How does calling a slam help with safety??? That is bs. Blow your whistle and call potentially dangerous then you are protecting the wrestlers. Awarding points by judging whether or not someone hit the mat too hard is not wrestling and it isn't helping the sport become more safe either. If your too slow to intervene then get off the mat.

If you think a controversial loss, right or wrong, doesn't impact a teenage kid you are wrong. At the end of the day most of these wrestlers still can't vote, buy beer, enter into a contract or completely control their emotions because they are still kids.

If officials worked as hard at making the right calls as most of these wrestlers work then there wouldn't be as many controversial calls. Just because you take a test, attend three meetings, put on your appropriate shirt and pants, get your name in the KSHSAA book doesn't make you a good official. The good ole boy system is alive and thriving and it is time we get a decent evaluation system in place that would allow us to properly use veteran officials and get the valuable experience and post season assignments to the best officials whether they are young, old, new, seasoned or whatever. Right now it is just a giant zebra popularity contest.