Be the Referee: In or Out-of-Bounds in Wrestling
By
Sam Davis
MHSAA Director of Officials
February 7, 2023
Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.
Below is this week's segment – In or Out-of-Bounds in Wrestling - Listen
Two wrestlers are near the out-of-bounds line – the offensive wrestler is completely out of bounds, while holding the defensive wrestler on his back. Only the defensive wrestler’s shoulder is on the out-of-bounds line, and nothing else is touching in-bounds. What’s the call?
The official should continue to let them wrestle. Wrestlers are considered in bounds if a total of two supporting points of either wrestler are inside or on the boundary line. They are also in bounds if a shoulder of the defensive wrestler or hip of the offensive wrestler is inside or on the line – as both these situations count as two points of contact. With the shoulder, it’s also the scapula making contact – and with the hip, it’s also the thigh.
But if there are two contact points inside or on the line, wrestling can continue. And that includes the possibility of a pinfall.
Previous Editions:
Jan. 31: Over the Back - Listen
Jan. 24: Competitive Cheer Judges - Listen
Jan. 17: More Lines - Listen
Jan. 10: On the Line - Listen
Jan. 3: Basketball Measurements - Listen
Dec. 13: Pregame Dunks - Listen
Dec. 6: Gymnastics Judges - Listen
Nov. 22: Football Finals Replay - Listen
Nov. 15: Back Row Illegal Blocker - Listen
Nov. 8: Swim Turn Judges - Listen
Nov. 1: Soccer Referee Jersey Colors - Listen
Oct. 25: Cross Country Tie-Breaker - Listen
Oct. 18: Soccer Shootouts - Listen
Oct. 11: Safety in End Zone - Listen
Oct. 4: Football Overtime Penalty - Listen
Sept. 27: Kickoff Goal - Listen
Sept. 20: Soccer Timing - Listen
Sept. 13: Volleyball Replays - Listen
Sept. 6: Switching Sides - Listen
Aug. 30: Play Clock - Listen
Aug. 23: Intentional Grounding Change - Listen
Performance of the Week: Dundee's Blake Cosby
December 12, 2024
Blake Cosby ♦ Dundee
Junior ♦ Wrestling
Cosby finished 3-0 and was named outstanding wrestler for the upper weights at the Grappler Gold Invitational after claiming the championship at 150 pounds and leading Dundee to the team title. The 150-pound bracket included the top-ranked wrestlers at that weight by Michigan Grappler in all four divisions, and the Division 3 top-ranked Vikings finished ahead of Division 2 No. 1 Lowell and Division 4 No. 1 Hudson among others in a field that included multiple Division 1 contenders as well.
Last season’s Division 3 individual champion at 144 pounds, Cosby clinched last weekend’s bracket title with an 8-3 decision against Hartland junior Dallas Korponic, the reigning Division 1 champion at 132 pounds. Cosby also finished Division 3 runner-up at 144 as a freshman and brought a combined 81-2 career record into this season. Dundee as a team will be pursuing an eighth-straight Division 3 team championship. Just a junior, Cosby already has committed to sign with Michigan.
@mhsaasports 🤼POW: Blake Cosby #wrestling #Dundee #invitational #champion #part1 #highschoolsports #tiktalk #interview #performanceoftheweek #mistudentaid #fyp #MHSAA ♬ original sound - MHSAA
@mhsaasports 🤼POW: Blake Cosby #tiktalk #questiontime #outerbanks #payday #timetravel #pepperoni #steak #chocolatemilk #part2 #performanceoftheweek #mistudentaid #fyp #MHSAA ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys - Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey
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Previous 2024-25 honorees
Dec. 4: Keaton Hendricks, Zeeland West football - Report
Nov. 29: Kate Simon, East Grand Rapids swimming - Report
Nov. 22: Ella Kokaly, Essexville Garber volleyball - Report
Nov. 15: Caroline Bryan, Grosse Pointe South swimming - Report
Nov. 8: Kaylie Livingston, Whitmore Lake cross country - Report
Oct. 25: Oliver Caldwell, Grand Rapids West Catholic tennis - Report
Oct. 18: Alex Graham, Detroit Cass Tech football - Report
Oct. 11: Victoria Garces, Midland Dow cross country - Report
Oct. 4: Asher Clark, Bay City John Glenn soccer - Report
Sept. 26: Campbell Flynn, Farmington Hills Mercy volleyball - Report
Sept. 19: TJ Hansen, Freeland cross country - Report
Sept. 12: Jordan Peters, Grayling soccer - Report
Sept. 6: Gabe Litzner, Sault Ste. Marie cross country - Report
Aug. 30: Grace Slocum, Traverse City St. Francis golf - Report
(Photos courtesy of the Cosby family.)