The Modern Era of MHSAA Wrestling

Revisiting MHSAA Tournament History

Remembering the past is key to understanding the present and anticipating the future. Learning the history, the purpose, and goals of those behind change can lead one to a clearer recognition of the path and its complications. Michigan wrestling made a massive “course correction” in 1988; directions from the MHSAA Representative Council and Executive Director were to “explore a different road.” Change can be rough and at various points along the way it was. There was frustration, doubt, and opposition throughout the effort. There was a ‘revolution’ underway and those who did not yet share or understand the vision were cautiously resistant. -Author

The Modern Era of MHSAA wrestling took root in 1988. The MHSAA, under the leadership of Jack Roberts, endorsed a philosophy for determining MHSAA Wrestling Championships that introduced the “true” team championship program for crowning a Final Team Champion. Since 1947 when the MHSAA introduced wrestling as a “Championship” sport, the Association relied on individual tournament scoring to determine both team and individual champions. While the traditional system worked for years, high school wrestling grew to five hundred schools and the dynamics to determine a championship became diluted.

In later years, the individual scoring program exposed instances of teams achieving Champion or Runner-Up status with as few as two outstanding wrestlers. An individual Champion and a Runner-up could seal the deal for a Team Championship. There were examples of teams unable to win their league while winning or placing high in the standings. The format did not provide a “team champion” that satisfied the expectations of the wrestling community.

In 1988 the Dual Championship program included schools from both the upper and lower peninsula. This marked the first time UP and LP wrestlers competed in a statewide Final Wrestling Tournament. Previously, only football, boys’ and girls’ basketball and ice hockey allowed a statewide tournament. The Dual event allowed teams to compete at the championship level and promoted the value of fielding a full roster. Athletes with good records could be depended on to win their share of matches, but the strength of the team resided in the abilities of average wrestlers, even struggling wrestlers who completed the lineup. Fielding “full” teams, one wrestler in each weight class, encouraged more students to join wrestling teams all over Michigan.

It was the beginning of the most interesting and competitive wrestling in Michigan history. Coaches found it valuable to recruit students, walking the hallways, to join squads to “fill out the team.” There was a concentration on team building and team relationships. It became important for kids to know their own capabilities and compete as efficiently as possible to become a contributor. Avoiding a fall now had a critical impact no matter the score. The importance of limiting a loss to a “3-point” loss was essential. Each wrestler played a role, had a job to do and was important to the team.

Meets and championships were “won” by average, even struggling wrestlers who had to stay off their back for the team to win. All the imaginable scenarios began to develop and when the Championship was finally won, the absolute best wrestlers could celebrate the importance of the less experienced, less skilled gifted teammate.

With the relaxation of the Transfer Rule and “Schools of Choice” legislation, dominate teams found it less problematic to repeat as champions. Local kids at schools were discounted as potential teammates when transfers arrived from other schools to “fill in” the weight classes. “Schools of Choice” diminished the intended competitive nature of the Team Tournament, but it became a bonafide TEAM event.

Simultaneous to the adoption of the Dual Tournament, the Association instituted the “One City” tournament in Battle Creek. Kellogg Arena (Class A), Battle Creek Lakeview (Class B), Battle Creek Central (Class C) and Harper Creek High School (Class D) hosted the four classes in 1988. The goal was to unite wrestlers and fans in one location to focus on and bring attention to high school wrestling; to create an event.

Change is often a struggle and reorganization were not without nay-sayers and opponents. Originally, Jerry Saffell, Battle Creek Central Athletic Director was the liaison who worked with the MHSAA to begin the process of planning the inaugural Dual Tournament and One City Individual Tournament. Critical to the initial presentation and throughout the time in Battle Creek, Athletic Directors, Ralph Kenyon, Glenn Schultz, Jim Ward, Bernie Larson, Bill Evans, and later Larry Wegener formed a devoted host committee, dedicated to providing the best experience for wrestlers and fans possible. Continued program success was in large part, due to the investment of the Kellogg Corporation and Jim Walzak, the Manager of Kellogg Arena. It was a new experience for wrestlers and wrestling.

