I applaud the Executive board for heavily supporting two proposals to be voted on at the State Body meeting!

1. The 16U division would be changed to the High School division!

2. The 14U division would be a true Kids division. No High School wrestlers competing against kids division wrestlers.

These proposals would set the tone for many positive developments for Kansas wrestling!

Great job guys. Let's put Kansas on the national stage!

Couple of questions, Would all High School wrestlers be able to participate? Would an 8th grader who is 15 still qualify for 14U, since he is not in High School yet?

It is my understanding that....

1. All HS wrestlers would be able to compete. A Grand State type of tournament at last!

2. If the kid is 15 before the age deadline, he would have to compete in the HS division.

Surely we can get overwhelming response for these proposals.

Just out of curiosity, what kind of turnout did we have for the executive council meeting? Did all of the districts' representatives attend as they should have? There have been problems in the past with some game changing votes missing from these meetings, and we as a body need to make sure we have representatives that will do just that, represent our district.

Doug

With as much discussion as this topic has had, I am surprised that this thread has not been noticed.

As I understand it, if passed at the State meeting:

1. The 14U class will include only 8th graders and below.

2. The 16U class becomes an all-inclusive High School Division.

Last year I would not have liked #1 in your post. This year I like it.

You are going to find the 14u division much less competitive if this passes, and I don't know if that is what our 8th graders need right before they get to high school. IMO, they need their eyes opened to what it is going to be like in high school.

As for #2, IF, and that is a big IF, all of the high school champs and placers go thru the qualifiers for kids' state, we will get some good matches in that new high school division. Problem is, you'll see many of the high schoolers "ending on a good note" after high school season. Whether it be they don't want to cut anymore weight, or, heaven forbid, they don't want to take a chance on getting beat by a kid from another class, I just wonder what type of participation we'll get in this new "high school" group.

Thanks
Doug

In my opinion, they both are huge positives. Of course this will make the 14U Kids division less competitive, but it will be a true Kids division. In the past we have had 10th graders wrestling 7th graders for a medal, instead of getting a real education by participating in FS/GR. The 8th graders will get an eyeful just by watching the High School division and will not miss much by not having one or two matches against one of them. The HS division is even more exciting. Sure you will have some that don't continue after HS state, but think of the potential match-ups! It would sure help settle some All-Class rankings. If we can get match-ups like, Cokeley/Cox, Maple/Napier or Windham/Pursel, this event will triple the interest of the present 16U division.

I HOPE that is how it pans out. The other thing you have to factor in is the high schoolers that will NOT wrestle because of, for example, freshman having to wrestle seniors, for kids club. I think we are going to lose quite a few high school kids that usually come back to wrestle kids, that won't because of the larger age groups.

Don't get me wrong, I like 'em both, but I would be surprised if they increased participation in kids' state qualifiers. And it is sad that it wouldn't INCREASE participation. We have to change the mindset of our kids today, and beat into their heads that you can learn more, most of the time, by losing a match, than you can in winning one.

Thanks
Doug

I also disagree w/ the changes to 14U class. First, for the most part becomes a 1 year age group. Second, it denies Jr. Varsity kids from High School a chance to compete at a level that is more fair for them or where they will have a greater chance of success and give them more mat time. Third, at the higher weights it could discourage freshmen from even coming out as their chance of success is less (not saying this is a good reason).

Finally, I believe the 8th graders have some advantages over the freshmen they wrestle - the high school kids are normally done cutting weight and the 8th graders cut more for state. Next, the high school kids are not use to 1.5 minute rounds - the 8th graders are. I believe this really helped my son this year. Finally, the kids clubs kids have wrestled more matches, have been able to attend clinics and things like Purler/Akin, etc. In other words they do not have the restrictions that high schoolers have in getting better practice partners, and so on. In other words, they can compete.

Finally, wrestling against high school kids is the best incentive to keep the younger kids working hard in the off-season. But, whatever.

My guess is that most everyone that has a freshman that will still be 14U, will be against the change. It is a natural reaction because of watching past freshmen and sophomores finish High School state and then compete against the kids division. My advice would be to lay out sound reasoning against it. Giving JV high schoolers younger kids for them to beat, saying high schoolers are not used to 1.5 periods and that 8th graders actually have the advantage over freshmen don't meet the level of sound reasoning in my opinion.

Doug,

We had a very good turn out for the two day meeting we just had in Salina. There were some who could not make it both days, but out of 25 Council members, attendance was 20 on Saturday and 19 on Sunday.

Ned

Would these changes take effect this year or next, if approved? Our son would fall into the category of being a freshman and able to wrestle in the 14u division this coming year if the rule stays as it is. I am not sure I am against the rule change - because of Jake's weight, he will most likely be wrestling upper classman all season long anyway - so if the rule changes, it would just be a continuation of the high school season.

I have to agree with John Johnson, I don't like excluding Freshman from the 14U division. It basically makes it a one year age group. The only other time I know of kids only wrestling their school year is at Brute. I do like adding the High School Division, positive step. But, if we are going to have an age division of 14U, anyone that is in that age group should be allowed to wrestle in it. I am tired of hearing poor 8th graders have to wrestle Froshmen. Have they not been wrestling these kids every other year since they were 6? Leave 14U the same and add the High School Division. If a froshman wants to wrestle High School they have that option, if not they wrestle their age division.

I agree!
14U should be just that & IF they were a Freshman and wanted to shoot for a 4X State Championship in this then they should be allowed to wrestle the other division!!

Put me down as a parent with a freshman who is still 14u that likes it, but I would agree that I will probably be in the minority of people in that situation.

Doug

This is probably what would get the most support. Give the 14u kids the option of wrestling the high school division, but allow them to wrestle 14u if they choose, freshman or not.

I don't know if I would call 80% and 76% a good turnout. If you volunteered to be an officer, you should attend the meetings. Unless we dumped this meeting on them last minute, but I assume it has been scheduled for a while............

Chief, I noticed you stated that sometimes 7th graders would be wrestling Sophmores in the medal round. The only way I could see this happening would be if the Sophmore jumped ahead in school and the 7th grader was being red shirted. This could not have happened but once or twice. With the age cut offs, they would still only be two years apart.

Another point, if a 15 year old 8th grader has to wrestle High School, because of the age division. Why shouldn't a 14 year old Froshman be able to wrestle his age division?

I also agree. I have never understood the argument that it is unfair for 8th graders to wrestle Freshmen? I can’t possibly see what is unfair about dividing kids up in age divisions of two year increments. Seems pretty logical to me. I think you would have a much stronger argument that it is unfair for a freshmen to wrestle a Senior then an 8th grader wrestling a Freshmen. I like Beesons’ idea , add the High School Division , but if a kid falls in the 14U age group he should be allowed in the 14U age group!(Again as I just typed that last sentence I have to ask, What is unfair about that???). Because the majority of high level freshmen would choose to wrestle the High school division the 14U division would naturally become more competitive for the 8th graders and lower level Freshmen. I would hope that a competitive wrestler, a responsible parent, and a competent coach would choose the High School division over going for another Kids Title!!

I have thought for a long time we should allow all age groups to wrestle up one age group for qualifiers and state.