Wrestleback rule at State

Count me in the "no" category for the 3rd place wrestleback rule at State.

This is one of the nuances of the sport that someone who isn't involved with it doesn't completely understand; I've covered more than 10 of these state tournaments and I still have to think the concept through.

Anyway, the wrestlebacks give early-round losers a chance to improve their spot on the medal stand and are supposed to provide a better representation of the top wrestlers on the stand.

Unfortunately, the rule hurts kids like Cedar Grove senior Nick Wendt, who pulled an upset to reach the semifinals (top 4) and somehow goes home with a sixth-place medal.

It's too bad for Wendt, who did reach the stand in his first and only state trip, but also lost three matches at State - in this instance the last three of his career.

The format also allows room for rematches - another flaw that shouldn't happen. Ozaukee's Mitch Lubner benefited from the rule, beating Eric Sutliff of Boyceville 4-2 in his fifth-place match after he lost 7-0 to Sutliff earlier in the tournament. According to The Appleton Post-Crescent's Pat Goff, there were 20 rematches on the weekend.

If you beat a guy once at State, that should be enough. A kid shouldn't have to rematch in the same tournament. And if a guy pulls an upset, he should be rewarded for that.

It's not the end of the world, but it seems like a rule that really didn't need to be implemented.