A couple of weeks ago, I made a suggestion to Rick Bowden of the KSHSAA about a slight schedule change for the state wrestling tournaments and I wondered what others might think.

What if we were to move the first round of consolation matches from Friday night to immediately following the first round on Friday afternoon? That would be followed by the quarterfinals and semifinals, and would probably wrap-up just about the same time as usual — if not sooner.

There are two reasons for this idea:

1 — WEIGH-INS: A kid weighs in at 6:30 Friday morning, goes out and wrestles his first round match and loses at about 10 a.m. For the next 10 hours (or more) he sits around with not much to do, and more than likely starving. Then that kid wrestles his first consolation match Friday night and loses, and he's out — starved for the whole day for nothing.
By moving the first round of consolations to the afternoon, the kids that are going to out will be by 2 or 3 o'clock and won't have to starve themselves. In fact, we could even start weighing kids in for Friday after the quarterfinals if we wanted.

2 — MONEY: Say Team A is a 3-2-1A school from the southeastern corner of the state. Team A qualifies one kid to state with little or no chance to win a match. Let's also say that Team A is a struggling program that couild be dropped at anytime to save money. Under the current schedule, many teams (especially eastern teams in 3-2-1A) are pretty much locked into two nights of hotels and resturants at state. It would impractical to try and drive in Friday morning for weigh-ins and nearly as impractical to — if your kids are done Friday night — to drive home later. It's five hours from Hays for us in Leavenworth, so I know how that goes. A program that's just hanging on by a thread could benefit from having a more logical option of leaving Friday afternoon if they're done, thus saving $200-$300 in expenses.

Let me know what you think!

I agree with and like this idea! It can also be beneficial for parents of kids who go 2-and-out. They sit around all day to watch their kid lose twice, when they could have sat around about half that time.

Also, with wrestlers being eliminated, it could clear up congestion and crowding on the floor area.

My vote is yes to this proposal. Perhaps we can discuss in Salina at the November KWCA meeting.

-Kit Harris, Baldwin HS

I too think this is a great idea and more than anything is beneficial for the kids. Go for it!

You also have my vote. It is a great idea. I have been in the position that Jeff describes with one wrestler losing his 2nd match on Friday and not getting out of the building until after 10 p.m.

I personally think that's a great idea. I bet it would save a ton of money.

Am I too late on this post?

The wording on #2 sounds off a bit.

Almost sounds too logical.

I would be for only one weigh-in at state --- why so many weigh-in's?

Sounds great. I'd vote for it. Having coached at IMAC and making that drive to Hays on a shoestring budget is far too familiar.

Only consideration I can see is time between matches on front side prior to semi's. Some would argue that moving back side up takes away from 'recovery' after quarters, etc and might impact quality of semi-finals. Weak argument, but an argument some might make.

Coach Shea

So would it basically all matches on day 1 are prelims and day 2 will be left with just the semi finals, consolation semis, conso finals, and championship finals? If so I like that idea a lot...everyone is guaranteed 2 matches on day 2.

id vote for it so i could get home that day instead of waiting til the next day to leave.

Confidence young wrestler, confidence.