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Matmen Grapple For Title
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by Les Mahler
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| The sounds of people screaming "shoot" and bodies hitting the ground will fill the SJSU's Men's Gym (affectionately
known as "the Pit") as the 25th annual Mumby Wrestling Tournament gets underway at 10 am tomorrow. |
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| Named after former SJSU head wrestling coach Hugh Mumby, the tournament will play host to the Air Force Academy,
San Francisco State, Chico State, Sacramento State, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Biola University, UC Davis, and Stanford. |
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| According to Spartan head wrestling coach, T.J. Kerr, when the tournament first began in 1956, it was open to YMCA,
junior college, and military club wrestlers. |
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| In later years, said Kerr, the invitations were limited to wrestlers from four-year institutions only. |
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| Mumby was a three sport letterman (gymnastics, track, and wrestling), graduating from California. His coaching
career started in 1952 and ran through 1969, with a separate year in 1971. |
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| During his term as head wrestling coach, Mumby compiled a 130-69-6 record. Through his guidance, the Spartans captured
five league titles and a ranking of 27th in NCAA standings. |
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| Mumby tournament wrestling is different from most wrestling because each school is allowed to enter two men per
weight classification. |
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| Also, Kerr said the structure is different in that the format runs akin to international draw tournament and is
operated like Olympic competition. It will divide wrestlers into two different pools. |
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| For example, the Spartans may decide to enter two men into the 150-pound weight classification. One wrestler will
compete in class A while the other will be in class B. |
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| In that specific weight group, 150, the other nine schools may also enter two men into that weight classification,
one in class A and the other in class B. |
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| At the end of the competition, after wrestlers have been eliminated, the top three wrestlers of class A and B will
compete again, with the number one wrestler in class A wrestling against the number one wrestler in class B. |
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| This sort of competition guarantees each wrestler two matches and provides the possibility of losing one match,
yet still winning the overall weight division title. |
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| The object of college wrestling is to get a pin on the opponent, or a win by decision, through an accumulation
of points. |
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| A pin or fall gives the winner and his team six points. A takedown, (taking your opponent off his feet and down
onto the mat), is worth two individual points. |
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| Two or three points are awarded for a near fall, which is turning your opponent so that his shoulders are almost
touching the mat. Three points are awarded if the opponent is held in this position for five seconds or longer. |
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| The adversary is given one point for an escape, which is where the opponent gets out of his predicament. If the
opponent reverses the position and has the other wrestler in a down position the opponent receives two points. |
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| Each match is divided into three periods, with the first period running three minutes long and the remaining periods
two minutes in length. Points are accumulated and the wrestler with the most points wins the match. One extra point
is given for riding time. |
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| Riding time denotes how long a wrestler can control his opponent. A point is given if a minute or more of riding
time is accumulated. |
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| At the end of the meet, total team points are added up and the team with greater number of points wins the meet. |
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| At the Mumby Invitational, Kerr said the Spartans should place third or fourth, with Bakersfield and Cal Poly capturing
the tournament. |
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| Admission price for the one-day event which starts at 10 am and ends at 8 pm, is $3 regular admission and $2 for
students. Season ticket holders are admitted free. |
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