What you are describing happened to my son two years ago at State. He only lost twice that entire year and it was to the same kid the State champ and winner of a Triple Crown Series (two Tulsa tournaments and Reno). He lost to him 6-2 in the State semi-finals. They both went on to pin their final and third place opponents early in the first period. My son had never faced the 2nd place wrestler all year. He felt strongly that he should have had the opportunity to wrestle for second that day.

On the other side of the argument the second place wrestler might not really be up for another match after just losing a hard fought State title match. Last year my son came back in the last 40 seconds to win a hard fought State final 2-1 with a takedown. His opponent was a very good sport at the end but he was understandably very disappointed as my son would have been if the result had been the other way around. I believe this is also another situation where the 2nd and 3rd place wrestler had not met in the tournament because my son wrestled the third place wrestler in the semis. I think it would have been difficult for the wrestler who lost the final to come back with his best effort in another match.

I would like to hear from some wrestlers who have actually been in a second place challenge. How do they feel about it?

Vince Nowak
Kansas College Wrestling Fund Supporter
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