Be The Referee: Wrestling Tie-Breaker
January 16, 2020
This week, MHSAA officials coordinator Sam Davis discusses an addition this winter to the tie-breaker criteria for dual wrestling meets.
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 - Wrestling Tie-Breaker - Listen
In a dual meet in wrestling, if the team score is tied at the conclusion of all 14 weight classes, there are criteria in place that are used to determine a winner. The list is quite extensive, and has expanded to 17 tie-breakers this year.
The newest addition to the list is the sixth tie-breaker to be used – and it is the team giving up the least number of forfeits. Part of the rationale behind the addition is to encourage schools to field wrestlers in as many weight classes as possible to promote participation.
The first tie-breaker continues to be the team penalized the fewest number of team points for flagrant misconduct or unsportsmanlike conduct; and the last tie-breaker continues to be a coin flip.
Past editions
Jan. 9: Pregame Meeting - Listen
Dec. 19: Alternating Possession - Listen
Dec. 12: Ratings - Listen
Dec. 5: Video Review Success - Listen
Nov. 28: More Injury Time - Listen
Nov. 21: Football Review - Listen
Nov. 14: Sideline Safety - Listen
Nov. 7: Officials Playlist - Listen
Oct. 31: Most Important Line - Listen
Oct. 24: Automatic 1st Downs - Listen
Oct. 17: Catch Momentum - Listen
Oct. 10: Golf Rules Changes - Listen
Oct. 3: No Tackle Box - Listen
Sept. 26: You Make the Overtime Call - Listen
Sept. 19: Swimming Finishing Touch - Listen
Sept. 12: Curbing Gamesmanship By Substitution - Listen
Sept. 5: Football Safety Rules Changes - Listen
Aug. 29: 40-Second Play Clock - Listen
Performance of the Week: Fowlerville's Maggie Buurma
March 6, 2025
Maggie Buurma ♦ Fowlerville
Senior ♦ Wrestling
Buurma became the first four-time MHSAA Individual Wrestling Finals champion in the girls division as she defeated Romeo's Belicia Manuel 1-0 in the 145-pound championship match at Ford Field. Buurma added that title to her previous championships won at 115 pounds as a freshman, 125 as a sophomore and 135 as a junior. She also capped her season Saturday with a 38-3 record this winter and 105-11 record for her career.
Manuel entered the weekend as the reigning champion at 140 pounds, and the two had faced off for both District and Regional titles – Buurma winning their District match and Manuel winning at the Regional. Buurma also played volleyball and softball her first three seasons of high school, and this fall played golf instead of volleyball. She is still considering her college options but intends to continue her wrestling career.
@mhsaasports 🤼♀️POW: Maggie Buurma #wrestling #fowlerville #finals #champion #history #part1 #highschoolsports #tiktalk #interview #performanceoftheweek #mistudentaid #fyp #MHSAA ♬ original sound - MHSAA
@mhsaasports 🤼♀️POW: Maggie Buurma #oliviarodrigo #laughingcrying #sleep #cheesepizza #gossipgirl #part2 #performanceoftheweek #mistudentaid #fyp #MHSAA ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys - Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey
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Previous 2024-25 honorees
Feb. 28: Maren Studt, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep skiing - Report
Feb. 21: Olive Krueger, Marquette swimming - Report
Feb. 14: Hunter Lemmon, Fraser swimming - Report
Feb. 7: Aubrey Hillard, Rochester competitive cheer - Report
Jan. 31: Wyatt Spalo, Reed City wrestling - Report
Jan. 24: Olivia Flynn, Harbor Springs basketball - Report
Jan. 17: Levi Rozema, Holland Christian swimming - Report
Jan. 10: McRecco McFadden, Burton Bentley basketball - Report
Dec. 18: Nash Leonard, Bay City Western hockey - Report
Dec. 11: Blake Cosby, Dundee wrestling - Report
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
PHOTO Fowlerville's Maggie Buurma, right, wrestles Romeo's Belicia Manuel for the 145-pound title at Ford Field. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)