The Kellogg Corporation donated $100,000 worth of mats and score boards to make certain the program would have critical support. The Visitor and Convention Bureau in Battle Creek and their spokesperson, Bonnie V’Soske did all they could to insure housing for wrestlers in the area. The Bureau managed housing for all teams and provided a small stipend to offset housing costs, to schools with qualifying wrestlers to the Tournament.

Taking on such a massive event in a small city was not without problems. Housing was a challenge; the Lakeview gym was small for the unanticipated Class B attendance. When the Host Committee met with the MHSAA to review comments submitted by fans, coaches, and others they responded again with changes toward improvement. In 1992, the Representative Council united Classes C and D to create a C-D Tournament. Creative scheduling assigned both Class A and Class B at Kellogg Area and Class C-D at Battle Central Creek Fieldhouse, reducing the venues to two.

The tournament rearrangement was a success. An unexpected factor was that fans were now scalping tickets. The events were selling out, tickets were difficult to come by and the MHSAA started an advance sale to ensure parents and schools could have representation in the arena. In time the program ticket sales exploded, signaling the need to return to the “drawing board.”

Eight years into the program it was necessary to redesign the tournament once more. This time a two-city concept, hosting Divisions I and II at Kellogg Arena and Divisions III and IV at Western Michigan University Reed Fieldhouse became the answer. Athletic Directors Ted Manning (Schoolcraft) and Ron Merrill (Martin) volunteered as the WMU tournament managers. This edition of the tournament addressed the Individual Tournament needs but modified the one-city program. The Dual Tournament continued to thrive at Kellogg Arena.

The crowds were substantial at both venues, ticketing continued in high demand at the Battle Creek location. Providing access for spectators, warm-up areas for wrestlers continued to challenge the Association and began the discussions about the “next move.”  Obviously, the untested direction was a one-site, all division location. Important considerations were debated. What venue in Michigan is capable of hosting, a “dream” event that will require at least twelve mats; provides sufficient parking, adequate warm-up area, weigh-in facilities, food options and easy highway access? Immediately Breslin Arena, the Joe Louis Arena, the Palace of Auburn Hills, even the Silverdome became possibilities. The choices in Michigan are few.

MHSAA staff visited Breslin Arena on the campus of Michigan State University during the Big Ten Wrestling tournament hosted there. While Breslin was adequate for the Big Ten tournament (four mats) there is not enough room for more than eight or ten mats on the floor. Beyond that, the sightlines in an eight-mat configuration are severely diminished. The best wrestling sightlines are behind each basket. Sitting on the so-called 50-yard line creates a sightline that hides one half of the mat on the side nearest to the stands.

The Palace was not available nor were they extremely interested at the time. The Silverdome had space like Ford Field does today, but there were convenience issues to consider. After visiting Joe Louis Arena and meeting Ilitch liaison, Stu Mayer, we believed we could adequately make the move to a one-site location. Ron Nagy, a long-time official with a passion for wrestling was convinced to try his hand as the Finals Tournament Manager. It was the first time the MHSAA depended on “non-school” leadership, but it proved to be one of the best choices made. Ron has a history with wrestling, reaching back to his elementary school days in Hazel Park. Beyond his lifelong connection with wrestling, Ron had a marvelous and extensive network from which to draw the volunteers so necessary to conduct an undertaking of this size. But most importantly, he had the passion to lead this massive undertaking.

It may be recalled that the “move to the Joe” presented problems never experienced by the wrestling community. To be sure, it was a “time of learning.”

Setting up the arena was one of the most troublesome experiences. The mats used for the event were borrowed from local high schools, which involved transporting each to “the Joe.” Loading and unloading became labor-intensive. Each donating school helped load the mats, but volunteers and limited Joe Louis staff had to manage the unloading and arena placement. Returning the mats after the tournament was made simpler only because more than one mat could be loaded for each trip to donor schools coordinated by the All-Star Wrestling Officials Association.

The second complication was that the ice “could not” be removed for the Finals. The entire skating surface was covered with four-by-eight-foot sheets of insulating hardboard, then the mats were laid out atop the insulating material. The mats became hard. When wrestling began, so began the movement of the mats. The array of twelve mats moved left or right, east, and west, almost eight feet. After each round officials, timers/scores, and volunteers gathered to recenter the mats before the next session could begin. Wrestlers found the firmness of the mats uncomfortable because they were unable to absorb the impact events of the competition.

