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.
Thread Replies (31)
OSU message board match thread (link)**
-- Nortazhokie
Feb 15, 2026 at 04:35 PM ET
Nortazhokie
•
02/15/26 04:35 PM ET
Always so interesting and proves two things.
-- Hokie Flyer
Feb 15, 2026 at 04:41 PM ET
Hokie Flyer
•
02/15/26 04:41 PM ET
I thought the officiating was fairly consistent
-- Nafeikoh
Feb 15, 2026 at 04:47 PM ET
Nafeikoh
•
02/15/26 04:47 PM ET
Today was well officiated according to NCAA rules**
-- AirborneHokie96
Feb 15, 2026 at 06:16 PM ET
AirborneHokie96
•
02/15/26 06:16 PM ET
The double stall on Ethen was garbage.
-- Hokiemacho
Feb 16, 2026 at 12:00 AM ET
Hokiemacho
•
02/16/26 12:00 AM ET
It was called how the rules are written
-- AirborneHokie96
Feb 16, 2026 at 09:02 AM ET
AirborneHokie96
•
02/16/26 09:02 AM ET
You also do not get stall calls based on the number of fans
-- GreenvilleVT
Feb 16, 2026 at 09:07 AM ET
GreenvilleVT
•
02/16/26 09:07 AM ET
As an official on the mat, I deny that coaches and fans influence me!
◄
-- AirborneHokie96
Feb 16, 2026 at 09:17 AM ET
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
Feb 16, 2026 at 12:12 PM ET
donjfs3
•
02/16/26 12:12 PM ET
I know it has to be tough to stay on top of changes.
-- GreenvilleVT
Feb 16, 2026 at 09:25 AM ET
GreenvilleVT
•
02/16/26 09:25 AM ET
Boys and Girls rules are just so different
-- AirborneHokie96
Feb 16, 2026 at 09:32 AM ET
AirborneHokie96
•
02/16/26 09:32 AM ET
I hate the lack of continuation in high school girls lacrosse.
-- GreenvilleVT
Feb 16, 2026 at 09:41 PM ET
GreenvilleVT
•
02/16/26 09:41 PM ET
Fouls should be treated with a flag (held whistle)
-- AirborneHokie96
Feb 17, 2026 at 06:59 AM ET
AirborneHokie96
•
02/17/26 06:59 AM ET
Maybe it’s just South Carolina but they don’t get any continuation here.
-- GreenvilleVT
Feb 17, 2026 at 10:26 AM ET
GreenvilleVT
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02/17/26 10:26 AM ET
I wasn't a fan of either the second or third stall call.
-- nvpbrown
Feb 16, 2026 at 12:53 AM ET
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
Feb 16, 2026 at 10:44 AM ET
goodbadugly
•
02/16/26 10:44 AM ET
I was fine with the second stall, but ideally the referee recognizes that…
-- CTDad
Feb 16, 2026 at 09:20 AM ET
CTDad
•
02/16/26 09:20 AM ET
Smart tactics by OKS... we need to adjust.**
-- Palmetto Hokie
Feb 16, 2026 at 08:51 AM ET
Palmetto Hokie
•
02/16/26 08:51 AM ET
Agree was good match**
-- texashokie1
Feb 15, 2026 at 04:59 PM ET
texashokie1
•
02/15/26 04:59 PM ET
The stall on Merrill was an iffy one
-- donjfs3
Feb 15, 2026 at 04:50 PM ET
donjfs3
•
02/15/26 04:50 PM ET
That escape only looked questionable because Sasso was lazy/slow
-- HokieSean24
Feb 15, 2026 at 06:40 PM ET
HokieSean24
•
02/15/26 06:40 PM ET
Agree 100% - especially with where he was on the mat**
-- donjfs3
Feb 15, 2026 at 06:49 PM ET
donjfs3
•
02/15/26 06:49 PM ET
I don't understand the deciding sequence at 197.
-- nvpbrown
Feb 15, 2026 at 05:02 PM ET
nvpbrown
•
02/15/26 05:02 PM ET
Replay is up now and you are right.
-- nvpbrown
Feb 15, 2026 at 05:30 PM ET
nvpbrown
•
02/15/26 05:30 PM ET
He didn’t do enough to get a takedown.
-- GreenvilleVT
Feb 15, 2026 at 07:50 PM ET
GreenvilleVT
•
02/15/26 07:50 PM ET
I wasn't trying to say that the OSU wrestler earned a takedown.
-- nvpbrown
Feb 15, 2026 at 11:13 PM ET
nvpbrown
•
02/15/26 11:13 PM ET
The sequence in question was as follows…
-- CTDad
Feb 15, 2026 at 06:13 PM ET
CTDad
•
02/15/26 06:13 PM ET
OSU had about 30 seconds of riding time at the end of the sequence.
-- nvpbrown
Feb 15, 2026 at 06:16 PM ET
nvpbrown
•
02/15/26 06:16 PM ET
After watching the replay, you are correct.
-- CTDad
Feb 16, 2026 at 09:23 AM ET
CTDad
•
02/16/26 09:23 AM ET
Interesting decision to stand Sasso up though. **
-- TartanHokie
Feb 15, 2026 at 05:26 PM ET
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
Feb 15, 2026 at 05:08 PM ET
donjfs3
•
02/15/26 05:08 PM ET