How Are Team Points Scored in NCAA Wrestling Tournament?By Coder| August 30, 2023 Wrestling The NCAA Wrestling Tournament is one of the most prestigious events in college wrestling. It showcases the skills and talents of some of the best wrestlers from universities across the United States. To determine the team champion, team points are awarded based on the individual performances of wrestlers. Individual Scoring In order to understand how team points are scored, it is important to first be familiar with how individual scoring works in NCAA wrestling. In each match, a wrestler can score points through various moves and positions. Takedowns A takedown occurs when a wrestler brings their opponent from a standing position to the mat while maintaining control. It is one of the most common ways to score points in wrestling. A takedown is awarded 2 points. Escape An escape is when a wrestler successfully gets out from under their opponent’s control and returns to a neutral position. An escape is worth 1 point. Reversal A reversal happens when a wrestler, who is being controlled on the mat by their opponent, manages to gain control themselves. A reversal earns 2 points. Near Fall A near fall occurs when a wrestler almost pins their opponent’s shoulders to the mat but does not quite achieve it. Near falls can be awarded 2 or 3 points depending on how close they were to pinning their opponent. Fall A fall, also known as a pin, happens when one wrestler successfully holds both of their opponent’s shoulders on the mat for a predetermined amount of time (usually several seconds). A fall results in an immediate victory for the wrestler and earns their team maximum points. Team Scoring Now that we understand individual scoring, let’s delve into how team points are calculated in the NCAA Wrestling Tournament. During the tournament, wrestlers compete in a series of matches within their weight class. The more matches a wrestler wins, the more points they earn for their team. The team with the highest number of points at the end of the tournament is crowned the champion. Match Points In each match, a wrestler has the opportunity to score points for their team based on their individual performance. The following points are awarded: Takedown: 2 points Escape: 1 point Reversal: 2 points Near Fall: 2 or 3 points Fall (Pin): Maximum points Bonus Points In addition to match points, bonus points can also be earned. These are awarded for particularly dominant performances by wrestlers. Major Decision: When a wrestler wins by a margin of 8-14 points, they earn an extra team point. Tech Fall (Technical Fall): If a wrestler wins by a margin of at least 15 points, they earn an additional two team points. Tiebreakers and Placement Points In cases where teams have the same number of match and bonus points, tiebreakers come into play. These tiebreakers consider factors such as total number of pins, total number of technical falls, and total number of major decisions. Finally, placement points are awarded based on the final standings of individual wrestlers in each weight class. This ensures that teams with successful individual performances are rewarded accordingly. Conclusion In the NCAA Wrestling Tournament, team points are scored based on the performances of individual wrestlers. Matches won, along with bonus points for dominant victories, contribute to a team’s overall score. The team with the highest number of points at the end of the tournament emerges as the champion. Understanding how team points are scored adds another layer of excitement to this thrilling event.
