Nigel

I won’t berate you as some people tend to do, I think that is classless. I watched you wrestle some great matches with Clint Freeman from Ellsworth. Those matches were pretty physical and fun to watch. But, as officials go, Nigel you’re still a pup (meaning young, not bad at all). The fact of the matter is I was refereeing before you were even a thought in your mother and father’s minds. And, I was reading those rules when you were just a little tike who didn’t know what wrestling was, so I’m well aware of the rule book and its contents. If you don’t believe me just ask Clark Conover(hope the spelling is correct).
I would gather to say that I’ve probably had a little more experience wrestling and officiating at the national level than you have seen yet. I’ve had the pleasure of officiating with Don and Scott Sondergrath who were olympic level officials, way before your time, and I’m telling you Kansas Wrestling is not as physical as you might think. Better yet ask Brandon Pfitzenmiere(I know the spelling is not right on this one). Brandon was the best kid (technique wise) in his weight class at high school national his senior year and placed 4th. Brandon was one of the slickest kids on his feet that I have ever seen, but he lacked some brawling skills at the national tournament and it cost him a national title. Brandon was a great wrestler and learned very quickly in Pittsburgh that he needed to step it up to compete at that level. As you read in my last post I don’t blame the officials for our style of wrestling in Kansas. I think that our restrictions have been imposed on us by people who really don’t understand that wrestling is a form of physical combat turned sport, and not ballet. I do appreciate those offcials that let the kids get after it, even though lately its been my kids taking the brunt of the beatings.