As a wrestling mom and sports fan I am respectfully requesting that the NHIAA wrestling board vote in favor of a one mat final for the New Hampshire State Meet of Champions on Saturday, February 25, 2023.  

Over the past several years at the NH wrestling Meet of Champions "MOC's" the match to crown the state champion has been held at the same time as the matches to crown the third and fourth and fifth and sixth place champions. As I understand it, this has been done to save time.

This year I am asking the NHIAA to vote to hold the final match, alone, under one light and on one mat and not at the same time as other matches.   There are several compelling reasons to consider this request:

1) The MOC's, in the past, only had four mats to host the tournament, this year, at Bedford, there will be five mats.  The addition of a fifth mat will help to alleviate some of the time that may be added with the change to a one mat final.

2) This year we will have a female only tournament. Historically, the female wrestlers have wrestled the boys at the MOC's.  Women's high school wrestling is and has been one of the fastest growing female sports.  The girls deserve to showcase their hard work and dedication.  A one mat final, will give the females their time to shine and will also help to promote the rising popularity of the sport.  

3) Wrestling, is without a doubt, one of the toughest sports at the high school level.  Most of these kids wrestle year round.  There are countless sacrifices made on a week to week basis.  A lot of blood, sweat, tears, failure and victories, highs and lows.  All of it will, for most, will come down to this one moment in time when they make the run for the title of state champion.  The kids deserve their time in the spot light with all eyes on them.  They deserve to feel the electricity of the crowd and the thunder of applause.  

4) Last, only about 1% of the high school wrestlers will continue their career at the college level.  For the majority of seniors, this will be the very last tournament they will ever have.  Let those making the run for the state title, especially those seniors who will never experience this again, have all eyes on them.  They deserve to be the only mat and spotlight, no matter the time it takes.

In closing, the argument against having a one mat final seems to have been the extra time that it takes to run.  Though this can be a very long and grueling day it is also the very last tournament of the season, the super bowl of high school state wrestling.  This is the very last sacrifice to make until the next season.  

Everyone attending, coaching and participating are without a doubt wrestling fans.  Most have a long legacy of wrestling and always treasure the memories, lessons, friendships and excitement that their high school wrestling career brought to them.  We now have the power now to add another amazing memory.  Lets get these kids their spotlight.