Rick,

As you say that you know nothing about me it is hardly your place to say anything about the level of respect that other people have for me. I am respected all over this state and by the coaches and other officials that I work with every week. Maybe you haven't taken the time to realize that many other officials either don't know this site exists, don't know how to use a computer, or generally don't care to be on here. Very rarely do I come on here an "talk trash" to anyone. What I will do is correct someone when they are wrong about a rule, or I will offer my opinion about a certain topic if I feel like it that day.

coachtwink you are correct, I am not right 100% of the time, when I am wrong its usually because I "missed" a quick lock hands or something like that but the coach saw it since the wrestlers were facing him. it can happen after an entire days worth of work, its not because of an interpreation of a rule.

Dingbat I've heard you mention this KSU thing before and quite honestly I don't know what you are talking about, I didn't have any problems all day long, in fact I didn't have any close matches the whole tournament and thus didn't have any controversal calls to make. These are the types of false accusations that leads Rick Williams to think there is "trash talking" going on. Oh and I don't just ref kids, I ref JV and Varsity as well

Hey fella's, I'm going to give Nigel some credibility at the risk of getting hammered by you all. He has wrestled and was darn good. Before he was injured he flat took it to our kid who eventually went on to win the state that year. So you might give him a little credit of knowing the sport. Happy Wrestling.

I'll give Nigel tons of credit. I remember weighing in at the Abilene wrestling room last year at regionals and noticing he was a multiple year State placer. I will also assume that he is a good young official who will continue to get better. I, in no way, want to discredit him as a young official and am excited that there is a new generation of younger officials out there. I have also always been a supporter of these young officials getting work and getting post-season assignments if worthy.

The only point I intended to make was that people (me included) might be a little worried about Nigel as a varsity high school official because of the personality he puts forth on this forum. I feel the best officials are confident but modest and most importantly impartial. Nigel very well could be a good official, I just was hoping he would realize that the comments he makes on the forum sometimes may make him a target as an official.

I also realize that many officials do not know the forum exists and many are not computer savvy, but I also think a lot of them read this forum and keep a low profile on the forum to maintain a level of respect among the wrestling community that they serve. Nigel’s visibility on this forum and the perception of his personality on the forum (right or wrong) may never interfere with what might be a very promising officiating career, but I just wanted to warn him that it might. Maybe just a little free advice that is, like most free advice, worth about as much as you paid for it. No offense intended and I apologize if any was taken. Good Day!!

Well put Mr. Williams, on both posts.

So does that mean as long as an official doesn't post and keeps a low profile that he/she will be better thought of and that this forum is the end all be all? As long as he/she keeps quiet his/her officiating career is not in jeopardy? Perhaps that might well be true but I question why one must be quiet and not voice and sit back and just accept when one has something to say? A know-it-all and being knowledgeable are two different things. Those that have seen Nigel officiate need to respond to his abilities and fairness. Anyone that takes a forum to heart and believes they can interpret the typed word in the content inwhich it was intended needs to read all the posts that contain "sorry..that is not what how I meant for it to be taken". or "No..I meant yada yada yada". I have no clue who Nigel is. Some officials I do not look forward to seeing due to past experiences. Doesn't mean they aren't the most incredible human beings in person beyond a simple forum or match or game.

I think that pretty much sums it up.

Alright...everyone take a deep breath here. Coaches, make sure your team captains check everyone's shoes during warm-up and Wiscombe, sounds like you benefitted from the rule change that used to send coaches to the bus for two shoe-string violations.

I think what Mr Williams is saying is that Nigel is a young good official but has to be careful because some could think he was arrogant and not willing to listen sometimes. You can learn alot by listening and not jumping into a conversation. Nigel was a great wrestler and I am sure does a great job on the mat still with the strips on.

But with that said I would still hate to be in the championship match at state with my opponent being from Abilene and Nigel the official. I feel from what I have read on this forum over the last couple of months that Nigel is pro Abilene for sure. Now he might call a perfect match but if I lost I could see how he favored the abilene wrestler. I am proud to support my team that I wrestled for but as an offical you have to fair and Nigel doesn't always seem to be that way on here. I know he works hard to be his best and always has but you have to also understand that working hard is just half of it- respect is the other half.

Question for all out there- would you feel comfortable wrestling an Abilene Kid with Nigel as the officail? Personnally I would not at this point. Just my 2 cents worth

Nigel was and could be a great promoter of the sport

Scooby,
I use to feel the same way when my son wrestled in the Derby tournaments in the mid 90's. There were alot of officials around that were and are pro Derby. Derby was hard to beat and if it was a close match it was even harder. Well now I look back and I can honestly say that hard work pays off. I don't know Nigel and he does seem to be pro Abilene but he seems to passionate about his position as a reff and I would bet he wants to raise the hand of the real winner.