The Iowa High School Athletic Association wants all of the wrestling teams that make the state dual meet tournament Feb. 13 to use their best people, threatening possible sanctions if the coaches do not comply.

The coaches, meanwhile, strongly dislike holding the state dual meet tournament the day before the traditional state tournament begins and probably will juggle their lineups again this year to protect their wrestlers.

It could be a draw.

A rhubarb erupted last year when the IHSAA changed the date of the state dual meet tournament, moving it from a week after the traditional state tournament to the day before the traditional tournament began its three-day run in Des Moines.

Linn-Mar and Cedar Rapids Prairie qualified for the state dual meet tournament and put patchwork lineups on the mat, fearing an injury that might deprive one of their wrestlers a chance to win an individual state title.

The coaches also don't like the fact that the IHSAA created an unlevel playing field last year. Some wrestlers competed on Wednesday while others got to sit in the stands, scout possible opponents and save all their energy for Thursday.

The IHSAA sent a memo last week to the head coaches of the 16 teams that have been selected for the regional dual team meet tournament that will be held Feb. 6. The eight regional winners will advance to the state tournament on Feb. 13.

The coaches were told in the memo that they could put their schools in jeopardy of not being invited in future years if they don't put their top varsity lineups on the mat this year.

Exceptions would be made in case of injury or illness, but if a wrestler is healthy, the IHSAA wants him to compete in the state duals.

The IHSAA also said in the memo that coaches could put the future of the state dual meet tournament in jeopardy if they do not comply. In other words, the IHSAA could eliminate the event entirely.

It was a strongly worded memo.

Prairie Coach Blake Williams got his copy on Saturday. He was traveling in a school van when he realized he had a new piece of electronic mail from the IHSAA.

"I read that e-mail on the way back from the MVC tournament," he said Wednesday.

Instead of congratulating him on winning the Mississippi Valley Conference tournament for the first time in 18 years, it informed him that he better take the state duals more seriously this year. Or else.

Williams has not altered his thinking about the state duals, however. He'd love to win the title, but he's not going to jeopardize somebody's chances of winning an individual state title, no matter what the memo says.

"It's not going to change my mind on what we're going to do," he said.

Williams did not sound worried about possible sanctions. "I would be shocked if something like that happened," he said.

Linn-Mar Coach Doug Streicher told the Des Moines Register that the IHSAA threats will not change his approach to the event. "I still have to do what's best for my kids," he said.

The Register broke the story about the IHSAA memo in Wednesday's paper.

Streicher declined further comment when contacted by the Metro Sports Report.

"At this point I do not want to insert myself more into this state dual discussion," he said. "I think everyone knows by now how I feel about this situation. I do not want this to become a distraction to our team as we finish the season."

Wrestling coaches have offered three alternative dates for the state dual meet tournament:

1) Move the meet to mid-January.
2) Hold the meet a week after the traditional state tournament.
3) Flip the dual meet tournament and traditional tournament: Hold the traditional tournament on Wednesday through Friday, followed by the dual meet tournament on Saturday.

"I think a January date would be ideal," Williams said.

The IHSAA has said it's difficult to find a suitable date in mid-January that would not conflict with other events. The IHSAA also likes holding both tournaments on successive days in the same arena,
rather than splitting them apart.

The IHSAA also says flipping the days for the two tournaments would lead to additional missed class time, because all wrestlers would miss classes on Wednesday instead of just the wrestlers who are competing in the state dual meet tournament.

Williams disputes that last point, claiming many wrestlers attend the state dual meet tournament whether their teams are competing or not.

Prairie will host West Des Moines Valley and Linn-Mar will entertain Clinton in the regional meets next Wednesday. In all likelihood, the Hawks and Lions will use robust lineups in the regionals in an effort to win that night.

If they win Wednesday, Williams and Streicher will have to plot their strategy for the state meet. If they lose, it becomes a moot point.

"We haven't even crossed that bridge," Williams said. "I'm not going to think about it until that time comes. We're not going to discuss it with our team until the time comes."

Williams thinks the IHSAA has to fix the problem. Many coaches felt uncomfortable last year because they were not able to put their best lineup on the mat in a state meet.

"Obviously it's not working," he said. "It did not work for the most part last year. I don't think sending the memo out is the way to solve it."

Williams acknowledged that many of his junior varsity wrestlers enjoyed competing at the state duals last year, putting themselves on center stage for perhaps the only time in their careers. "It was pretty cool for some of those guys," he said.

Last year, the IHSAA partially defended the timing of the state duals by saying it gave junior varsity wrestlers a unique experience. This year, the IHSAA has said it's not in business to host junior varsity state events.

"I think coaches need to have a little more say," Williams remarked about a possible solution. "They know what's best for their teams and what's best for their kids."