FEATURE: Junior and Cadet Nationals give referees and pairing officials a chance to be tested and mo
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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
07/23/2005
The Cadet and Junior Nationals offers competition and evaluation opportunities for more than just athletes. Many of the volunteers who participate as referees and pairing officials are also put to the test during this long and busy week. For the last six years, a FILA Clinic for officials has been held during the Cadet and Junior Nationals. As many as 150 officials each year have a chance to move from a lower to a higher category within the FILA system. "This clinic gives our officials opportunities," said Rick Tucci, president of the U.S. Wrestling Officials Association. "It offers them a chance to save a little money, attend a national championships and get international credit. It is good for our officials., We area the biggest officials association in all of FILA. This year, Ender Buyuhersen of Turkey has come to work with the American FILA officials like Tucci and Bill Stecklein to help evaluate and train the referees. He was not assigned to this event. He came at the request of Rick Tucci. "We told him it was the biggest and best tournament in the world," said Tucci. "He wanted to see it." "It is very much interesting to me," said Buyuhersen. "This is the first time I saw wrestling on 23 mats. The most I ever saw before was four mats. It is fantastic. But to control the officials is difficult." The officials who are seeking a higher ranking must do their craft as the evaluators watch. "We run 85 officials on one mat, and they referee twice in front of the evaluators," said Tucci. "We evaluate all of the lower FILA officials here, to make them better officials." For USA Wrestling's pairing officials, there are also opportunities to take tests and upgrade their ranking within the officials association. Every year, as many as 100 pairing officials come to Fargo to work the Junior and Cadet Nationals. Clinics are held, and pairers have an opportunity to take a test to improve their ranking. The P-I test includes learning to use event flow charts. The P-II test includes basic pairing skills and abilities. "We have 10 taking the test this year, and this is one of the best places to take it," said National Pairing Director Sue Siar. "We have as many as 25 taking tests each year here. It is a way for them to get more assignments and to get better at pairing." There are thousands of wrestlers each year in Fargo trying to win matches and become All-Americans. For the hundreds of volunteers helping run the tournament, there are also opportunities to test themselves and reach new levels of achievement.