The final problem surfaced once the doors were opened for the 1999 event. Tournament management was challenged, beyond measure. Early arrivals were making their way to seats, word was received that the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) was “in the house” investigating a possible asbestos breach, resultant from construction done during earlier in the week at the “Joe.” A breach was confirmed, and the venue was closed by the EPA, with directions for all to “leave.” Where can we send fans, competitors, and coaches; what course of action is available? The Visitor’s Bureau arranged to open Cobo Hall to receive fans, wrestlers and coaches until reentry was permitted. It was about 3:00 pm, thirty minutes from the start of the tournament. Workers, participants, volunteers, and administration were directed to exit the facility!

The MHSAA had no control over the situation; it was all in the hands of the EPA. Time advanced slowly toward 8:15 pm. While waiting Jack Roberts, MHSAA Executive Director and Bill Bupp, MHSAA Wrestling Assistant Director, discussed the next step. Time advanced, plans morphed. Suddenly it was “go time” and a decision needed to be announced; but what decision? Do we wrestle at all; do we start at 9:00 pm; do we cancel the tournament; do we dare start Saturday morning and finish Sunday?

“Wrestling will commence at 9:00 pm Thursday.” Announcements were made at Cobo, the hotels housing wrestlers were informed and somehow wrestling began about 9:00 pm. Thursday was a single round of one match per wrestler. After midnight, the first round was complete. To be certain there was a great deal of frustration in the wrestling community and fan criticism, but we were back on schedule for Friday morning, round two.

Adding to the complications was news that not all the hotel rooms promised were available! One hotel, undergoing renovation, had not yet received approval from the city inspectors, so countless wrestlers and coaches, even fans, were angry for good reason. However, we could do nothing to rectify the situation because we were beholden to “governmental process.” The Association representatives could only listen to the heated, angry comments.

Reorganizing mats, wrestling on cold mats, sleeping wherever rooms could be found! Despite it all, this most memorable of MHSAA Final Tournaments, was completed, on time Saturday. The sun shined brightly Sunday morning. Ugh! Never again did anyone want to experience such a tournament!

The second and third year at the Joe improved. The facility at the time was worn and in need of a facelift, but everyone worked to avoid the first-year problems. We were better acquainted with the housing market and the Visitor Bureau did much to improve the experience. “The Joe” removed the ice, we entered a contract with the mat company Dollamur, to supply new, lightweight mats for the tournaments. We no longer had to transport mats to and from the site. Instead, they were delivered via semi-truck to the venue, then set up by the Dollamur representative. The “Joe” now had experience that led to a more knowledgeable working relationship, so the final two years of the contract were managed with minimal complication.

Stu Mayer, of the Ilitch Corporation, moved to the Palace organization in 2001. Immediately, upon arrival he began to organize a plan to invite the MHSAA to bring the wrestling Individual Final to the Palace. He was key in the transition because of the experience he had at the “Joe.” Once the Representative Council approved the contract, work began with the Palace organization to plan the 2002 move to the Palace of Auburn Hills.

One site wrestling had found its home. The facility was beautiful, clean, and well run. There was plentiful housing; easy access parking; improved areas for wrestlers. The Palace staff welcomed us into their facility. They were energetic, people focused and took the initiative. It was a pleasure to partner with the Palace.

We were able to place twelve mats on the floor. Scoring tables and scoreboards were positioned at each mat. The overhead video board was utilized to keep on-deck wrestlers informed of their position on the schedule. The warm-up area was a bit confining, but every convenience was available to the wrestling community. After the initial year, the tournament management staff no longer had to set up the tournament; the Palace took excellent notes in 2002 and took over the conversion of the area. Their professional and systematic approach allowed them to schedule a Wednesday night Pistons game and convert the arena to wrestling by 7:00 am on the first day of the tournament.

The concourse was inviting to the fans; seating was comfortable. Wrestling had found a new home. The confirmation of wrestling as a major MHSAA program was underway.

