There are very few similarities between professional and amateur wrestling.

But this season at Eureka there was a feel of the WWE, at least when it came to meet presentation.

"We were trying to think of some things we could do to get more fans in the seats for the high school matches," Eureka varsity wrestling coach Tim Yancey said. "High school wrestling is a sport that once you watch, you are hooked."

Yancey decided to make the dual meets more than just an ordinary high school match this season. It was a true production.

"Basketball has the pep band, and we just felt we needed that something extra," Yancey said. "We had been at an away meet in the past where they tried something familiar, and I liked it."

The "show" begins with introductions of the competing wrestlers filled with music, and a photo of the Eureka wrestler on a projection screen, along with the logo of the opposing school.

"We have a lit pathway for the wrestlers to enter," Yancey said. "We have green lights for the home team and red lights for the opponents, and we have a motivational song playing."

When the action begins, the majority of the gym is dark. That is with the exception of a drop light which hangs from the ceiling and illuminates only the mat where the action is being held. It gives off the ambiance of a big-time boxing match.

The home dual meet season is over for the Wildcats, and the reviews have been positive.

"There are some refs and some opponents who didn't like it, but overall it has been received extremely well, and our crowds have been very good this season," Yancey said. "We are trying to build the sport to little kids and some of those guys might get interested in the sport after watching."

The results on the mat also have been positive as the Wildcats are 8-1 in dual meets, with their only loss against Rockwood Summit High School.

"I think it has been pretty cool," Eureka junior Levi Littmann said. "I like being in the spotlight, and it just makes for more excitement. It adds to the atmosphere and it pumps me up. A lot more people are coming to our matches. In the match against Lafayette, we had people standing everywhere."

The Eureka team is preparing for the district meet on Feb . 11 at McCluer North.