Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 73, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 March 1911 — MADE CHANGE IN WRESTLING [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MADE CHANGE IN WRESTLING

Champion Frank Goteh la Responsible for the New Wrestling Gems— Wears His Man Down. Champion Frank tiotch must be given credit for revolutionizing the wrestling game. Before Gotch's time speed and avoiding pnnishment were considered secondary matters. About the time Gotch was coming into the wrestling title the American mat artists were refusing to meet the extremely heavy men being Imported —notably the Turks, who began to flood the country after Youssuff cleaned

up. Wrestling was handicapped pretty much along lines of strength and weight at that time and speed was not regarded as much, of a necessity. Punishment was understood to some extent, but it was not scientifically applied, and when there was much of It It was generally because there wad a lot of foul work. Wearing a man down consisted mainly In getting him on the mat and laying around him so as to tire him out by sheer weight. Gotch has changed this completely. He was about the same as other wrestlers up to about the time he had to meet Hackenschmldt, and the Indications are that he changed his plans mainly for this bout, as he feared the Russian’s great size and strength. As a result Gotch spent most of his time while training working out a system whereby he could keep from being put on the mat and at the same time worry and wear down his opponent. How successful he was was shown when he had his opponent beaten before ever the two went to the mat. Throwing him when finally Gotch concluded It was time to risk grappling with the Russian was a mere matter of form, as Hackenschmldt was too weak then to defend himself. Ever since Gotch has resorted to the same tactics when he Is against an opponent who Is heavier and stronger than he is.

Frank Gotch.