Q: Will you be using the NFHS weight classes?
A: Yes, regardless of rule changes in various states, we will continue to use the same weights MN uses, as it is a MN sanctioned tournament.
Q: When does my team wrestle on Friday?
A: Your team may wrestle in the Morning Session (9am) or Evening Session (4pm) on Friday. If you are flying into Rochester, you will definitely need to get here on Thursday in case your team wrestles in the morning session on Friday. The brackets are determined by the seeding and the seeding is done by national sportswriters based on rankings and early season results.
Q: When does my team wrestle on Saturday?
A: If your team loses its first match on Friday, then it will wrestle at 9am, 11am and 1pm on Saturday. If it wins its first match on Friday, they will wrestle at 4pm, 6pm, and 8pm on Saturday
Q: Who does the seedings?
A: Seedings are based on input from nationally respected wrestling columnists including Josh Lowe (Intermat), Corey Haddad (AWN), Chris Danyo, Rob Sherrill (WIN Magazine) and others TBA. Teams are also positioned to avoid matches in the first two rounds between: nationally ranked teams, teams from the same state, and teams that may meet in the course of the regular season. We also try to take into consideration early-round match-ups from previous years.
Q: What is the format of the tournament?
A: There are three qualifying matches in eight-team brackets on day one and then three round-robin matches on day two. The three Friday duals will place the teams in positions 1st through 8th. On Saturday, the four teams that win their brackets will be placed in a 4-team round robin bracket (called group 1) for the second three matches. Likewise, the four 2nd place teams will be grouped together into Group 2 and so on. Trophies will be awarded for 1st and 2nd place in each of the eight groups.
Q: Who gets awards?
A: There will be team trophies for the teams that place 1st - 6th along with trophies for the teams that place in the rest of the pools. In addition, there will be individual trophies for the wrestlers on the winning team in each pool and individual medals for the wrestlers on the team that finishes second in each pool (if individual awards are allowed by your state association).
Q: Is there an all-tournament team? How is it selected?
A: We will be selecting an all-tournament team at the conclusion of the tournament. This team, made up of one wrestler from each weight class, will be selected based on the wrestler's accomplishment at this tournament without regard to his or her team's placement. The wrestlers selected to the all-tournament team will receive a commemorative plaque. To identify this team, we have one wrestling enthusiast who is not associated with any team in the tournament, assigned to each weight class. He or she will follow that weight class throughout the tournament and identify his or her candidate. The final all-tournament team is then voted on and approved by the Clash organizing committee.
Q: Where is the application for the Scholar Athlete Award?
A: In order to recognize those wrestlers who have excelled beyond the wrestling mat, we will be recognizing 10 Scholar Athletes during the tournament. Anyone (coaches, parents, teachers, Athletic Directors, School Counselors, and the athletes themselves) may submit candidates (grades 11-12) for this award. Fill out the form here.
Q: What happens if teams end up with the same record on the second day?
A: If two teams end up with identical records (like 2-1) on the second day, the team that won the head-to-head match, will place higher. If three teams end up with the same second day record, then the placing is determined by the total number of points scored in matches between the three tied teams. There would obviously be a 4th team in that bracket, but points scored against that team do not count in the tie-breaker criteria.
Q: I'm with a newspaper/radio station/website. Can I get a press pass? REQUEST MEDIA CREDENTIALS
A: Yes, we are a very "media-friendly" tournament. All press/media passes MUST be requested online prior to Midnight on December 26. Passes for the media and press will be available at the entrance pass gate on the days of the tournament. Please be prepared to present some form of media identification to receive your pass. You will be allowed access to the floor of the tournament where all results will be posted electronically. Members of the press MUST contact The Clash committee prior to December 26 to identify any unique on-site electrical or telecommunication requirements.
Q: What about bad weather? Is there an alternate date?
A: Although Minnesota has had mild winters the last few years, the average temperature in Rochester for the last week of December is 15 degrees. Please Note: This event will NOT be cancelled or rescheduled, regardless of the weather conditions.
Q: My son has a persistent skin condition. Is there anything I should do regarding skin checks?
A: We can not stress enough the importance of taking skin conditions seriously. Here is a link to the Minnesota State High School League Wrestling Skin Condition Report to be used by any wrestler with a questionable skin condition. The form should be taken by the wrestler with the observable skin condition (like persistent Psoriasis or severe acne) to his or her family physician to be completed. For athletes with observable skin conditions, this form will speed up the on-site skin checks greatly. Please note: The on-site Dermatologist will have final say in all questions of participation. There is no appeal process.
Q: With what weight class will the tournament start?
A: We will be drawing for a starting weight class at the coaches banquet. Each successive round will start at one weight class higher.
Q: Where do we park at the venue? Is there a pass gate for teams?
A: There is plenty of parking available next to the venue, as well as nearby ramps downtown.
Q: How are proceeds from the tournament used?
A: The Clash tournament is run by the Minnesota National Wrestling Duals, LLC. which is a Minnesota non-profit organization founded to promote and support Southeast Minnesota wrestling. 100% of profits are reinvested in the wrestling community at the youth, high school, and collegiate level.
