track wrestling issues- the tournament went well- but..... I have to agree that the head tables announcing was over the top! Thier were a lot of parents around us that did not think it was necessary to the way we were talked to! Many of the times we did not see a problem with the people on the floor or passing through doors as a fire hazard! The harping was too much to take! If you have a problem with the amount of people allowed to walk around then I suggest next year have a split format!!! Regarding the medal and bracket that my son got--- we had to wait longer last year- and we waited for a long time saturday!!

We go to the Douglass Tournament every year. I think they did a great job of getting through 100 matches per mat well before 5:00 pm. Bathrooms are disgusting at every tournament we go to, most kids are respectful but some have a very poor aim. Last, if kids and parents would stay in the stands or move the first time they were asked, there would be no need for yelling over the p.a. system, it is very frustrating asking adults over and over again to please sit down or take a knee. It is easy to be anonymous on this forum, so if you have something to say, bad or good, please let everyone know who you are.

Jake Goldenstein
AWC

it is important that kids do get proper warm up and I started wrestling when I was 6. I remember warming up matside at every tournament all the way up through highschool. If it wasnt matside it was close to the mats since in highschool the set ups are a little different. If they dont warm up close to the mats then you will lose kids and coaches will not get the kids to the mat in time. That is a must. It is for the kids right. I love to watch my kid wrestle to but I would hope he is warmed up before walking onto that mat.

My point is this. Douglass is no defferent than any other tournament. I have been to many tournaments. I have never been yelled at like I was at Douglass. You hear the folks at the head table every weekend telling people to take a knee, you do not hear folks YELLING over the intercom. I have a solution. How about having "security" walk around and ask people take a knee after you make an announcement? How about having someone with patience talk over the intercom? YOU are the host and WE are your guests. We should be treated as such. I understand some things may be out of peoples control. I understand this and accept this. The lady at the head table may not have been able to control the length of time it took to for 1st place medals to be handed out. But she can control how she talks to children and adults for that matter.

numberonefan.

did they asked nice at first, then again and nobody listened to them so thats when they started making the rude announcement. i was not there but a friend of mine was and thats how he recalls it. and they were only being rude with the announcement to those who were not following the rules.

We spent a long 8+ hours at the Douglass tournament also. There were several things that fell into the "too bad but couldn't be avoided" category such as scratchs, forfeits, small gym occupied by a large amount of people, etc. All of those things are to be expected and even tolerated as pleasantly as possible. In spite of all that, it really was a pretty good tournament. We were definitely glad we went, and will of course be back.
However, I do have to agree with "numberonefan" on his/her concerns regarding the announcements over the PA system. The moderator repeatedly spoke into the microphone in a manner that displeasing to most of us in attendance. Yes, it is unfortunate that several "fans" did not comply with what was being asked. But, the continual commands in the microphone quickly became an annoyance. I think most in the audience would have agreed, "please stop threatening to stop the matches" actually stop them, remedy the situation, and move on. The overusage of the microphone seemed to make it worse for the rest of us, instead of better.
In summation, more courtesy shown from all around, would have solved most of these problems.

Thank you KSFAM and ROOST. I know I was not alone in feeling this way. I heard the groans repeatedly from the crowd when they made the announcements. I agree overall it wasn't a bad tournament. It appeared to be organized and went fairly smooth. The volunteers running the tables did a good job or keeping everything running smoothly. If it wasn't for the two individuals at the head table my other complaints would have gone unmentioned. I choose to remain anonymous because i don't want my opinion to reflect negatively on the club I am associated with. That is why is am a "numberonefan"