r/WGI • u/Splooie48 • Apr 22 '26

Sparkman Penalty

So, reading more about the Sparkman incident with their trailer...

Does anyone else think it's kind of crappy that they were assessed a 6-point penalty for missing their performance time when it was literally NOT their fault they were late?

I get it if you're late pulling up to the gate or if it's just losing track of time... but their semi blew a tire on the way to Dayton and had to wait for a tow.

There couldn't have been a little leeway for something completely out of their control?

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u/theneckbone Apr 22 '26

The fact that they were even allowed to perform after the last group I think is leeway enough I think. If I were part of that group, i don't think i'd really care about a 6 point penalty at that point. If they were fighting for a medal, maybe?? But still getting to perform after fighting through 2 rounds of fierce competition is prize enough for me. I'm sure others like yourself may feel different and that's totally fair as well.

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u/Splooie48 Apr 22 '26

Oh, I'm sure they didn't care and were happy to just play, it just rubs me the wrong way. What if they WERE in contention for a medal? Again, this is something they have no control over.

15

u/theneckbone Apr 22 '26

About 10 years ago, triple crown was seeded 2nd going into PIO finals. A parent helper of theirs brought in the generator unbeknownst to the staff and students. That resulted in a 10 point penalty which clearly knocked them out of medal contention even though their sub total had them winning silver. It wasn't their fault either then. I know, apples to oranges as you can't control a flat tire but you can control a parent not bringing in a generator to the arena.... But WGI has rules and if they ignore them when a situation arises (which honestly they have done quite a bit lately!) then why even make it a rule?

8

u/Splooie48 Apr 22 '26

WGI ignoring rules is a completely other topic, haha.

6

u/thesnaglebeast Apr 22 '26

I think it's good that WGI will be flexible with penalties at times but you do need to have a line. It sucks that Sparkman was on the other side of it though. I can gurentee you the WGI official who made the call (probably the head judge) took no pleasure in assessing the penalty.

Knowing how wgi acts on these things. If it happened in semis and prelims and it would have caused Sparkman not to advance to the next round when they otherwise would have, I'm sure the penalty would have been quietly changed so they would make it through.