Meeting Minutes - 8/16/20

Meeting Notes – 8/16/2020

Present:  All 10 Board members: Billy Baker, Heang Uy, Jamie Belk, David Perry, Mark Harris, Eddie Clark, Mike Carey, Chase Holloman, Butch Ross, Ben Watson.

Purpose: To discuss the NCHSAA calendar moving wrestling to spring 2021 and how the Board can advocate for wrestling in the weeks and months ahead.

Items Discussed:  The first item was a proposal introduced by Mike Carey to create a wrestling schedule that would allow both a state dual and individual tournament.  The proposal is listed below and will be forwarded to the NCHSAA as a starting point to plan for the 2021 wrestling season.

(Proposed) Conference season, which would make you eligible for state duals:

1st conf. match: Tuesday, April 27        2nd conf. match: Friday, April 30

3rd conf match: Tuesday, May 4           4th Conf match: Friday, May 7

5th conf match: Tuesday, May 11         6th Conf. match: Friday, May 14

7th conf match: Tuesday, May 18         8th conf match or non conf. Match; Fri, May 21.

(Proposed) State Duals: 

Tuesday, May 25; Thursday, May 27, Saturday, May 29.

(Proposed) Regionals: 

Friday, June 4 and Saturday, June 5.

(Proposed) States: 

Thursday, June 10; Friday, June 11; Saturday, June 12. 

(if needed, we could do it at high schools, but we would rather have the Greensboro Coliseum. We could also do it in 2 days if needed)

  • The Board was unanimous that having an individual state tournament would be the top priority for us to pursue if allowed by the NCHSAA and its medical advisors.

  • Due to a shortened season with few matches, the Board also discussed the challenge of determining qualifying spots for dual playoffs along with the challenges of determining qualifiers for regional and state individual events. For example:  It was suggested that conference tournaments might serve as individual regional qualifiers and that brackets might need to be reduced in size to get support from the NCHSAA.  There was unanimous support for this concept. 

  • The Board also agreed to survey membership at some point get input about post-season.  For example, if given a choice between a dual team post season or an individual state tournament, the membership would need to be able to voice their preference.

  • The Board recognized that equity will be a factor.  Coach Baker pointed out that tennis being limited to dual team only will be a factor in the NCHSAA’s decision making process.

  • The Board approved President Billy Baker to carry Mike’s proposal forward to the NCHSAA to serve a starting point for looking at our upcoming season.  

  • Finally, the Board recognizes that there are a lot of unknowns right now and the need for patience when advocating for wrestling with the NCHSAA.  We want to encourage our coaches to communicate concerns, questions, and suggestions through the Board.  We can then communicate directly with the NCHSAA as one voice.

Mark HarrisComment