At each tournament after 2002, improved technology made the tournament simpler, easier, more convenient. Runners with score sheets were eliminated by electronic transport of scoresheets from a mat-side computer to the “master file.” Brackets and advancement programs eliminated the “backroom” were humans calculated and posted advancement and prepared scoresheets for each round. Security folks added headsets to their attire so communication among the staff was better than ever. The Grand March improved each time because the volunteer staff led by Trent Anderson, through trial and error, had finally discovered the secret to engineering the movement of 1,000 student athletes.

There were elements to adjust that improved the tournament. In 2008 the Upper Peninsula wrestlers were included in the Individual Tournament. Since 1988 UP teams had had the opportunity to compete in the Dual Team format, but now, with this change, all MHSAA member schools could compete in the one statewide event: the answer to the request of the UP-wrestling coaches since the 1990s.

In 2017 the word was out that the Pistons may be moving to Little Caesar’s Arena being constructed in mid-town Detroit. Wrestling folks did not imagine that the result of that move would include demolishing the Palace which would displace wrestling, sending the organizers to find a new home.

“Where can we go to maintain the largest high school final tournament in the United States?” “How about Ford Field?” Was the answer! Mark Uyl and Ron Nagy, representing the MHSAA, began negotiations with the Ford Field administration. Their efforts brought about the two-day Final tournament we enjoy now. Four mats were added to compensate for the elimination of the third day of competition. Now, spacious Ford Field boasts twenty mats, a huge warm-up area, expansive seating options, a massive concourse and the biggest “stage” Michigan has to offer any competition.

But there would be more! When 2022 rolled around the MHSAA added girls wrestling to the championship sports ledger. For approximately 60 years girls have been wrestling in teams comprised of boys. There are girls who earned points, and there have been those who earned medals. Now, in a division dedicated to girls, there is greater recognition and more opportunity for Michigan female grapplers. Ford Field expanded to twenty-five mats, featuring boys’ and girls’ tournaments under one roof. As girls’ programs develop one can imagine the need to create more divisions, increase the number of mats, add volunteers and officials.

When the Michigan Modern Era of wrestling commenced in 1988 few imagined so much growth would take place as quickly as it did. Personally, my connection with wrestling began in 1957 when approximately sixty teams competed in wrestling, statewide. I was a high school sophomore at Niles High School, coached by Ed Weede. During that time there were four all-class Regionals in the state. The top four finishers in each weight class qualified for the all-class, two-day Final meet at Michigan State University, IM West gymnasium on three mats. Fendley Collins managed the Finals, fulfilling a lifelong dream to elevate wrestling.

To imagine the growth of wrestling from that day until the present is mind boggling. The roots of wrestling go back as far as1935-36 when Dean Rockwell initiated the first Michigan state high school wrestling championship tournament. National Wrestling Hall of Fame members Cliff Keen, University of Michigan Coach, and Fendley Collins, Michigan State University Coach joined Rockwell in their commitment to promote wrestling in the high schools of Michigan. In the beginning East Detroit, Hazel Park and other southeastern Michigan high schools were the incubators that spawned today’s programs.

In 1947 the MHSAA recognized wrestling as a sport, sparking the growth of Michigan high school wrestling. It was a time of moe-hair mats, bare-chested wrestlers, face-to-face weigh-ins, and sometimes severe weight cutting. Rubber mats replaced collections of bound together wall mats under a vinyl cover; foam mats replaced rubber surfaces. Finals once held in high school gyms are now hosted in the largest covered venue in our state, Ford Field.

Significant changes improved the wrestling experience for competitors. Expansion of weight classes, wrestling rules modifications, weight management education and rules have improved the sport. In 2021, the addition of the MHSAA girls wrestling tournament, the dream nurtured by Kent Bailo, provided opportunities and recognition for girls.

Kids dream of the big stage, large crowds, media coverage and a championship experience. It all came about because the seeds were planted by Keen, Collins and Rockwell, and the program was reinvented with a new direction in 1998. Where will our dreams lead us next?

Author-Bill Bupp, former MHSAA Assistant Director, Coach, Referee and Grand March Foundation founder.