NASCAR & High School Wrestling

It was ironic that the biggest day for fans of NASCAR was also the biggest day for those of high school wrestling because I believe there are amazing similarities between the two very different sports.

Sunday while 150,000 fans were packed into Daytona International Speedway to watch NASCAR’S “Super Bowl” the Ritacco Center in Toms River saw 5,000 fans come through the doors from morning to night for the NJSIAA Group Championships. Racing fans often wear the numbers and colors of their favorite driver and it’s not too hard to figure out who they are cheering for…same with wrestling fans. Those rabid Phillipsburg fanatics all seemed to wear maroon, Southern followers have their gold shirts with the letter “S” like Superman, and there was the green of Brick Memorial and the red of High Point. It’s not just clothing but the loyalty fans have for their sport that sets them apart and after watching the action Sunday I know one thing…you can’t fool those who follow wrestling…you either know the sport or you don’t.

After half-nelson, cradle and cross-face I’m pretty much shot when it comes to wrestling terms but real fans, men and women young and old, know their sport. It’s one that is not always pretty….it’s brutal and raw at times and more sweat and blood was left on the mat Sunday than you’ll find in an entire season for other sports. But it’s the ultimate test of man versus man and six minutes of wrestling features strength, strategy, desire and often comes down to a battle of wills. The noise level is often deafening with fans on their feet while three or four matches are going on simultaneously rocking the building like nothing you’ll ever hear.

Coaches often start the day well-dressed and well-groomed only to look hours later like they were on the mat wrestling instead of screaming instructions and often demonstrating what they want their young athletes to do. I found it comical to look into the stands and see people 50 rows up going through many of the same motions and emotions…often trying to tell their sons what move to make like they could be heard or seen anyway.

Sunday was a good one for the shore with Brick Memorial winning it’s sixth state group title and Long Branch it’s first but the real winner was the sport….which had a day to remember and fans who won’t forget.