Can the backside make a big difference in 6A? Derby still has 12 wrestlers in the tourney, 2 more than Heights and Goddard. Does it matter or is state coming down to Heights and Goddard? Derby has many more wrestlers that will place on the backside than the other 2 schools, should be interesting and a close finish.
The backside can be very crucial in deciding the final outcome in the team race. My personal example is 5A 2007 where Aquinas was behind Bishop Carroll by a few points after the first day of wrestling. Bishop Carroll had four wrestlers (who were also good at pinning) in the finals and Aquinas only had two Phillip Henes who was facing Aldon Isenberg and RJ Nill who was facing Romero Cotton.
Henes and Nill both ended up in second place that year. Three of the four Bishop Carroll finalists won state titles that year.
But Aquinas came back on the strength of the backside on Saturday to overcome the first day lead and win the team title with 168 points versus 134 for Bishop Carroll. Aquinas placed ten wrestlers that year with two seconds, 4 thirds and 4 fifth place finishes, so they won all of their backside place matches.
Aquinas won the 2007 5A team title without an individual state champion. Aquinas had secured the title before the finals were wrestled after the third and fifth placement matches. So yes a team can definitely make a big difference in their ultimate finish with a strong backside finish.
