this past weekend at the Topeka Tourny, I saw a young man wrestling that i had referred a high school match for previously in the year. Is this allowed? I was debating on the legality of it or saying anything about it, i talked to the youth, he stated that he was having a rough first year of high school wrestling and his team was hosting the tourny so he entered it.

I think I know the kid you are talking about. He did compete with his high school for while this year as a freshman. His high school season is complete. To my knowledge KSHSAA rules have always allowed participation after a wrestler's high school season is complete. With regionals coming up this weekend a lot of the freshman wrestlers, not on varsity squads, will be drifting into club wrestling…some sooner than others.

I would suggest that this type of question is best handled off list until you know the facts. I know Coach Gibson would be glad to answer any of your questions concerning eligibility. I will point out that in my opinion these "What are you doing here?" questions are best kept between coaches/club directors. Eligibility, in open tournaments, is an easy issue to settle. I find it very unprofessional when an opposing coach approaches another team’s wrestler with this type of question before a match. Because I do not know all of the facts I will leave it at that.


Mark Stanley
Junior Viking Wrestling

As a former high school coach, i was always told that i could not have any of my wrestlers compete in kids until completion of the regional or state tournament as that constituted the season.

Several years ago, i had some kids quit high school and wish to participate in Kids. They were unable to do so because of the listed rule above. I think the key was the completion of the season. If a youth quits, is his season complete? Just some fodder for thought.

His season is NOT over until after the state and it does not matter if he is still wrestling or not but the question can get complicated because it does not prevent kids who QUIT from competing.

I have seen kids whose KSHSAA eligibilty due to grades ended there season and they were immediately eligible for kids.

I think many people have had this rule interpreted many different ways by many people. The rule clearly states as Richard provided that if an athlete is participating as a member of a school team then he may not participate as member of an outside team. If he quits the school team then he is not participating and therfore eligible. That's how we have intrepreted it in the past and will continue to do so in the future. If your reading more into this rule then you are taking opportunities away from some kids.

So what you are saying is that a JV wrestler whose season is now over can wrestle this weekend.