Makennah Craft

R

rr23724

Well-known member
Our MS team wrestled at Jackson yesterday in the split HS/MS girl's tournament. Someone from our team pointed something out that I don't know that many people noticed. While she dominated on the mat all day her real impact in terms of being a role model for the younger girls came off the mat. At one point DURING the tournament, she was spotted walking up and down the bleachers emptying trash cans and replacing the bags. After the tournament she was sweeping out the mess in the bleachers. During and after the event she was asked by many girls for pictures with her and she obliged every time with a smile on her face and a positive message to all.

In close to 50 years at events as a wrestler, coach, or fan I have seen VERY few superstars willing to do what she did yesterday.

Thank you from the Watkins Memorial girls wrestling family Makennah!
 
 
Great role model, indeed! Makennah is also a licensed wrestling official and today spent the day officiating a middle school invitational at River Valley High School in Bidwell!

What most wrestlers don't know is that you only have to 14 years old to become a class 3 licensed official. Sure wish more wrestlers (and others) would consider completing the online course.
 
Team with Makennah Craft.jpg

Jackson Girls Wrestling Tournament
Sunday, January 19, 2025
 
90buckeye said:
Great role model, indeed! Makennah is also a licensed wrestling official and today spent the day officiating a middle school invitational at River Valley High School in Bidwell!

What most wrestlers don't know is that you only have to 14 years old to become a class 3 licensed official. Sure wish more wrestlers (and others) would consider completing the online course.
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I hope she is a better official than Hawkeye craft
 
90buckeye said:
What most wrestlers don't know is that you only have to 14 years old to become a class 3 licensed official. Sure wish more wrestlers (and others) would consider completing the online course.
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All of this is very true and the need for new officials is great, take it from an assigner.
However, the shortcoming in the current method of "teaching" and becoming an official is that there is absolutely NO on the mat or mechanics training. IOW there is no learning anything about how to become an official.

The important thing, especially for youth coaches, is that new officials are just like their wrestlers. While their charges are learning to wrestle, our guys are learning to be an official. Hollering and berating them will chase them away. If you have a problem take the time to discuss it with the official after the match and maybe with the head official in attendance. After all, the young official might actually be correct in what he called.

Again, new officials are needed and welcomed. This is especially true of women officials. My hope is that with the number of women wrestlers who graduate, some of them will come to the "dark side".
 
The younger ones are better at talking with and explaining, the older ones seem to know it all and dont want to have any conversations, they get defensive , when all I the coach/wrestler need or want is an explanation.
 
SW Supporter said:
The younger ones are better at talking with and explaining, the older ones seem to know it all and dont want to have any conversations, they get defensive , when all I the coach/wrestler need or want is an explanation.
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I am not clear on how this relates to what I wrote about getting new officials started and not chasing them away.

It might be dependent on what the "explanation" is about or how you approach asking for it.
Just remember Rule 6-6-6. You may question the time, scoring, or the application of a rule. Never judgement. BTW, "criteria" is just code for judgement.
Explanations are fine after the match. During the match, not so much.
 
Jim Behrens said:
I am not clear on how this relates to what I wrote about getting new officials started and not chasing them away.

It might be dependent on what the "explanation" is about or how you approach asking for it.
Just remember Rule 6-6-6. You may question the time, scoring, or the application of a rule. Never judgement. BTW, "criteria" is just code for judgement.
Explanations are fine after the match. During the match, not so much.
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"The important thing, especially for youth coaches, is that new officials are just like their wrestlers. While their charges are learning to wrestle, our guys are learning to be an official. Hollering and berating them will chase them away. If you have a problem take the time to discuss it with the official after the match and maybe with the head official in attendance. After all, the young official might actually be correct in what he called."

well this is what you said. im talking after the matches, these guys , not all but a lot, have ego's they know we are hurting for officials, really hurting for good officials. Therefore they take the almighty approach knowing our hands are tied with limited officials. I was an official for over 20 years, I understand its a hard job, but you have to learn while doing it and not think you are bigger then the sport.

Its great to see Mak and other getting involved.
 
SW Supporter said:
"The important thing, especially for youth coaches, is that new officials are just like their wrestlers. While their charges are learning to wrestle, our guys are learning to be an official. Hollering and berating them will chase them away. If you have a problem take the time to discuss it with the official after the match and maybe with the head official in attendance. After all, the young official might actually be correct in what he called."

well this is what you said. im talking after the matches, these guys , not all but a lot, have ego's they know we are hurting for officials, really hurting for good officials. Therefore they take the almighty approach knowing our hands are tied with limited officials. I was an official for over 20 years, I understand its a hard job, but you have to learn while doing it and not think you are bigger then the sport.

Its great to see Mak and other getting involved.
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That makes it a little more clear. After the match there is nothing wrong with asking for an explanation. There might even be a discussion. After the match there would never be a CMC call made. However, USC is possible I suppose. I would hope nothing gets to that point.
I really do not think that officials use the 'leverage" of an officials shortage as a justification for their ego, at least I hope not! Maybe they are simply egotistical all the time?
I have no idea what part of the state you are in and I would "hope" that this is not a regular or a big problem for you.
Thanks for the clarification on what you meant.
Jim
 
Jim Behrens said:
I am not clear on how this relates to what I wrote about getting new officials started and not chasing them away.

It might be dependent on what the "explanation" is about or how you approach asking for it.
Just remember Rule 6-6-6. You may question the time, scoring, or the application of a rule. Never judgement. BTW, "criteria" is just code for judgement.
Explanations are fine after the match. During the match, not so much.
Click to expand...
In my experience the bigger issue is effort. I cannot tell you how many officials look like they’d rather be anywhere else but on a mat officiating. I fully expect wrong calls to happen but one thing the kids deserve 100% of the time is effort from the officials.
Jim Behrens said:
That makes it a little more clear. After the match there is nothing wrong with asking for an explanation. There might even be a discussion. After the match there would never be a CMC call made. However, USC is possible I suppose. I would hope nothing gets to that point.
I really do not think that officials use the 'leverage" of an officials shortage as a justification for their ego, at least I hope not! Maybe they are simply egotistical all the time?
I have no idea what part of the state you are in and I would "hope" that this is not a regular or a big problem for you.
Thanks for the clarification on what you meant.
Jim
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In my experience the bigger issue is effort. I cannot tell you how many officials look like they’d rather be anywhere else but on a mat officiating. I fully expect wrong calls to happen but one thing the kids deserve 100% of the time is effort from the officials.
 
brushheavy08 said:
In my experience the bigger issue is effort. I cannot tell you how many officials look like they’d rather be anywhere else but on a mat officiating.
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I wonder how you make that sort of determination from a "look"? How does a look relate to actual effort?
brushheavy08 said:
I fully expect wrong calls to happen
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Really? You expect "wrong calls"?
Wrong in your opinion or wrong per the Rule Book?

Enough of this, let's get back to complimenting the young lady who was the reason for this post. It went sideways only because someone said that she is an official and I posted that we need more like her. If you want a post to be critical of officials, start a different thread.
 
Jim Behrens said:
I wonder how you make that sort of determination from a "look"? How does a look relate to actual effort?

Really? You expect "wrong calls"?
Wrong in your opinion or wrong per the Rule Book?

Enough of this, let's get back to complimenting the young lady who was the reason for this post. It went sideways only because someone said that she is an official and I posted that we need more like her. If you want a post to be critical of officials, start a different thread.
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Well I’ll comment what I comment so there’s that. And yes wrong per the rule book.
 
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