February 11, 2022

College Wrestling is Kind of a Big Deal: The sport of college wrestling has grown to the point that it can fill arenas with over 40,000 fans for special events. The latest occurs Saturday night at Globe Life Field in Arlington when the No. 2 Iowa Hawkeyes grapple the No. 5 Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Bout at the Ballpark.

posted by rcade to other at 01:28 PM - 3 comments

I grew up watching the legendary Gordon Solie host professional wrestling "live from the Sunshine State" on Saturday afternoons. That was all I knew about the sport.

I got to high school and found out there was a wrestling team. I wondered where the "ring" was, and which students looked most likely to be fitted for a lace up leather mask, high boots and Speedo trunks.

Someone coaxed me into checking out a dual meet in our gym on a cold Saturday afternoon. I had to be talked into it. In a sweaty, windowless cinderblock room just big enough for the mat and a few rows of bleachers, it took about 5 minutes for me to become totally mesmerized by the sport.

I haven't closely followed scholastic and collegiate wrestling over the years, but some of the most incredible moments I've ever witnessed as a sports spectator have come courtesy of the real sport of wrestling.

posted by beaverboard at 05:01 PM on February 12, 2022

High school wrestling is a pretty damn big deal in the city I live in now. The program's accomplishments are rather vast. 21 state championships, 55 individual state champions.

posted by NoMich at 05:13 PM on February 12, 2022

This event only drew 12,000. Getting two fanbases to travel on Super Bowl weekend looks like a big ask.

posted by rcade at 02:20 PM on February 13, 2022

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