IHSAA is Gable-izing Girls – This is no place for high school girls, and yes they are girls.

Here at the Edict we’ve had a busy week. The news has been especially good food for thought. We have a double dipping Governor who thinks he’s exempt from political fallout, a 4-year-old who played adult rescuer and a high school athletic association that allowed the media to use a female wrestler in their attempts to play spoils sport for increasing ad sales. First let’s tackle the toughest one of the three, the female high school wrestler. My opinion on this is that there is no such thing as co-ed high school wrestling. Anyone that thinks high school wrestling should be coed needs some serious counseling and their medication adjusted. Do those who allowed this to happen not remember what high school was like?

Girl wrestling is nothing more than a media event that exposes young girls to injury and introduces distractions having nothing to do with the Hawkeye-Cyclone State Wrestling culture. It’s a distraction that high school boys need to ignore – go to the gym and if need be take a cold shower. If you’re a high school boy and your opponent is a girl, just get it over with as quickly as is humanly possible. My advice to Joel Northrup is simple; see your opponent as just that and no less than that. Leave the politics at home where it belongs, and away from the mat. You have only four short years to enjoy high school and with a record of 35-4 during the regular season you gave up too much. Next time – pin her in the first minute because she deserves to be pinned; don't walk away because of who your opponent is, and certainly not because she’s a girl. It now looks like you may have been afraid she could beat you. What if next year you draw another girl? Then what, you give up another chance at a title? Get a grip son your life is slipping away from you. Quitting is not Iowa wrestling. If the powers that be put a girl on the mat then you do what you do to any other opponent, beat them into submission. Period. You probably thought your actions would send a message to the adults running the show. Trust me on this one they already know of your sentiments. Beating your opponent in the first period with a pin would have sent a more cogent message.

All of you out there saying to yourselves that I'm being mean and shouldn't treat young girls like this is exactly the point. Wrestling is about meanness; it's about submission and soundly beating your opponent so the next time he faces you, he considers being redshirted until you graduate. You're right I am purposefully being mean, because that's what wrestling is about. Have you ever seen a wrestler hand his opponent a bouquet of flowers at the start of a match? Well maybe that's what Nothrup just did. My guess is his opponent was angered by his walking off. She should have been - she won that match by Participation Trophy.

For additional reading go to the Participation Trophy Syndrome?

PARTICIPATION TROPHY'S AREN'T ABOUT THE PLAYERS, THEY ARE ABOUT GUILTY MINDED PARENTS LOOKING FOR A QUICK FIX. NOW GOVERNMENT IS HANDING THEM OUT TO NONPARTICIPATING TAXPAYERS - WHAT'S NEXT?

I've spend quite a few days discussing what I call the Participation Trophy Syndrome. It is being made to feel like a winner when the team lost the game. Boiled down to its essence a participation trophy is really about stealing. The losing team is stealing the thunder from the team that put in the hard work and did win. As a former soccer coach I know that only losers want and will accept a participation trophy, winners want to win one. Handing out participation trophy's develops a malformed character where people expect to get paid just for showing up; rather than actually doing the hard work it takes to be a real winner and to earn that trophy. In this instance the longer you’ve been ducking the law and not paying your fines the less you will be required to pay. It pays to be good at being a criminal. The message is clear: The longer you act irresponsible, the bigger the trophy.

Iowa Wrestling Standout Refuses To Face Girl, AP. KCCI Introduction of Coed Wrestling.

The Iowa System – Attack Wrestling for 7 Minutes

When it comes to wrestling, girls aren’t just as good as guys. Think I’m wrong, then keep reading and watching these video clips; that is if you have what it takes to be a wrestler from Iowa.

The Culture – Dominate

THE ONE HAWKEYE STATE WRESTLING STORY YOU NEED TO KNOW - To know Iowa wrestling you need only one story. The story goes that Bobby Douglas shows up in Iowa as the Cyclone coach and can’t wait to take on Dan Gable, to do nothing other than to beat Gable’s team, the high flying Hawkeyes. Everyone in Ames wonders, can he do it; everyone in Iowa City knows, not going to happen; it’s unthinkable. First day on the job Douglas arrives at the wrestling room at 6:00 a.m., immediately telephones Gables home and gets Dan’s wife Kathy. “This is Bobby; tell Dan I’m already at work.” Implying he’s already preparing to beat Gable. He’s proud of this fact. Kathy Gable replies, “Bobby, Dan’s already been there for two hours.” She hangs up sending an equally important message. Dan's already got riding time and back points in this match.

