Coach Green's Friday Mailbag (6/19/2026)

Happy Friday to all.  

No one asked, but I do wish to use this platform for good.  Another story this week about kids getting ripped off by a dual team organizer.  This is an issue.  It happened to families I'm involved with last year at Elite 8.  Our community is generally trusting and forgiving.  The guy who stole money from those families is already back assembling dual teams. Lots of money gets exchanged and sometimes the guys in charge wouldn't even qualify for a used car loan, and we are handing them thousands of dollars.  Do your research.  If someone is getting their wages garnished, they probably shouldn't be handling this task.  If they are asking for cash, or a check to them personally, it is probably a bad idea.

On to your questions...

What upset does coach feel is most likely at Final X - Hijo

Exciting weekend for the sport.  I struggle to see the difference at this level in a lot of these bouts.  If LL beats Spencer again, is that an upset?  Probably.  But I can see it happening.  Is Dake over Zahid an upset?  On paper, at this point.  

Give me Dakey Duck for old time's sake!

What upset made you most upset - Jags

Royals over Mets a few years back.

Wrestling wise, it isn't something I get into a great deal of thought about.  As a fan, upsets are fun, that's why rankings matter so much, or so I am told.  As a coach, I don't think you think of yourself as the underdog.

That being said- I think last year Navy was the clear favorite in our dual and we wrestled really well and won for the third straight year.  On the other side of the coin, two years ago at Bucknell, I thought we went in prepared and favored and Wirns and Smitty kicked our asses.  Didn't feel good about that for weeks.

Why is NYUSAW so bad now Haphazard junior duals team on the boys side. No cadet team. The girls 14U, cadet, and junior teams are half forfeits. Can you explain why the talent is not on the teams and why there are half lineups? S. Carolina and Texas have better lineups than NY - Spartan Grappling

I'm close to this one.  It matters to me.  Aside from my stint at Sem, I have been volunteering with NYUSAW since 1991- with a lot of trips to Fargo and other places in there.

In terms of duals, the length of the school year and NYS Regents is an obstacle.  For sure.  

So is cost.  With so many other events on the calendar, a kid has options.  He can pay to jump on a Daddy Academy Dual team at NHSCA.  USAW actually has rules.  Parents don't love that.

I worked hard to overcome some of those obstacles and put together a decent team for Junior Duals last year.  It was the first time we had gone since the Jim Sutton era- when NY did pretty well,  I felt like there was some good momentum there, but the decision makers at NYUSAW decided to go in another direction this year, so I won't be coaching.

I hope they do well.

What’s your opinion about all of these Final X matches that have delays? Do we need to revisit the process? - James T.

I don't think we do.  Final X is a good thing.  Delaying the wrestle off isn't new- I remember DC wrestling Dean Morrison in Fargo in 2003 for the spot.  It happens.  You want the guys to be as healthy as possible.  Honestly, my biggest critique of Final X would be that it is too long, so a few fewer bouts might make it more digestible for the in-person crowd.  I think you just deal with injuries and delays like we always have.

Enjoy the matches!