College wrestling's new three-point takedown rule changes the math on the mat
Dec. 22—MITCHELL — A notable change in college wrestling is underway this season.
In June, the NCAA's rules oversight panel approved making wrestling takedowns worth three points instead of two, effective for the 2023-24 season.
According to the NCAA, members of the Wrestling Rules Committee proposed the change, citing that increasing the scoring for takedowns by an additional point will enhance the sport by rewarding offensive actions and risk-taking. The rule was also implemented at the NAIA level.
With the wrestling season well underway, members of the South Dakota college wrestling community are still coming to terms with the new rule. Dakota Wesleyan second-year coach Martin Mueller admits he still yells out "two" in the corner whenever one of his wrestlers gets a takedown. But he believes that the change is leading to the intended results.
"People don't think it's a huge difference but it really is," Mueller said. "To start our season, Lane Miller, our 174-pounder tech-falled a kid in a minute-and-a-half and we're like, 'What just happened?' But for a team like our team that's very offensive, that's on the attack. It's huge."
Northern State coach Rocky Burkett agrees there have been more tech falls — which occur when a wrestler wins by 15 points in a head-to-head match. However, the Wolves' ninth-year coach is less convinced of the rule change's overall impact.
"It'd be interesting to see a sample of this year compared to last year, pulling a certain number of matches to see if it made a difference or not. I don't know if it has, necessarily," Burkett said. "You're seeing some higher scores in individual matchups because guys are scoring more points, but I don't know if that necessarily is because they're shooting more," Burkett said.
One of Burkett's athletes, fifth-year senior and Winner native Wyatt Turnquist, who placed third in the Division II NCAA National Championships last season and is currently ranked No. 1 nationally at 149 pounds, isn't convinced the change has incentivized more offense, either.
"I think the biggest difference for me is just getting a takedown and looking at the scoreboard and seeing that you're up three instead of two," Turnquist said. "In the grand scheme of things, I don't think it really changes much. I mean, you still get a takedown or you get taken down ... It's definitely different but I don't really think it changes the landscape of wrestling that much."
Mueller argues it has changed things in the big picture, though. He sees his wrestlers being more aggressive on the mat. Additionally he thinks higher reward also means high risk, which forces wrestlers to be more tactful in their approach.
"If you don't take your best shot, and now your offense turns into defense, well, you just gave up three points instead of getting three points, so it's a six-point swing," Meuller said. "I think it's really made us dissect our technique and solidify our offense to understand that if you don't take a good shot attempt you're going to be in trouble."
There is one thing Burkett and Mueller are in agreement on, though, and that's the immediate effect that each three-point takedown has in a match.
"You like it when it goes in your favor, and dislike it when it doesn't," Burkett said. "I'm a little undecided on it right now. I'm not for it and I'm not not against it."
"Obviously, you like it when it works for us. And it's frustrating when it doesn't work for us," Mueller added. "But there's incentive there. Seven minutes doesn't seem like a long time to wrestle, but it is, and it's grueling every seven minutes. So if you can start racking up those takedowns, you don't have to go seven minutes. For some guys, you can end the match earlier. So I think it really rewards the guys who are offensive and it's kind of forced guys who are not so offensive to, to kind of kick into gear."