Girl wrestling isn’t real wrestling; if you think I’m wrong then watch every video in this post and by the end if you think I’m wrong write it publicly and call me out; if not then stop talking about coed wrestling: Iowa, Florida, World, Ohio, Texas, California, Washington, New Jersey vs Virginia, Oregon vs New York and in Moscow.

1972 - This is where Iowa Wrestling started and what it’s all about. 

“He works out 7 hours a day 7 days a week. I have never seen such dedication.”

“Wrestling is my life.”

“The most dedicated athlete I’ve ever known.”

Russians: “We are going to hunt all over the Soviet Union to find a man that can beat Dan Gable.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngxZVmtKCCo&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rgnZl-VN7Q

Just The Facts: Wrestling in Iowa is A cultural phenomenon that started in 1911; the week high school state wrestling tournament begins is a state holiday; you get the day off from school. Wrestling in Iowa is synonymous with Dan Gable, the Olympics, Nationals, the Midlands and Iowa’s stepping stone onto the world stage. For all practical purposes Iowa is the wrestling capital of the world.

NCAA Tournament Champions: 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2008, 2009, 2010.

Conference Tournament Championships: 1958, 1962, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 ,1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010

NCAA individual champions

Think you’re tough enough to an Iowa Wrestler? 1972 - 129.5 pound Olympic gold Medal. 355-21-5.

Is this how Iowa is teaching its young men to treat someone’s daughter?

• Hawkeye Wrestling Highlights – this is no place for girls. Mental Toughness on the Mat.
• Iowa Hawkeyes Wrestling Introduction – Is this how we teach high school girls to act?
• ESPN The Season: Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
• Tom and Terry Brands: Parts 1, 2, 3
• Dan Gable Lost Only Once – 1970 - Ironically he attended Iowa State – Going into this match Gable’s record was 181-0-0 – who was Larry Owings? Owings won 13 to 11. Owings wrestled for Washington University and had a record of 32-2 before this match.
• Sports Illustrated’s Sports Century – A Warrior’s Heart, Dan Gable – Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.
• What was the motivation?  Dan speaks of his sister, Diane K. Gable. My Waterloo. ESPN Classic.
• Waterloo High School Record – 64-0 – Beyond high school, a reason for living.
• Brent Metcalf – The Brands Project and A Day in the Life by ESPN U
• Show of Force – Hawkeyes hungry for national title.
• A Journey to Iowa – Get a clue.
• Hawkeyes Practice
• Motivational Wrestling Video – What if today was the day you decided to become a champion? What would it take? What kind of discipline? What changes to your life? How much sweat? Mental toughness? Physical sacrifice? Do you have what it takes? Do you have the desire? Are you properly motivated? What really is it all worth to you? Could you? Would you? Should you?
• Beyond the Mat – 2009, movie trailer – It’s 90% mental.

This isn’t a story just about the Hawkeyes. The Cyclones have their own story steeped in history and you need to look no further than Cael Sanderson, 4-time NCAA Champion (159-0 Overall Record).

Iowa corn fed beef – Cael Sanderson – 2004 Olympic Games – 185# Match – Cael’s Record - 159-0.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmfrbzFLZI0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y7SQ8_nwpg&feature=relmfu

Coed wrestling at the 2011 State High School Wrestling tournament is nothing more than a media event. It’s a distraction we don’t want or need. Young boys have enough to work through emotionally without having to worry about how the crowd will react to a high crotch take down, a body slam on the mat that sends Mary to the hospital or worse yet turns her into a quadriplegic or a paraplegic. 

• Nike Wrestling Commercial
• Adidas Wrestling Commercial
• It’s more than a sport. It’s a way of life – an attitude that ignores distractions.
• Hawkeye Wrestling – Wrestling news from Iowa.

Iowa wrestling isn't broken so stop trying to fix it. Still think "coed wrestling" exists any place other than in your mind?