Those of us familiar with Folkstyle wrestling, the style we see in America in college and high school wrestling, can find the scoring of Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling a bit confusing at first. Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling involves a different set of rules and scoring. As the Olympic trials draw near, the oldest styles, and the international styles, of wrestling are about to take center stage.

A takedown can be worth between one to five points, depending on the level of danger an offensive wrestler places his opponent. Ties are sometimes broken with maneuvers called leg clinches or reverse lifts, or can be settled by which wrestler scored the last point or registered the highest-point value with one move.

The wrestler who wins the most periods – not necessarily the most points – wins!

To help familiarize yourself, or refresh your memory, of the differences, a quick review of the more important points is in order.

Match structure: Matches are broken down into a best-of-three period format with each period lasting two minutes. Any period that ends with a fall also ends the match.

Scoreless periods: Any freestyle period that ends scoreless goes to the leg clinch. An offensive wrestler in the leg clinch will be selected based on a ball draw. The referee will draw a blue or red ball from a bag and the wrestler wearing the corresponding singlet color will have the choice whether to select the offensive or defensive position. The offensive wrestler must score in 30 seconds to win the period. If there is no scoring, the defensive wrestler wins the period.

Scoreless periods after 1:30 in Greco-Roman go to the par terre or reverse lift position. One athlete is assigned the top position in the first period and bottom in the second. The third period goes to the ball draw to determine which wrestler is on top. The wrestler in the top position must turn his opponent in 30 seconds or the defensive wrestler wins the period.

Tiebreakers: If a period with points scored ends in a tie, officials first look at cautions. If one wrestler has been cautioned more times, the opponent wins the period. The next criteria is the highest value of points. (A three-pointer beats three one-pointers). The final tiebreaker is last point scored.

Technical fall: Unlike the 15-point mercy rule that stops folk style bouts, freestyle and Greco periods end when a wrestler accumulates a six-point lead.

GLOSSARY

Ball draw: After scoreless periods, the referee will reach into a bag to select one ball, either red or blue, to determine which wrestler receives the right to select a position in the tiebreaker.

Challenge block: The foam block thrown onto the mat by a coach desiring to challenge a call. Each wrestler is entitled to one challenge per match. If the refereeing body modifies its decision, then the wrestler can use another challenge again during the match. If the refereeing body confirms the decision, the wrestler loses the challenge and his opponent will receive one point.

Challenge tournament: The bracket leading up to the best-of-three final series.

Exposure: Wrestlers can score points by exposing an opponent’s shoulders to the mat.

Gut wrench: A popular hold used by a wrestler in the top position to turn an opponent for points.

Leg clinch: The freestyle tiebreaker used after a scoreless period. The offensive wrestler begins with a single leg and must finish a takedown or score a push out in 30
seconds to win the period.

Par terre: The ground position used after a takedown or in Greco-Roman after 90 seconds of scoreless wrestling. The top wrestler attempts to score points by exposing the defensive wrestler’s back to the mat.

Push out: A wrestler can score a point by pushing his or her opponent out of bounds.

Sit out: Term used to describe wrestlers who receive an automatic pass to the best-of-three final series.

SCORING

Takedown: 1 point

Takedown with back exposure: 3 points

High amplitude throw: 5 points

Push out: 1 point

Reversal: 1 point

Exposure: 2 points for exposing the opponent’s back - the danger position - past 90 degrees when the wrestlers are in par terre.

Caution: 1 or 2 points.

SOURCE: “U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials 101,” by Andy Hamilton, Des Moines Register, http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2012/04/12/u-s-olympic-wrestling-trials-101

During the spring recess, team captains Marc D’Chiutiis and Konstantin Parfiryev, took some time to think about the future, life after high school, with a tour of Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Hosting the visit was the head wrestling coach at Stevens, Michael Clayton.

In my time coaching, I found that most young student-athletes do not start thinking about what happens after high school until it is almost too late to have any real control over that outcome. It is important to start thinking early about what you would want to study, where you might like to do that, and if staying involved in competative sports is goal, where that dream may best be realized. College admissions is a competative process that, for the high end colleges and universities, requires a great deal more than just decent grades.

The trip to Stevens allowed the young Madison wrestlers to walk the grounds of a top school, with a good wrestling program, and imagine themselves there in a few years. In a comprehensive and informative presentation by Coach Clayton, Marc and Konstantin learned about the various courses of study available at Stevens, the degree programs, the 5 year masters program, internships, and many examples of possible career opportunities that await Stevens Institute graduates.

The day was a complete success and plans were made for the entire team to visit again next season for a home dual at Stevens. There is also the possibility of getting a dual meet against a New Jersey team hosted at Stevens. That would be exciting, to wrestle in a college gymnasium.

Freestyle season has begun, and with it the Madison Wrestlers are back to work. We will be on the mats all spring, with competitions throughout, in preparation for the New York State USA Cadet & Junior Freestyle and Greco Championships at Binghamton, New York in early May.

Please check our tab, Golden Knights Wrestling Club for more details and our training schedule.

