This event sounds awesome, anything that promotes & moves forward our sport is a big positive. Would be some great matches in this tourney! Would greatly increase our recruiting attention, I think.

Personally, I am more for a Dual State, but I like this idea, too. I think a Dual State is for more kids, not just the elite. And would boost excitement of wrestling in communities & schools more. And is easy to set up.

Both a Grand State idea and a Dual State are more opportunities for kids.

Speaking of opportunities for kids, I appreciate Eric doing all the work he did for the Colorado trip. Lot of kids get a great experience every year because of his time & work on it, so how can it be criticized. Helps KS wrestling & wrestlers.

Will,

I do appreciate your reply.

As far as a sizable contribution goes I could not promise that. We are doing about as much as we can right now especially for the Kansas College Wrestling Fund and we are committed to that. If you do get the tournament going though let me know what your table sponsorships will be. Maybe we could do one or share in one your first year at the same level we contribute for the USAW-KS District I Kids tournament this year.

Good luck with it and I hope you get it going.

DISCLAIMER!!!

The "Greg" I referred to earlier is NOT Greg Buckbee. He is a supporter of the idea as is and is not concerned about his wrestlers going elsewhere to compete.

Question, does or would KSHSAA, have any $$ to put toward this event? Like they do for Elementary and Middle School duals. Something to look into, to keep ALL costs down. But, love the idea!!!!!!

Kshsaa doesn't have anything to do with elementary or middle school duals. Do they???? That's way to progressive and beneficial to Kansas athletes for them to want to be associated with.

This is a great idea. I think it should draw good numbers. If I can help in any way PM me.

Ruh Roh. Somebody said money, KSHSAA will surely get involved now. I know if there's 2 things KSHSAA likes it's money and BOOGERS

USAWKS helps to back the Elementary and Middle School dual teams. They support and allow us to sanction the Elem and MS tournaments so they can be named STATE tournaments.

I've been to multiple meetings in Salina and there is ALWAYS, money set aside for, the duals, freestyle/Greco. Would they be willing to get on board with, "A GRAND STATE" is all I'm asking. Ask the treasurer how much is in the account, and what it's there for.

That is USAWKS funds...You asked about KSHSAA funds. I will request funding at the budget meeting. Not sure what I will need as I am going to grab as many sponsors as I can.

And this board member is in full support and will assist however and whenever necessary.

Why? You won't support moving the Kids series to an earlier date so we can go to the NCAA tournament...

A few more things...

New Name - SONIC Sunflower Throw Down!

One Division: HS & Under We welcome any 7th or 8th graders that want to test their metal a year or two early.

I am working on the details. We will be creating facebook and twitter accounts.

"To encourage a Grand State flavor, registration $41, $31 if you compete at the weight you wrestled in a KSHSAA state tournament. ($1 will go to the FHSU Bob Smith Wrestling Endowment or Kansas College Wrestling Fund)"

I think these kids tournaments a $1 per entry fee should benefit all the colleges in Kansas that offer wrestling. If there were a $1 per participant at every kids USAWKS tournament throughout the year in the state we could raise approximately $50,000 annually for the Kansas College Wrestling Fund. Kids from Hays go to Pratt Community College and Kids from Pratt or Baldwin may go to Newman. Our kids club has had kids go to Ft Hays, Baker, Pratt, Labette, Neosho, Benedictine, Ottawa, etc. Additionally, the High School tournaments need to do something similar.

The Kids series and NCAA tournament are existing events that conflict. The Sonic Sunflower Throw Down (aka Grand state) is being created. Can it be created/scheduled so it does not conflict with NAIA championship? You asked for feedback...

The NAIA tournament will not always be held in Kansas. If we need to clear a weekend to watch College wrestling I would vote we watch Division I Conference Tournaments and Division I National Tournament over the NAIA's.

We definitely need to look at shortening the season for the Kids Division. Getting rid of Subs and moving Districts to the weekend after High School State is something that needs to be investigated. That would open up Conference weekend and NCAA's weekend. That would be a natural 2 week break that would lead right into Freestyle and Greco after getting pumped up watching the big show.

While you're at it, why not just open it up as a state qualifier tournament with anyone that can make scratch weight. One big JV/V 128 man bracket tourney. All class/ All kids battle til they drop.

I actually investigated hosting a tourney of similar format the Sunday after NAIA...I even went so far as to talk with Mark Lentz about what would be allowable within KSHSAA rules. I thought that coupling the two tourneys would provide a great opportunity to expose our wrestlers to the NAIA coaches from around the country who are already here! The hurdle that put the breaks on was that the Sunday following NAIA Nationals is the USAWKS seeding meeting. I couldn't figure out how to get over the conflict. I would be willing to work on a "working group" to make it happen if asked.

I am not sure how long the NAIA will be in Kansas...what I know for sure is that the tourney is here in 2015. All of the feedback we received is positive from the NAIA and I am pretty sure that VTI will bid on future years unless a conflict arises with the date. As far as why we should support the event, I will give four Baker, Benedictine, Bethany, and Ottawa!

I completely agree with Beeson. If we want our athletes to be the best, we need them to witness what the best looks like. The NCAA Division 1 tournament is the pinacle of our folkstyle sport, and our kids need to be able to see what that entails. We all know also that watching it on tv doesn't remotely cover all that the tournament consits of. Athletes at the kids and high school levels are awestruck when they enter thier respective state arenas. Even attending the NCAA tournament (or Fargo for that matter) will bring that level of awe to a level of context. The tournament is a manageable car ride 3 of the next 5 or so years in STL, and we need to give our athletes the option of attending. Football doesnt schedule games on superbowl weekend that I'm aware of, why are we? I could be hijacking this post, but it's something to look at, SOON. I would also be VERY supportive of just going back to back weekends for districts and state to get all of the kids done before the majority of spring breaks, and allow those dedicated to all styles either a break, or more training before the Frestyle/Greco season begins.

I think a central location is better to allow feasible transportation and I would hope that numbers would make it necessary to go with a two day event.