What does everyone think about the controversial call at the end of overtime of the Jones and Lira finals match?

Being at Hays I didn't get to see that match,altho I would of loved to.
What happened?

I don't think there was anything controversial about it! If you watched the whole match you would have seen that Lira got to that same position several times but never long enough to score.

i thought that Lira got screwed. i thought that he had the takedown. i know jones can't help it that he has no leg but i still thought that the match was b.s. because there is no way you can shoot on him. Lira did better than i've ever seen anyone else against jones. i gotta question too, how tall is jones? he can't be much over 4' 10" or so.

i mean lira, how tall is he?

Please don't tell me that you are claiming Jones' loss of a leg is an advantage? Any wrestler could put themself in the same situation as Earl by simply wrestling from their knees. If this was such an advantage we would see everyone doing it. The fact is that Earl Jones is a determined kid. He has learned to wrestle well despite his misfortune. His is a great story.

I'm always amazed at how Jones' handicap is viewed by some as an unfair benefit. I wouldn't compare him to someone wrestling from his knees, unless that wrestler was given a weight allowance equal to the size of his lower leg. However, if missing one leg is such a great benefit, where are all of the other one-legged wrestlers at?

The fact is, Earl has taken an obvious disadvantage, and through hard work and persistence, has learned to overcome it and make it work to his advantage. I strongly suspect that, with that kind of work ethic, he would have had the same kind of career regardless of what obstacles he faced. I also expect that he will be a success off the mat as well, if he applies even a portion of the effort that he's given thus far in life.

I think Lira stands somewhere between about 5'1''and 5'2''. I agree that Lira had the match won. There was aboout 2 or 3 seconds left on the clock when he was behind Jones after taking him to the mat and having double underhooks. By Jone's reaction he thought he had lost. I guess sometimes you may fairly beat your opponent but I guess you have to beat the officials as well, and that night they were in Jone's favor. It was an awesome match to see, but an upsetting way to see Lira's H.S. career end.

It was a great match, both wrestlers wrestled very well and there were no bad calls hat's off to both wrestlers and congradulations to Earl Jones for bringing another state championship to South East Kansas.

I commentated the finals and was right in front of the mat. It was a close call but the right one. The time ran out. As I said it was right on the marker and not enough time to establish control.

I think lira should have won the match, Jones backed out of the circle numerous times, i probably would have hit him with stalling, it looked to me lira was working alot harder for the takedown, dont get me wrong though i think jones is a very good wrestler

I don't feel the first two stalling calls were necessary. The Ref. wanted them to do somthing so he called double stalling (twice). Well it back fired, the two kids were locking it up trying hard for a takedown and to stop each other. Then when there really was stalling at the end of the first overtime period, the Ref. didn't want to call it because then he would decide the match. Jones was stalling the last 30 seconds of overtime because he knew he would get his choice in double overtime. That is why I like the coin flip better, both kids have to work hard because you don't know who is going to get their choice.

I have to totally agree w/ you coach on the stalling calls, as well as not dinging Jones for stalling in the 3rd period and in the overtime period.It was obvious he was wanting it to go into D.O.T. As far as an advantage and or unfair benifit I would have to say not , but what I have seen for many years is that Jones gets away w/ not being dinged for stalling ie.holding on to the elbows and waiting for a stall mate , being allowed to be pushed straight back and not having to circle. All other wrestlers would and DO get dinged for stalling by the officals for the same actions .. It was a great match tho and I thought the little big man (Lira )had the takedown before the buzzer , I don't beleive it was a question of control as much as it was the time. Good luck to both wrestlers in the future.

I've been sitting on this for a few days, but there were two pictures in newspapers showing Lira in control on the controversial call. On a video, it clearly shows Lira behind Jones with double underhooks with two seconds left on the clock. After the match, it may have looked to some people that Lira was asking the ref for a call with his hands in the air, but he was stating that he had double underhooks. It's hard to get into that situation if you are not behind a wrestler and in some degree of control. I do NOT mean to take anything away from Jones, as he is an outstanding wrestler and to every outward appearance an outstanding kid. But he does receive a fair amount of leniency regarding stalling calls. Lira won the match............

I say go with the officials that is why their are two of them in the finals. They discussed the call and both agreed. In my personal opinion you should always dominate enough to not let the referees decide. If it is as close as this match was then let overtime decide. In actuality both wrestlers had enormous respect for each others talents throughout the match both were hesitant on making a mistake. I will admit Lira made more attempts, but Jones held control and he would try to attach the leg when Jones had him in a front head lock. After all Jones can't actually set up an opponent and shoot in. It was a great match and a great showing of two great athletes and state champions. People should be happy to see such a match as Jones possibly won't see the same level of competition next year. I personally give props to both athletes and say Jones won that particular night, but he possibly wouldn't the next. Going into overtime in the state finals everyone knows what is on the line, you have to hold nothing back. Go for it all. These are to great competitors I say leave it at that and not make a big contreversy.

Nicely put Mr. Phippen

sincerley: YOUR DADDY WISCOMBE!

It seems to be more and more apparent by fans observations that stalling calls came into play way to often at state,on another post with refs good and bad someone posted that it is time we the fans start writing in and letting KSHSAA know what we saw and how we feel about it,if you have tapes perhaps sending them would give them something to look at and evaluate.Maybe there needs to be guidelines set on stalling not leaving it to just a judgement call or something...anyhow until people speak up nothing will change.