Why Rankings Are More Than “Bullshit Lists from Washed Up Fat Guys”
Two years ago, we noticed a gap in the Wisconsin high school wrestling scene - there wasn't a reliable and comprehensive rankings system in place. In an effort to address this issue, we founded Wisconsin Grappler, with the goal of providing accurate and up-to-date rankings for wrestlers and teams throughout the state.
Whether you're a fan, a coach, or a wrestler, understanding how rankings work can add a whole new level of excitement to the sport. In this post, we'll take a closer look at the importance of rankings in high school wrestling, and why they matter more than you might initially think.
Benefits of Rankings
Rankings are important for several reasons, including providing recognition and motivation to wrestlers and teams, playing a role in the seeding process for wrestling tournaments, and serving as a tool for colleges and universities to identify and recruit talented wrestlers. Rankings also generate excitement among spectators and increase attendance at matches.
Recognition & Motivation
Rankings are more than just a list of names and numbers; they serve as a powerful tool for recognition and motivation in high school wrestling. Whether you're a wrestler or a fan, seeing your name or your team's name on the rankings can be a major source of pride and motivation.
Rankings can also motivate wrestlers and teams to work harder and strive for improvement. A high ranking can provide a goal to strive towards, while a lower ranking can serve as a reminder that there's always room for improvement. Additionally, rankings can create a sense of competition and drive wrestlers and teams to perform at their best in order to maintain or improve their ranking.
Being ranked can also provide exposure for wrestlers and teams. Coaches, recruiters, and fans often use rankings to identify talented wrestlers and teams to follow. Exposure can lead to opportunities for scholarships, sponsorships, and recognition within the wrestling community.
Seeding:
The seeding process involves assigning each wrestler a seed or ranking within their weight class based on their past performance, skill level, and overall record. Wrestlers with higher seeds are typically placed on opposite sides of the bracket, so they won't face each other until later rounds of the tournament. This gives them a better chance of advancing further in the tournament.
If a wrestler is highly ranked going into a tournament, they may receive a higher seed than a wrestler who is unranked or ranked lower. This can mean that the highly ranked wrestler will face easier opponents in the early rounds of the tournament, which can help them conserve energy for tougher matches later on.
However, rankings are not the only factor considered in the seeding process. Tournament organizers may also take into account other factors, such as head-to-head matchups, recent performance, and overall strength of schedule. So, while rankings can play a role in the seeding process, they are not the only determining factor.
Recruitment:
College wrestling coaches often rely on rankings to help identify and recruit talented high school wrestlers. Rankings provide a useful starting point for coaches who are looking to build a competitive college wrestling program. Coaches will typically use a variety of sources for rankings, including national high school wrestling associations, wrestling websites, and regional/state rankings. These rankings can help coaches identify wrestlers who have achieved success at the high school level, have demonstrated consistent performance, and have the potential to make an impact at the college level.
Rankings can also help coaches evaluate a wrestler's potential fit within their team's needs. For example, if a college team is lacking in wrestlers in a particular weight class, they may focus their recruiting efforts on high school wrestlers who are highly ranked in that weight class. Additionally, rankings can help coaches prioritize their recruiting efforts, as they may have limited resources and time to devote to recruiting. Coaches may focus their attention on highly-ranked wrestlers who have expressed interest in their program or have a history of success at the state or national level.
Spectator interest:
Rankings can generate excitement among spectators by creating a buzz around top-ranked wrestlers and teams. Fans enjoy following the progress of their favorite wrestlers and rooting for their success. The anticipation of seeing top-ranked wrestlers compete against each other or against lower-ranked opponents can increase attendance at matches.
Rankings can also help build rivalries between teams or individual wrestlers, which can lead to higher levels of excitement and anticipation for matches. Fans may be more likely to attend matches featuring high-ranked wrestlers or teams, knowing that they are likely to witness competitive and exciting matches.
But there's always a critic…
However, some criticisms of rankings include their subjectivity, potential to create pressure for wrestlers and teams to perform, and limited sample size. Let’s dive into each of these topics:
Accuracy:
There are valid concerns about the accuracy of rankings and how they can be subjective. Ranking systems are often created by individuals or organizations with their own biases and preferences, and these factors can influence the rankings. Additionally, rankings can be affected by a variety of factors that may be difficult to quantify or compare, such as injuries, strength of schedule, and recent performance.
Rankings systems often rely on limited data and may not take into account all relevant factors. For example, a wrestler who performs well in one tournament may be ranked highly, but if they do not perform as well in other tournaments, their ranking may not accurately reflect their overall ability.
To address these concerns, the WI Grappler ranking system attempt to be as objective as possible by using a variety of statistical measures, such as win-loss records, head-to-head results, and strength of schedule, to rank wrestlers. We also incorporate input from coaches, experts, and other stakeholders to ensure that the rankings are as accurate and unbiased as possible. We also provide all of the data behind these decisions by showing you the exact wins and losses we took into account in the process. It’s our method of being transparent and clear about our thought process, which we are always open to discussing. That’s precisely why we have the “Who Beat Who” portion of our website.
Pressure:
Rankings can put a significant amount of pressure on wrestlers and teams to perform at a high level, which can lead to burnout or injury. Athletes may feel like they constantly have to live up to their rankings and may push themselves too hard, leading to physical or mental exhaustion. Injuries may also occur when wrestlers push themselves too hard to maintain their rankings or improve their positions.
Additionally, the pressure of rankings can impact team dynamics. When only a few individuals are ranked, other team members may feel neglected or less valued, leading to feelings of resentment or frustration. This can create a negative team atmosphere and lead to decreased motivation and performance.
To manage the potential negative impacts of rankings, wrestlers and teams should focus on maintaining a healthy balance between striving for excellence and taking care of their physical and mental health. It's essential to listen to their bodies, rest when necessary, and practice good self-care to avoid burnout or injury. Teams can also work to foster a positive team environment that values all team members, regardless of their rankings, to maintain team motivation and morale.
Limited Sample Size:
Rankings are sometimes based on a limited sample size of a wrestler or team's performance, and therefore may not fully capture their potential. Rankings typically rely on past performances and do not account for factors such as injuries, changes in training or technique, or other external factors that may affect a wrestler or team's performance. Additionally, rankings only reflect performance up to a certain point, and a wrestler or team may continue to improve and achieve greater success beyond their current ranking. Therefore, while rankings can provide valuable information and recognition, they should not be seen as the definitive measure of a wrestler or team's abilities.
At the end of the day, rankings will always be somewhat subjective and open to interpretation. It is important for wrestlers and coaches to view rankings as just one tool among many for assessing a wrestler's performance and potential. Ultimately, a wrestler's success on the mat will depend on their own hard work, skill, and determination, rather than their ranking.