Web posted
Friday, May 30, 2008
Jim Ramirez gives back to wrestling
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Photo by Alex Gambill
click image to enlarge
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By MATT PARCHER
Sports Editor
sports@arkcity.net
Jim Ramirez -- former Arkansas City mayor and city commissioner -- will be taking part this year in his 16th and final NCAA wrestling tournament as a referee.
Jim was raised in Ark City and wrestled for the Bulldogs throughout his high school career before graduating in 1971.
He then went on to college and received a degree in speech communications from South Dakota State University in 1977.
"I wanted to be a radio broadcaster," Ramirez said. "I felt there was a special act or talent to it. I always felt comfortable in front of the media."
He wrestled in college and upon graduation, despite having his degree in communications, headed back to Ark City to take a job at Rodeo Meats.
While working in town, he attended a wrestle-off -- a pre-season competition between schools to determine their starters for the year -- and was volunteered to officiate the match.
"There was a guy in Wichita that they were trying to get to officiate but he was reffing somewhere else," Ramirez said. "So I ended up calling the duel. After it was over, a guy in the stands asked me if I'd like to come to OU to officiate."
Jim accepted.
"The first match I officiated was between OU, who was ranked something like number three at the time, and Fresno State, who was ranked eighth," Ramirez said. "I remember that I was escorted in by six security officers and they said to me, 'here's the locker room; when you're ready we'll escort you back into the arena'".
Ramirez talked about how intimidating big-time matches can be for new referees and says a referee must get in the mind set to block out the crowd. Ramirez said, "They must always stay focused on the mat before them."
"You have to be solid and consistent in all call-making," Ramirez said. "When you aren't, that's when coaches will get very confrontational with you."
Jim said that he had an interest in coaching wrestling from a young age and always dreamed of coaching at Cowley if they would have only gotten a program started.
Ramirez attributes his success to God saying, "You have to have a deep compassion for the sport; there is a special calling in it. The big man upstairs gave it to me."
He feels that he was in the right place at the right time to begin a career in officiating.
Throughout Jim's career he's contributed a lot to his community and to his sport, even writing a book titled 'The Art of Officiating Collegiate Wrestling'.
The book serves as a guide to referees on how to deal with tough situations that go with the sport as well as a handbook of duties, skills and tools an official needs.
He puts on official clinics in the pre-season and hosts wrestling clinics during the summer.
"Several years ago I also did a video for the NFHS -- the National Federation of State High School Associations -- on mechanics, the scoring of points and tough calls," Ramirez said. "I've always felt that it's important to give back to the sport that's given something to you in life; it's helped me with confidence and integrity."
Ramirez, who has served as an official in the Big-10 for 17 years and in the Pac-10 for another 12, will be moving to a new area of service after this year's national competition.
"I have been selected to be an NCAA evaluator in the future," Ramirez said. "Twenty refs are assigned to the tournament and our job will be to critique them on their style. All officials are selected for a reason so we will be there to offer positive reinforcement."
The evaluators also decide which referees will be asked back the following year.
"It's really a compliment to be chosen for this position," Ramirez said. "People who have been referees understand what goes through their heads so the officials at the tournament will be more likely to think, 'I'll take advice from Jim since he's been here'".
Ramirez currently owns and operates the Alumni Grill & Bar on South Summit, where he claims they have 'the best steaks in town'.
The Alumni grill and bar caters to Ark City high school and Cowley College alumni, with old uniforms on the walls and signs printed with historical facts so patrons can be aware of the history of the schools.
Ramirez also talked about a new project in the making.
"We are currently putting all of the Ark City yearbooks on dvd so we can play them on our screens," Ramirez said. "It's another form of entertainment; customers can watch pictures from the old annuals on the screen while they eat."
When asked why he decided to make his home and run his business in Ark City Ramirez said, "If you fall in love with your city, there's always things to do; if you love it you'll stay actively involved and you'll do that by staying approachable."
Ramirez said that in turn, he's thankful to Ark City for their support of his establishment.
Below: Jim Ramirez, owner of the Alumni grill and bar is pictured with the old Arkansas City wrestling uniforms. This year he will be officiating his last NCAA wrestling tournament. Photo by Alex Gambill
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