mtisch:
Let me start by saying I was there and I am an unbiased observer not rooting for either wrestler. With that in mind consider the following:

I think you may be reacting with a little too much emotion regarding your criticism of the official. He is a very good official and he made a very tough call. It's one thing to criticize the call, but to question his skill as an official is way overboard. I honestly don't know if I could make that call even though it was obvious Sutton-Kearn was backing out of bounds on 3 consecutive times.

Answer the following questions for me: At the end of the 2nd period, when Strawn was on his back... How much time was on the clock? Was there any time at all? Was there 5 seconds? I was there and I honestly don't know. The assistant referee missed the end of the match and another alert official on the side stepped in and stopped the action.

Secondly, to criticize the officials for conferring at the end of the match to send it into overtime is asinine. That is the reason for an assistant offical. They are there to get it right and I don't care what you say, it is very important to have an assistant official in matches of such importance for that very reason.

Both wrestlers wrestled an extremly tough match and it is a shame that anyone had to lose. You can criticize the call, but trust me the officials on the mat are experience good officials who will definately keep the turn of events in mind the next time they encounter a similar situation. It took alot of guts to make that call.