The integrity of the competition is at stake.
Rules and regulations are needed if an organization is to run smoothly and justly. However, some rules need to be built-in to give leeway for unforeseen and odd circumstances. For example, as a dean of students, I never wanted the rule to state: “If a student steals, she/he will be expelled.” My preference was to use the word ‘may.’ That option gave me discretion.
The same principle goes for seeding athletic tournaments. A case in point is the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Tournament, which began on Friday in Bethlehem, PA. Tournament pre-seeds were posted all week, but then there’s this rule: final seeds were set after the coaches’ meeting on Friday, and those seeds will be set depending on the success of morning weigh-ins.
The conference has its rules concerning seeding, but when coaches follow their interests–instead of the spirit of the rules–seeding can become unjust.
Matt Kolodzik (photo, Princeton University)
Consider this. In the 149 weight class, the #4-seed is Princeton’s Matt Kolodzik, a senior who wrestled only ten matches this season. Kolodzik is also a three-time All-American. But because of his low participation rate this season, Kolodzik got a low seed. He’s seeded below a Cornell wrestler that he defeated 4-2 this season.
For me, head-to-head competition is the most significant indicator for seeding, but not to EIWA coaches.
When coaches use rules/regulations to protect their interests, then athletes suffer. To make a three-time All-American–a proven wrestler–a 4-seed behind an opponent he has defeated…well…that’s bad for everybody. And to make things worse, the only other seeded wrestler who has qualified for the Nationals (Jared Prince of Navy), is seeded #5, opposite Kolodzik. None of the other six seeds have had such success this year.
Rules are only as good as the coaches who use them. In this case, rules were used to advance personal and institutional self-interest.