All wrestlers need a current USA Wrestling Membership card. To get a new USA Wrestling membership, or to renew your old one, please visit  www.usawmembership.com

Middle school wrestlers may particpate and will need both a valid USA Wrestling membership, and a completed Beat the Streets Parent Consent form, http://www.beat-the-streets.org/files/bts-mtc-permission.pdf

On the second weekend of February, the Madison winter wrestling season culminates with a trip to Petrides high school on Staten Island for the PSAL Individual Championships and State Qualifier. Those that are crowned City Champions go on to the New York State Tournament at the end of the month.

Madison qualified a total of 11 wrestlers for the event, but lost two wrestlers the week prior to injury. This left only nine Golden Knight wrestlers, in eight weight-classes, to represent the team in the tournament. (Giorgi Prangishvili and Youssef Eliali both qualified at 170 pounds)

This year Madison had some young hopefuls heading into the tournament, with Marc D’Chiutiis at 126 pounds coming the closest with a tough loss in the finals to Gannone from Tottenville. Konstantin Parfiryev at 145 pounds battled back after a difficult loss in the semi finals to take 3rd place with a 9-7 decision over divisional rival Malik Francis from Wingate. Javaughn Grant placed 4th at 220 pounds.

In a two day tournament with 43 PSAL wrestling teams competing, Madison finished in 6th place. What makes this more impressive is that all but two of the qualified wrestlers who competed over the weekend are returning to the line-up next year.

Madison’s new team captains: Konstantin Parfiryev and Marc D’Chiutiis.

The Golden Knights will begin their spring freestyle season on March 5th.

Madison Golden Knights Wrestling was well represented at the 9th annual Mayor’s Cup placing four wrestlers and finishing 11th place overall in a field of 73 teams.

Placing for the Golden Knights were Team Captain Griffin Costantino, who finished the two day tournament with 6th place at 106 pounds, Konstantin Parfiryev also placed 6th at 145 pounds, Giorgi Prangishvili took home 5th place honors at 170 pounds, and Javaughn Grant at 220 pounds placed 8th.

From left to right: Assistant Coach Steven Santimauro, Team Captain Griffin Costantino, Giorgi Prangishvili, Konstantin Parfiryev and Javaughn Grant.

The NYC Mayor’s Cup is one of the largest wrestling tounraments, and includes competitors from all of the public, independent and Catholic schools in New York City. The event was produced by NYC & Company, in conjunction with the Metropolitan Wrestling Association and Beat the Streets Wrestling.

On Sunday January 15th, the Madison wrestlers traveled to Wingate High School for the 3rd Annual MLK Invitational Tournament.  With many strong teams wrestling from around the city, such as Petrides, MLK, and Eagle Academy, along with two Section VIII teams, North Babylon and Roslyn High Schools, Madison placed five wrestlers.

Konstantin Parfiryev took first place at 145 pounds. With four hard fought victories and a final match that was decided in the final seconds with a crucial takedown, Konstantin earned the Most Outstanding Wrestler award.

Also placing were Griffin Costantino, 2nd place at 106 pounds, and fellow team captain Shawn Butrico, 4th place at 152 pounds.  Javaughn Grant and Kujtim Nikq both finshed 2nd place at 220 and 285 respectively.

The Madison Golden Knights wrestling team finished their regular season on Saturday January 7th with victories over Thomas Edison, Harry Truman and Springfield Gardens.

Madison traveled to Thomas Edison high school in Queens for their final three matches of the regular season.  Madison defeated Springfield Gardens 66-12 and Truman 48-28, before finishing their day with a 60-24 victory over Thomas Edison.

Team Captain Shawn Butrico, along with Konstantin Parfiryev, Giorgi Prangishvili and Javaughn Grant, wrestled a perfect day, earning 3 wins a piece.  Also undefeated for the day were Team Captain Griffin Costantino (3-o) and Marc D’Chiutiis (2-0).

The Golden Knights have an overall team record of 13 wins and 6 losses, and will travel to Eagle Academy in the Bronx on Tuesday, for the first round of the PSAL Team Championship playoffs.

With a 44-30 victory over their divisional rival FDR, Madison will once again  make the post season. 

In order to break the tie in the Brooklyn South Division, Madison and FDR wrestled again at Wingate High School for the right to wrestle next Tuesday, January 10th, in the PSAL Team Championship playoffs.

In a back and forth match where the lead changed hands numerous times, Madison prevailed 44-30 with some outstanding wrestling from stalwarts Konstantin Parfiryev, Griffin Costantino, Shawn Butrico, and Thomas Brovakos.  Freshmen Oskar Raimbek and Eugene Khalabudnyak also contributed with each of them earning falls against their opponents.

Next Tuesday the Knights will travel to Eagle Academy in the Bronx for the first round of the playoffs.

On Thursday December 22nd the Madison wrestling team hosted their first home dual meet of the season taking on divisional opponent, Lincoln High School.

Konstantin Parfiryev led the way securing the night’s first win with a dramatic sudden victory takedown.  The Knights then took the next ten matches and finished the Railsplitters with a final score of 73-11.

On Thursday December 15th Madison travelled to Leon Goldstein High School for a tri meet with Goldstein and Midwood High School.

Led by team Captain Griffin Costantino with a win by fall at 106 pounds, Madison earned 9 more pins to put away long time rival Midwood 66-22.

The Golden Knights wrestled Goldstein High School earlier in the afternoon and prevailed by a score of 54-30.