Super 32 qualifier set to safely go forward

The first major wrestling tournament in the state of Florida is set to take place this weekend at Osceola Heritage Park.

The Super 32 early entry tournament, which serves as a qualifier for the national Super 32 tournament, also will give the wrestling community a chance to showcase how the sport can be successfully staged during the coronavirus pandemic.

The tournament directors are working to make sure the tournament is not only successful but safe too.

“This is the most preparation we’ve done for a tournament in a long time,” tournament director Jim Bird said of his group. “We want to show that this can be done and we are doing it to protect everyone.”

Along with temperature checks at the event, face masks will be required by everyone in the building except for the wrestlers competing on the mats.

The tournament has also been broken down into stages so only four weight classes will be competing in each session on Saturday, and those not competing in those weight classes will not be allowed in the competition venue.

During the tournament, there will be just one coach in each corner and table workers keeping score will be behind plexiglass.

Wrestlers will have hand sanitizer sprayed into their hands and there is a shoe-wipe bucket to use before they step on the mat.

There will be spectators for the event, with chairs spaced apart throughout the competitive arena as per social-distance guidelines.

All of these precautions won’t be universally loved, but Bird says it’s important for them to be observed by all who attend.

“Anytime you try something new, people aren’t always excited about following the rules,” he said. “But we are doing this for their protection and their safety, and we’re going to make people wear a mask.”

The actual wrestling tournament is loaded with talent as competition-starved athletes filled the event to capacity just days after entry was open.

For the first time, the qualifier event will include state champions and top-four finishers in the state, making the weekend even tougher for entrants.

Those wrestlers get an automatic entry into the national Super 32. They have traditionally been kept out of the qualifier to allow more chances for wrestlers in the state to qualify, but since this is not a normal year they will be competing during two days in Kissimmee.

“These are kids that are going to wrestle somewhere, so if we can provide a great tournament that also is safe, that’s good for everyone,” Bird said.

The national Super 32 tournament will take place Oct. 24 and 25 in Myrtle Beach, S.C., after moving from North Carolina when organizers were told it couldn’t be held in the state.

Also coming up on the national calendar is The Grappler, which is also being held in Myrtle Beach after moving from its normal home in Michigan.

These also will be masked events.

“These events are going to be different than any other tournaments that have ever been held,” Bird said. “But you have to look for the good in things and it’s a chance to learn new ways to do things and also have some great competition.”

Competition will begin on Saturday at 9 a.m. with the 106-, 113-, 120- and 126-pound weight classes facing off.

At noon, the venue will close for an hour for cleaning and then the 132-, 138-, 145- and 152-pound weight classes will compete from 1-4 p.m.

After another cleaning session, the less populated upper weights and the girls division will compete from 5- 8 p.m.

All of those still competing in the tournament will return on Sunday morning at 9 a.m. to finish out the placing in each division.

It’s not an easy task with 569 registered wrestlers for the event, but Bird and his crew are confident they can pull it off.

“We think we have a great crew, and while this one may not be perfect, we’ve put a lot of time into it and this puts us out of our own comfort zone,” Bird said. “We think we can run anything and this will be good for us.

“You can always find the good in a situation.”