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AirborneHokie96
Joined: 10/08/1999
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As an official on the mat, I deny that coaches and fans influence me!

I am doing less and less wrestling at the USA Wrestling and high school level but for me, when I am doing a wrestling or NCAA Lax match, I am so locked on the play that I really do not hear fans or coaches to a certain extent. The speed of play at those levels require you to be locked in every second because if you aren't, you can miss that split second rule infringement that will be on TV/Youtube before you get home. And while I am at it, just know that the NCAA does no favors with officials. I am in my 2 week of Women's LAX and we still do not have a rule book as the rules were being changed in the past 2 weeks. I had a D1 game, applied the rules that we were just given 4 days prior and then 3 days later, the rules had changed. I was doing a Top 25 D2 matchup this weekend and we were told to expect another rule change this week. It has caused a lot of drama behind the scenes with the NCAA/Coaches/Officials and I know of one specific D1 conference where the emails have been really nasty when there was a "reply all" that went out.
Posted: 02/16/2026 at 09:17 AM ET
(In response to this post by GreenvilleVT)

Thread Replies (31)

Full Thread →
OSU message board match thread (link)**
Nortazhokie 02/15/26 04:35 PM ET
Always so interesting and proves two things.
Hokie Flyer 02/15/26 04:41 PM ET
I thought the officiating was fairly consistent
Nafeikoh 02/15/26 04:47 PM ET
Today was well officiated according to NCAA rules**
AirborneHokie96 02/15/26 06:16 PM ET
The double stall on Ethen was garbage.
Hokiemacho 02/16/26 12:00 AM ET
It was called how the rules are written
AirborneHokie96 02/16/26 09:02 AM ET
You also do not get stall calls based on the number of fans
GreenvilleVT 02/16/26 09:07 AM ET
As an official on the mat, I deny that coaches and fans influence me!
AirborneHokie96 02/16/26 09:17 AM ET
and I'm still going to yell for a TD call, swipes, etc. any time it's
donjfs3 02/16/26 12:12 PM ET
I know it has to be tough to stay on top of changes.
GreenvilleVT 02/16/26 09:25 AM ET
Boys and Girls rules are just so different
AirborneHokie96 02/16/26 09:32 AM ET
I hate the lack of continuation in high school girls lacrosse.
GreenvilleVT 02/16/26 09:41 PM ET
Fouls should be treated with a flag (held whistle)
AirborneHokie96 02/17/26 06:59 AM ET
Maybe it’s just South Carolina but they don’t get any continuation here.
GreenvilleVT 02/17/26 10:26 AM ET
I wasn't a fan of either the second or third stall call.
nvpbrown 02/16/26 12:53 AM ET
Isn't this how Spratley beat EV in the NCAA semis last year? This is taught**
goodbadugly 02/16/26 10:44 AM ET
I was fine with the second stall, but ideally the referee recognizes that…
CTDad 02/16/26 09:20 AM ET
Smart tactics by OKS... we need to adjust.**
Palmetto Hokie 02/16/26 08:51 AM ET
Agree was good match**
texashokie1 02/15/26 04:59 PM ET
The stall on Merrill was an iffy one
donjfs3 02/15/26 04:50 PM ET
That escape only looked questionable because Sasso was lazy/slow
HokieSean24 02/15/26 06:40 PM ET
Agree 100% - especially with where he was on the mat**
donjfs3 02/15/26 06:49 PM ET
I don't understand the deciding sequence at 197.
nvpbrown 02/15/26 05:02 PM ET
The sequence
Nafeikoh 02/15/26 05:17 PM ET
Replay is up now and you are right.
nvpbrown 02/15/26 05:30 PM ET
He didn’t do enough to get a takedown.
GreenvilleVT 02/15/26 07:50 PM ET
I wasn't trying to say that the OSU wrestler earned a takedown.
nvpbrown 02/15/26 11:13 PM ET
The sequence in question was as follows…
CTDad 02/15/26 06:13 PM ET
OSU had about 30 seconds of riding time at the end of the sequence.
nvpbrown 02/15/26 06:16 PM ET
After watching the replay, you are correct.
CTDad 02/16/26 09:23 AM ET
Interesting decision to stand Sasso up though. **
TartanHokie 02/15/26 05:26 PM ET
It was called a stall, not sure if it was an escape or if Merrill cut him**
donjfs3 02/15/26 05:08 PM ET