The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-01-11
WRESTLING is
VERY POPULAR

MoRGANToWN, Jan. 11.-Just
one short year after it was In
augurated as an intercollegiate
sport wrestling gives promise Of
becoming the most popular win
ter sport at West Virginia. Last
year 1t jumped alongside Of bask.
etball and the indications are that
1t will go into the lead during the
present season. which opens Fri.
lay when the Ohio university
squad comes here to wrestIe
Coach Il. B. Dayton's proteges.
This match will be followed by
other attractive meets.
To use the language Of the
sporting element, wrestling had a
black eye" in this section be.
cause OF the manner in which 1t
was handled here several years ago
by a group Of professionals. This
group left'the popular indoor sport
IN tho mud" and already the stu
dents representing West Virginia
in wrestling have pulled 1t out OF
the mire and are now taking steps
to put 1t back on a firm footing.
West Virginia conducts her
matches on n high plane and the
contests are strictly amateur
throughout. There is none OF the
conmercialism Of professional
bouto shown and each bout is au
individual conflict between well.
matched and red-blooded American
athletes who give their best from
start to finish.
Unlike the professional bout the
collegiate matches are limited TO
nine minutes, the decision being
awarded TO the contestant who has
the most time advantage" That
Is, the individual who has the ad.
vantage over his opponent re-
ceiyes tho referees verdict. Being
limited to nine minutes OF actual
wrestling the we'll trained and even
" matched contestants work like
fury all the way and the result
Is a gruelhng personal combat
with good craftsmanship prevail
ing at all times. Conducted in a
manner beyond reproach and de.
void OF intentionally exhibitions
wrestling furnished the fans with
the best possible athletic enter.
tainment In each Of the seven
classes, in which the men are
matched according to their weights
the bouts furnished are high class
In every respect.
Strange as It may seem the
sport is especially popular with
the fair sex, and at several match.
es last year the number OF goods
and Morgartown women In attend.
ance was surprising. No less than
400 or 500 hundred turned out for
the meet with Pennsylvania and
at all the other matches they were
well represented.
An innovation this year will be
the introduction Of popular
prices" q feature that isbound to
increase tie attendance. With the
promoted as they are
now and popular prices" prevail.
ing the sport will gain more pres.
tige. Last year 81 was charged
for the small matches with $3.50
being charged for the more i'm.
portant contests. This year but
IS cents will be charged for the
Ohio. Virginia and Washington
Lee contests, while 81 be charged
for the Indiana and Pennsylvania
matches.
This scale, which Is the same
as that for basketball. Is being
introduced to popularize the sport.
Basketball Is much less expensive
to conduct than wrestling, the
average guarantee to visiting
wrestling teams being three or
four times that paid to a visiting
basketball team. The university
officials believe that the increased
attendance that Is almost certain
TO follow In the wake Of low
prices will enable that mat sport
to pay for itself.
Everything points TO a success.
,ful year for the Manufacturers and
while the Varsity will not be a
world beater" L will be able to
hold its own against schools Of
this section.
Arsi1 aai flower Ind1s.rv "a Etg-
land enrnlJVs mNra than 1i1 NAn