Daily Intelligencer article on a Refs perspective
By
Drew Markol
@dmarkol
Posted Jan 15, 2019 at 5:57 PM
Two area officials discuss what it’s like to officiate the sport - and about hearing the boos. The first of two parts.
Contrary to the belief of many, they’re not visually impaired, or rooting for a specific team.
No, not at all.
Who are they?
They’re the wrestling officials that get hollered at and derided at just about any match you go to.
So, with that in mind (and from watching the harassment of the refs for over 40 years) it was time to find out why.
Why they do it? And will they keep doing it?
I spoke at length to two District One officials (on the condition of anonymity), one a veteran of over 25 years and the other of about five years, about the sport, the fans, the coaches, the wrestlers and the future of the sport and here’s what they had to say.
Why do you do it? Nobody likes to get yelled at?
Official #1 - the veteran: “I wrestled in high school and want to try and help the sport. When I started, an older official told me the best thing for me to be was deaf. You hear it every match, some much worse than others, because it’s an emotional sport. For parents, it’s hard because it’s just their kid out there by himself or herself and they really get into it.
Official #2: When I told friends of mine I was going to take the (PIAA) test to be a wrestling ref they told me I was crazy. They said do basketball because you have two other officials with you and you’re not out there alone like in wrestling. But I love the sport.
How hard is it not to respond to the hecklers?
Official #2: It’s gotten a lot easier. When I first started I wanted to yell back so many times, but that doesn’t help anybody.
If you could respond, what would you say?
Official #1: I’ve thought about that a lot. You know, when you hear the standard lines about “Where’s your seeing eye dog or white cane?” you’d love to shout back “In my car!” These days, if I hear something original that’s funny, I’ll just start laughing on the mat. Experience, like in anything, is a big help.
What’s your biggest gripe?
Official #1: That’s easy. When fans of one team think I’m pulling for the other team and really start getting on you. If they only knew. I leave my regular job and sometimes have to remind myself what school I have to be at that night. And, sometimes, you don’t even know who the visiting team is until you see their bus in the parking lot on the way into the school. You do so many matches and just try and do your best.
Drew: We’ll continue this discussion in next Wednesday’s notebook as both officials look at what can be done to help the sport.
