Wrestling coaches throughout the state of Illinois were aware that the winter competitive season would most likely be moved to the summer of 2021.
So, while the state has been shocked by the back-and-forth between the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois High School Associations’ decision on basketball, wrestlers were prepared for their 2020-21 schedule to be modified for the third time this year.
The current IHSA COVID-19 sports schedule has wrestling practice starting on April 19 with the season ending on June 26.
“We are in a holding pattern due to what that may or may not look like come April,” Mahomet-Seymour Wrestling Coach Rob Ledin said. “If a vaccine is out and administered, questions like do we have to stay competing in our COVID region or can we expand our competition reach? Will tournaments be allowed or only duals? The answers to these questions will drive our schedule creation.”
That holding pattern has been a challenge, though.
Like many wrestling programs, St. Joseph-Ogden took advantage of summer and fall contact days, providing athletes with conditioning and non-contact drills two days a week.
“At first there was a lot of interest but as the summer progressed, interest levels dropped,” SJ-O head coach Richard Vetter said. “With no physical contact it will be hard to have massive gains on the mat so most of the gains our athletes are going to have will be from the weight room.”
Vetter said that coaches will do what they need to to encourage wrestlers to continue to get in the weight room over the winter and spring months, but that climb will be uphill.
“Non-contact drills are a great way to work on basic fundamentals, but they do not replace the feel of going against another person on the mats,” Vetter said. “I am expecting to see some losses from guys when they step foot back on the wrestling mats. I am also a little concerned that after spending so much time without contact they are going to be worn out when they get to the wrestling season.”
The Bulldogs have used the air, yoga balls and throwing dummies as partners as wrestlers have worked on stand and motion, set ups and takedown attacks, escape and reversal drills.
“The wrestlers did well mentally to keep showing up even though we couldn’t actually partner drill or wrestle,” Ledin said.
“Initially wrestlers were thankful and excited to participate however they could. Recently, mental attrition has set in and participation has dwindled to less than half of our roster.”
Should the COVID-19 pandemic take a turn, and wrestlers are able to participate in April, they will have a few mounting obstacles to overcome.
They will not have competed in a year’s time.
“A majority of the guys on the wrestling team are playing football, which will be played right before the wrestling season,” Vetter said. “Potentially guys will go from months of no physical contact to five straight months of physical contact.”
And other sports, including track, baseball and softball and girls’ soccer, will be competing at the same time.
“I am very happy that the IHSA moved our season back and is giving our sport an opportunity to compete this year,” Vetter said. “Although the season will have a number of changes, our kids will be excited for the opportunity to compete on the wrestling mats again!
“The only drawback that I have is that athletes will have to choose between track/baseball/softball and wrestling. Normally this is not a problem and kids can participate in wrestling and their traditional spring sports. I am anticipating that my numbers will be affected in a negative way due to some of those choices taking place. “
Perhaps schools will approach the unprecedented season with unprecedented measures.
Mahomet-Seymour Athletic Director Matt Hensley said that he hopes to build schedules so that athletes will not have to choose.
| “(We think) we can build a schedule for both practices and games that allow our multi-sport athletes to continue to participate in the same sports that they have participated in during previous years,” Hensley said. “At the end of the day, it’s about giving our kid a sense of normalcy and the best possible experience and we are committed to doing our best to try and do that.” At this time, though, Ledin wants to continue to create a space where his athletes can continue to make strides towards their goals. “I feel that we can accomplish safe protocols: temperature checks, partners or pod grouping, masks, appropriate break times and disinfecting,” he said. “We already disinfect our mats before and after each practice, wrestlers shower after each practice, etc. Wrestlers wipe their shoes on our shoe disinfectant mats prior to stepping on our already disinfected wrestling mats. Many of our hygiene practices are already in place from skin disease protocols. “Pair that with a COVID-19 vaccine and I feel wrestling can happen safely come April.” Both programs know that there is no substitute for the feel of matching up against another wrestler. Although that will have to wait a little longer, Vetter believes the IHSA decision gives his program a little clarity.“From a mental standpoint guys are all over the board,” Vetter said. “Some guys are super excited for the season to start, while other guys are concerned that a season might not happen. I have been asked several times this year about what is going to happen with wrestling. I have had guys wanting to get onto the mats and just roll around with a teammate. The guys are itching to get back to competing, period! “With the IHSA officially moving wrestling back to the summer season, I am able to give more clarity to guys instead of not knowing if we will have the season starting on time in November. I hope this will help ease some of the anxiety guys were feeling about not knowing.” |
