We tempt fate by conducting large-scale high school wrestling tournaments.
Twenty-two rules and format is a lot of information for a high school wrestling tournament–even one as large as the “2020 NC Super 32.” The tournament began in 1999 as a local pre-season tournament for state wrestlers. It has grown over the years and now features 24 mats with wrestling held over two days. The 14 weight classes will have anywhere from 128-256 wrestlers in each weight class, and the tournament limits total entries at 1500. That’s a lot of wrestling!
Because of state restrictions concerning COVID-19, the directors have moved the tournament to an adjoining state–something that isn’t unique.
The shared opinion, I suppose, is that the pandemic isn’t dangerous or deadly and that wrestling can go on as usual. While everyone is entitled to his or her own opinions, mine is quite different from theirs. Two days of close contact concerns me. Here’s why
To participate, wrestlers need to practice. That means mat time … somewhere … in basements, garages, warehouses, or other places where a mat or mats can be placed. But it also means close physical contact during a time of airborne infection. It’s not only a matter of falling ill now, we do not understand its long-term impact on human organs. There’s more, too. Wrestlers will come from multiple states and bring parents and coaches.
We know what will happen over two days of wrestling. Young people will wrestle, and champions will be crowned. What we don’t know is what will happen later–as a consequence of two days of wrestling.
Conclusion? We are cavalier in dealing with this deadly virus.
