hey coach jilka can you give me some info about the texas wrestling tournament goddard is going to thanks

We are going to Dallas to wrestle on December 10/11. We will be wrestling Bishop Lynch, Dallas Highland Park, Arlington Martin, Arlington Lamar, and the Colony. Two duals on Friday, three on Saturday.

The first three listed combine to have many nationaly ranked kids. They are the top three teams in all of Texas.

We were going to go to the Lonestar Duals, but Derby is that weekend. Coach Marzoula from Highland Park put this together this year. Although it's a tournament, there is no entry fee or awards. I chose this trip because Texas wrestling is coming on so strong, and I thought we'd be able to get good competition without some of the troubles I hear about in Oklahoma tournaments. I wanted to get our kids some exposure out of Kansas early in the season, and I hope it gets more Goddard kids interested in wrestling. Hopefully it will also open up some doors for other Kansas teams that want to start traveling more.

thanks coach

will we be wrestling at dallas highland park both days,Fri, Sat

Yes, we will be there both days. If you send me an e-mail, I will send you the itenerary we received today.

Thanks

rjilka@goddardusd.com

Coach Jilka,

Maybe if that Lone Star Duals works out not to fall on the same time as Derby in the future you'd be able to go...it's a neat environment from what I've been told by teammates, and a great way to see several top notch colleges compete as well.

Aaron,

That would be a great one. Unfortunately, Kansas has the rule that we can't compete right around Christmas, and that's when it usually falls. We'd also like to look into the tournament in Orlando in late December, but not being able to practice or compete kills that idea.

Colby High School will be competing in the Lone Star Duals this year.

What kills the Orlando trip is the mileage limitation placed on Kansas High Schools by KSHSAA.

ARTICLE XIV
Approval of Events

Section 1: All Interscholastic activities under the jurisdiction of the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA), sponsored by outside agencies and non-member schools, and advertised as middle/junior/ senior high school events or contests, shall be approved by the Executive Board.

Sec. 2: Kansas institutions, organizations and individuals planning to conduct events, conferences and activities under the jurisdiction of the KSHSAA for and/or in member schools shall make application for approval to the Association. All applications must be initiated and mailed to the KSHSAA by the sponsors not later than 30 days prior to the date of the activity. If out-of-state schools are invited, only those within 500 road miles of the border (perimeter) of the state of Kansas may be included in their application.

Out-of-state institutions, organizations and individuals planning to conduct interstate events for KSHSAA member schools shall make application for approval to their state’s high school association. All applications must be initiated by the sponsor not later than 30 days prior to the date of the activity mailed to their state’s high school association. If KSHSAA member schools are invited, only those within 500 road miles of the border (perimeter) of the state of Kansas may be accepted. KSHSAA member schools shall not participate in interscholastic activities under the jurisdiction of the KSHSAA unless such events have been approved by the Association and the out-of-state high school’s association.

Sec. 3: Any contest or activity under the jurisdiction of the KSHSAA sponsored by an outside agency which is on the approved list of the National Association of Secondary School Principals shall be considered automatically approved.

NOTE: Contests or activities where schools or individuals qualify through Association-sponsored activities shall not be approved on a regional or national basis.

Sec. 4: Any KSHSAA member school desiring to host an out-of-state member school or to participate in an out-of state activity shall limit travel distance in dual competition (two schools) so it shall not exceed 500 road miles of the border (perimeter) of the state of Kansas. KSHSAA member schools desiring to host or participate in a multiple interscholastic event (three or more schools) involving an out-of-state school(s) shall be limited to those within 500 road miles of the border (perimeter) of the state of Kansas.

I think some of the rules need to be revamped by the KSHSAA. I think the rules of not competing in opens kinda hurts in some regards, and the distace traveling hurts...why punish a team if they can create the funds to travel?

Richard,

I certainly don't want to argue, but I am under the impression that all it takes is gaining approval from the board in Topeka. If this isn't the case, I'd better get to work figuring something out. We have set a goal to take this program back east for one of the big tournaments. It's not that we don't have great ones here, but I feel such a trip can do bigger things not only for Goddard but other area schools.

The Bobcat Classic and Garden City tournaments are a bear to win, but even winning them won't bring the popularity of the sport up in Kansas. I want kids to look at wrestling as a greater opportunity than it seems to be right now. Everyone on this forum knows that very few people are good for wrestling, but wrestling is good for so many people. I just want to get more people involved.

Coach Jilka:

I hope we are not arguing but discussing KSHSAA rules.

Copied below is the exception to the rule:

"EXCEPTION: The Executive Board may approve interstate activities for individual schools when mileage is in excess of those stated provided the travel distance is less than for a similar event in Kansas.

When a KSHSAA member school competes with an out-of-state school, it may not waive or exceed any KSHSAA standards."

KSHSAA generally is more rigid than flexible when providing rules interpretations and granting exceptions to these rules.

Your goal to grow the sport is laudable and to be commended, however if a trip back East or up North to the higher profile National Tournaments is what is necessary to increase the numbers, do you not believe the participation rate in Oklahoma and Colorado would be increasing?

Lastly, I believe what makes our sport so unique and great is the grueling and difficult road these young men choose to take in pursuit of the all elusive State Championship.

If it was as easy as shooting baskets, everyone would be doing it (wrestling).

I wish you much luck and success in this endeavor.

Richard,

Thank you for the reply. I agree that traveling may not be the cure-all. My thought is that in today's "what's in it for me" world, the inticement of a cool road trip would open the eyes of some people that would not give wrestling a chance.


Have a great day,
Ryan

coach Jilka,please send Texas itenerary to valxxx2001@yahoo.com thanks