Alan Fell’s wrestling career didn’t end where he wanted, nor in the way he had expected.
“My biggest injury, one that ended my career, happened after my fourth match (that season) during practice,” said Fell, a New Jersey native and the current Oak Hill head coach.
In this, the final week of the regular season, a question always presents itself to wrestling coaches around the state. With regional tournaments just 10 days away, is it more beneficial to wrestle one more time and conceivably stay sharp, or do you rest and avoid the risk of injury?
Schedules are finalized months in advance, of course, so the answer to that comes down to a philosophy. Area coaches seem to be split on the issue.
“We’re resting,” said Independence coach Cliff Warden. “We’re done until regionals.”
Count Warden among those who values taking the week off — at least this season. The Patriots competed at a tri-match in Bridgeport the week before their regional championship last season, but will stay home this year before hosting the Class AA/A Region 3 tournament Feb. 15-16.
“We did have a match (scheduled) but when you are that close to competing for a regional championship, a lot of times you worry about injuries,” Warden said. “We’ve got plenty of matches in.”
Woodrow Wilson, meanwhile, finds itself in a situation where not competing this week would be downright detrimental.
The Flying Eagles have not wrestled since Jan. 19 at the WSAZ Invitational. School cancellations each of the last two Fridays prevented Woodrow from travelling to the West Virginia Duals in Parkersburg and the MSAC Tournament in Parkersburg.
They finished in the top 10 at the WSAZ and seemed to have momentum going their way.
“It kind of hurts, especially in wrestling when you have kids watching their weight,” coach Street Sarrett said. “Then they can’t practice or participate and their weight goes up. That hurts the team.”
Shady Spring coach Larry Ransom understands both sides of the argument.
“I have heard a few coaches over the years talk about not taking the chances with injuries,” he said. “Normally, we take the week off, but this is a philosophy of building mental and physical toughness.”
The Tigers might enter the Snap Fitness/Bill Hughes Wrestling Invitational Tournament in Winfield this Saturday.
Woodrow will be able to shake off some rust this week. The team will host a tri-match at 6 p.m. Thursday against Nicholas County and Greenbrier West’s junior varsity team — the Cavaliers’ varsity team is taking the week off — and will go to Winfield Saturday.
Sarrett is among those who believe competing is the best option.
“You can’t play scared,” he said. “You can get injured in practice.”
Which echos Fell’s belief. His Red Devils will host a quad with Winfield, Wyoming East, Fayetteville and Richwood at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
“We always try to schedule a home meet between regionals and conference tournament to keep them a little bit live,” Fell said.
“I think (injuries are) more likely to happen at practice because they are not quite as keenly aware or focused.”
— E-mail: gfauber@
register-herald.com
Today's Sports Front
To wrestle or not to wrestle?
Taking time off before regionals is big issue this week
- Today's Sports Front
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A dream start, nightmare end
Lightning on the horizon brought Wednesday's final game of the state softball tournament to an end.
The James Monroe Lady Mavericks had felt a shock long before that. -
One step away from Charleston
A trip to Charleston — with a lot more on the agenda than a tour of the capitol building and a shopping spree at Charleston Town Center — will be up for grabs tonight for three area teams that are one win away from punching their ticket to the WVSSAC State Baseball Tournament at Appalachian Power Park.
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Tanner is Summers County coach
After weeks of controversy, it appears Summers County High School officially has a new football coach.
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WVU baseball changes up pitching lineup for Big 12 Championship
Randy Mazey’s attention has been on everything but baseball in recent days, as the West Virginia University coach has been out in front of his team’s effort to help the tornado victims in Oklahoma, where his team has been this week preparing for the Big 12 Baseball Championships, which begin today at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, Okla.
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Woodrow downs defending AAA champs
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It’s a good thing the Flying Eagles did practice it; it saved their season and led to a 2-1 victory over defending state champion Princeton. -
No repeat for Warriors
Independence has been on a tear offensively the entire month of May. It didn’t stop Tuesday, even against Wyoming East ace Derek Thornton.
The Patriots led 5-0 after two innings, and Brian Sexton — backed by that very offense and some sparkling defense — gutted out a complete game in a 7-5 win in the Class AA Region 3 semifinals Tuesday night. -
’Hounds hold off upset bid from Man Hillbillies
Valley’s potent offense never came to life, but the Greyhounds are still alive.
Valley (22-7) — with several players hitting .400 or better this season — could muster just three singles against underdog Man (6-20-1) in one of two Class A Region 3 baseball semifinals Tuesday, but the ’Hounds manufactured two runs in the crucial fifth inning to finally go ahead of the stubborn Hillbillies and escape with a 3-2 victory. -
WVU baseball team helps tornado victims
West Virginia University head baseball coach Randy Mazey was having lunch at an Oklahoma City restaurant Monday afternoon, keeping a close watch on the television set.
With every passing minute, the tornado that devastated the Oklahoma town of Moore, was moving closer and closer to his location and its path was being documented by a local television station. At one point, the coach even looked out the window to see if he could see the approaching funnel. -
Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship Format Changed
In the wake of this week’s devastating storm in the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore, the Big 12 Conference is postponing the start of the 2013 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship. No. 3 seeded WVU scheduled to take on Kansas at 4 p.m. (Central) on Thursday.
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Patriots, Warriors meet in anticipated matchup
The matchup many people expected will take place today.
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