For those that don't know me let me introduce myself. My name is Ross Halford. In 1999, I started a simple website called the Nebraska Wrestling Report. My background as a wrestler at one of the traditional powerhouse programs in Nebraska and my college degree in journalism gave me a great passion for following wrestling even long after my days on the mat were over. Those of you that were around to see the old Web site know that it contained some pretty simple concepts--Nebraska wrestling ratings, top wrestler lists and my views on what I thought was happening around the state. In the second full season I added a message board and moved the site around adding a few more ideas to the Web site. In my third year of covering wrestling in the state of Nebraska, I registered the Huskermat domain name and hired a web designer to create the new site called Huskermat.com. In year No. 4 Huskermat teamed with Millard South head coach Doug Denson to provide the state's first full time Web talk show that aired each Wednesday night during the wrestling season. Unfortuantely due to some circumstances outside the scope of control, the show was prematurely ended but not before the foundation was set for changing the face of wrestling coverage for the future of Nebraska. The past two years have allowed us to continue our weekly radio shows and bring unprecedented live coverage of tournaments throughout the state. In both 2005 and 2006 Huskermat provided more than 50 combined hours of live state tournament coverage. We even broacasted live from Pittsburgh during the 2006 High School Senior National Wrestling Tournament. In 2006, I was named the Patron of the Year for contributions to wrestling by the Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Association. I consider that honor a shared award that is only possible through the support of the entire wresting community throughout the state. Huskermat continues to grow in popularity as evidenced by nearly one million hits per day on the open message board during portions of the past several seasons. In order to cover operational costs for the site, I offer an "Insider" package where paying members receive unique analysis, ratings and special coverage on Nebraska wrestling throughout the season. If you decide to join the Huskermat Insiders you should consider your money a donation to keep wrestling Web sites alive in Nebraska. Recently, longtime NWI Magazine editor Mike Carnes decided to stop publishing his online coverage after nearly 8 years in the business. Ironically, Mike and I got started with wrestling coverage at approximately the same time. If you're a Insider and you only follow wrestling for 3 months out of the year the cost is about $7 per month. If you follow wrestling year round the cost is about $2 per month. The forums will have no pop-up ads either. It takes a great deal of time, commtment and resources to maintain this Web site and I would like to continue to do this as long as it's financially feasible. The trend towards fee based Web sites is one that will continue. As an Insider consider yourself a stockholder in Huskermat and supporting coverage of wresting in Nebraska. Bandwith costs money so everytime you visit this Web site it costs money. I provide a service analyzing and covering the sport of wrestling in Nebraska that doesn't exist anywhere else. My goal is not to provide coverage stories but rather provide an analysis that is unique and promotes the athletes that compete in wrestling in Nebraska. Your contributions provide the revenue from which this site operates and and will continue to operate for many years. Plus you get unparalled coverage from someone that travels throughout the state and watches more wrestling than anyone else out there! Huskermat Insiders Advantages Access to Insider Stories such as: -Elite 30 Wrestlers -Pre-Season Coverage -Weekly Tournament Previews -Weekly Reviews -District Projections -State Tournament Projections -All Class Rankings -Offseason Coverage -Jr High Wrestling -National Tournaments -Nebraska Wrestling Forecast -Insiders Forum Of course if you choose not to subscribe to the Huskermat Insiders you will still have access to: -Huskermat.com rankings (released later for non-paying members) -Open forum -Traditional Information (ie, schedules, past champions) Thanks to all those that have helped make this site a great success! Sincerely, Ross Halford Fort Calhoun, NE | 
Huskermat.com HS Ratings
