Found this outstanding match on youtube, but it made me wonder how cool the setup would be for our state championship matches.

Youtube Cisneros vs. Villareal

That is a pretty cool setup they have in California. They also have the announcer for the NCAA tournament and Senior Nationals. I'm guessing they have a little bigger budget to work with in the Golden State.

On a side note, I'm not so sure there was sufficient back exposure in that match. From the multiple angles I've seen of this match it doesn't appear 3-nearfall should have been awarded. You could debate a two count for 2-nearfall, but to say there was a five count is a little far fetched. Here is a picture that shows him breaking 90 degrees, I'm just not sure if Villareal had long enough exposure.

Cisneros handled the upset quite well for a 3-timer just missing out on his 4th. This match will be talked about for years to come in California.

It is 45 degrees for near fall in Folkstyle. I have noticed many officials start counting at 90 but the book says 45. Maybe a geometry class or protractor is in order...

Do they just have one combined state tour?

I thought it was 45 degrees, but in most of the clips where the ref is counting for near fall he hasn't even passed 90. I guess I need to touch up on the rule book a little better. Oh well, at least we know there are refs in other states that don't know how to count backs.

And I think that having each ref go out with a protractor, laser level, and other measuring devices to help determine backpoints or falls will be the only way to truly determine if a call is correct. Lets settle it with technology!

Yes. There were 262 schools that competed in the state tournament and 18,247 people attended the three sessions of competition.

California 2012 State Results

Durham bringing up the rear with -3 points. Ouch!

Coach Lane,

I actually kicked around the idea of putting the finals mat at the Eureka Regional up on an elevated surface. We were already doing individual walkouts with custom intro songs and bios. Then we wrestled under the spotlight with two leg bands per wrestler. We tried to give it that major tournament or NCAA final feel.

Eureka does have a stage that is used for graduation and homecoming that is rolled out to our gym, but we didn't think there was any way it would fit a full mat.

Having an elevated surface is something that could surely happen at Hartman Arena or the Bicentennial Center since both of those venues host concerts with mobile stages.

I don't know if it would be possible for Fort Hays State since it is a smaller venue. Either way as long as they walk out to "Eye of the Tiger" at Gross Memorial Coliseum I don't think it matters what they do with finals in Hays.

Wyatt Bechtel

I agree with Will! Many officials start their count way too early.