Northern Illinois v Kent State

[NIref]

The match ended with a 16-16 tie, doesn't NCAA have criteria rules for breaking a tied meet score? If so, why weren't they applied?

[Conquistadors]

The match ended with a 16-16 tie, doesn't NCAA have criteria rules for breaking a tied meet score? If so, why weren't they applied?

NIref, you are right that there are tie-breaking criteria (something like nine of them, ending with the opposing coaches facing off in an exciting battle of rock-paper-scissors:p- just kidding about this last criterion). In team advancement tournaments, these criteria are used. Up until three or so years ago these criteria were also employed in regular team duals. But now, if a dual ends in tie, it just goes down as a tie.

Some folks object to a dual ending in a tie and think that a winner should be determined no matter what. I've always thought that when a dual ends in a tie, then it should indeed be a tie. Partly becuase the teams did earn the same number of points and partly because the tie-breaking criteria, to me, should only be called upon when absolutely necessary. Unlike team sports (baseball, basketball, and even football) where you put the entire team back on the field/court in overtime, with wrestling that isn't possible (thought some interesting tag-team situations could be dreamed up:) ).