..........TRINITY OF CROWNS
.Ron Garrison

...Recently the Ninth Annual National High School Wrestling Championships were held at the A.J. Palumbo Center on the campus of Duquesne University in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh became the center of ultimate concentration and quantity of high school wrestling that seniors across the country aspire to enter. A senior
can participate in and win the TRINITY OF CROWNS of high school wrestling in America with two crowns in Pittsburgh.
. This TRINITY OF CROWNS consists of three great, showcase events giving amateur wrestling in America classic recognition in this most demanding of sports. The Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic hosted by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette stands at the oldest at 24 years followed by the well developed National High School Tournament at 9 years and finally the new vibrant 2 year old Dream Team Event sponsored by Wrestling USA and Cliff Keen Products. The Dream Team moves from state to state giving an unusual sought after venue.
. The National High School Wrestling Tournament is based on the NCAA college tournament. The nationals were developed by Bob Ferraro, former Bucknell College coach and now Director of Nationals. The Nationals are the Middle Crown of the TRINITY allowing vast numbers of wrestlers to participate while earning All-American status as a high school senior.
. This 97-98 season the nationals registered over 700 new coaches to their organization which is significant since there are around only 9,000 high school coaches in America. Over 689 wrestlers spent three days grappling aggressively to attain national All-American status in
97-98. These young men participated in 1365 bouts during the demanding tournament. Although only 112 wrestlers from 14 weight classes each year earn the distinction of All-American status; each senior wrestler grappled his best regardless of outcome giving all to develop himself against high caliber athletes. The finalists average GPA was 3.1 overal
.These 689 wrestlers journeyed from the 48 states hosting wrestling, demonstrated diversity in skills as well as showcasing styles from across the nation. Farthest West came Hawaiians; East, the Maine Men; South the Florida contingent and North the Minnesota Matmen. These diversified people were guaranteed at least two bouts because of double
elimination or the rough ride to All-American status and championships. Each wrestler knows the price paid coming to Pittsburgh's cauldron of wrestling in the nationals and the toll upon human teenage spirit, body and mind.
. Some drove only twenty minutes while others flew hours and 5,000 miles trying to be recognized by coaches from all three college divisions, and possible scholarships to a varsity team. Some signed early in November but most still wait for possible help while their years of stamina, and dedication urge them on to a place in wrestling history. Regardless of outcome, these our sons, have pride since they wrestled for sport, knowing as they stepped
into that 30 foot circle the price paid getting there via the eyes of an opponent across from them. This eye contact tells everything in a glimmer of a warriors desire.
. These 689 wrestlers represent over half the potential number of entrants to the event in Pittsburgh. The true number is around 1400 due to many states having more than one classification. Pennsylvania's 500 wrestling schools are divided into two classifications, while neighbor New Jersey has only one class for 320 schools and some states have as many as four. These multiple classifications grant more participation and recognition to develop
amateur wrestling in America.
. The Nationals like the other two parts of the TRINITY CROWN reflect this diversified wrestling and mat testing advantage, while states gain chest thumping rites earned the hard way. The Nationals are directed by Bob Ferraro, Dave Hunter and Greg Watson with Bob Ferraro Jr. These gentleman have designed a growing event that is producing interesting results, and will certainly pay off at colleges in the future.
.Most finalists in the NCAA Tournament 97-98 season participated in the H.S.
Nationals or Classic and Future Dream Team. The TRINITY OF CROWNS earns the best a chance to rise to the top, not guaranteeing one will win all three events if they participate in all three. The odds of winning all three stands as stiff competition, but one or two can do the task proving they earned national recognition.
. Upsets of nationally ranked wrestlers occur in all three events having them as teammates in the Classic and Dream Team and opponents at Nationals. Wrestlers sometimes hit a series of matches from which nobody beats them and they are recognized nationally for their success.
. Shane Roller of Bixby, Oklahoma a 4.0 student and Robbie Waller of Mt. Pleasant a 3.5 student are two high caliber wrestlers sharing wrestling, testing the limits of their skills, endurance and adaptability. Twice they have met, once in the Classic and also the finals of Nationals at 160 lb. They did their wrestling in the smaller circle with Roller taking both bouts. Yet, they might still meet a number of times since they will be separated by only 90 miles at Oklahoma and Oklahoma State for the next four years.
. Waller and Roller proved quality wrestling, attitude with good coaching and heart bring about championships and that all wrestlers are champions since they participate in this ancient survival sport. They wrestled to win as any sport creates a victor, but they are not enemies- they are developing a friendship lasting a lifetime as mat brothers- family. Each time they
meet, a battle for the last stuffed pork chop on the plate develops. Neither would allow the other to go hungry, sharing the electricity given them to try and win.
. Nationals bring this Brotherhood together in numbers of quality wrestlers and sometimes lopsided battles causing strain on many bruised egos. They stay friends for life!
. Their only complaint stems from poor officiating. The TRINITY OF CROWNS officiating stands proud but not perfect. But until one officiates, criticism should be polite and guarded with bad officiating written about and corrected for the sports health, while top notch officials should be recognized for fine performances.
.The Nationals had 25 officials who did 1365 bouts in three days with an average of 55 matches per official and in the finals two officials per bout. This created thousands of calls and astronomical odds of every decision being correct. A migraine on the mat. They are human and can be out of position or a flurry of quick action that even instant replay would be
taxed to tell. Nationals and the Classic are stages where this can happen, and yet no judgment of these quality men should be made - they are not perfect. Wrestlers are not perfect - no one is, but occasionally in a lifetime a perfect bout occurs becoming a standard. The Nationals this year had a near perfect bout and the odds were sum for this in 1365 matches.
. The Nationals, Classic and Dream Team have developed into the high school testing ground of future college and olympic champions. This TRINITY OF CROWNS shows what the human spirit is made of under stressful conditions and the price paid to win. People developing potential must step up to the line in that circle called life and accept the test outcome. This is a lifetime test.
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~ R.L. Garrison