Aaron,

I would also like to see Pitt State add a wrestling team but again I would like to see them at the D-II level for the same competitive budgetary concerns that I stated about Newman and Fort Hays State in competing at the D-I level. Along with Pitt State, I would like to see Washburn add wrestling. It would be good for Fort Hays to have teams at Pitt and Washburn at the D-II level.

A topic that I started on the College Forum about "Title IX video of John Stossel report" was just bumped up. I am quoting it here in case some of the people interested in this topic would like to view this video.

Thank you Husker Fan for bringing this into light. John Stossel has restored my faith in him after the __tch Slap I saw on you tube a while back by some entertainment wrestler gave him an open hand slap. As far as promoting our wrestlers into other states D-1 programs there is a Freshman, Sophmore and Junoir division at the Virginia Beach Senoir Nationals at the end of March. Attending this tournament could do several positive things for our States Program. The number of college coaches attending this event would probably be very large. If we took a large Kansas Team in every division and competed well then this would draw attention to our states program and senoirs. Recruiting atheletes can be swayed by such thing as momentium in programs and organization. I feel that the time is right to push forward in endevours that might bring our wrestlers hard work to the forefront. Is there an interest in putting together a Freshman, Sophmore, and Junoir team for a journey to Virginia Beach. I know from the posts on ranking that there are several people who have a pretty good idea who the top of the hep in each class and weight. Just an idea?

Chuck Elvin gave me this information about the senoir nationals
thought I might bring this info to show you a little more about some of the obsticals we are fighting as an organization.


1. Seniors from Kansas sign up in writing with us and we sign the entire team up with the NHSCA so they do not sign up on-line.
2. We provide coaches with information through their qualified Senior athlete and sign them up with NHSCA as well.
3. No, Kansas coaches may NOT coach their underclassmen at the NHSCA nationals because it violates KSHSAA rules! It occurs after the season is over!
This could cause the athlete to lose eligibility and the coach to lose his job! They can coach seniors because technically seniors are through with high school wrestling when the state tournament is done. We do not advertise that we take coaches because we do not want the KSHSAA to develop a rule against the coaches working with their seniors after the season, but we do take all coaches wanting to go.
4.We do not know the names of any of our seniors or their coaches that want to go yet. We usually get that information the week after the State Tournament!
5.We have never taken a junior competitor with the Kansas Team. Brothers may have attended but they did not compete. USAWKS does not wish to put athletes or coaches in jeopardy with the KSHSAA! This could happen if a coach was there for a senior and an underclassman who would be in the coach's program the next year were to compete at the same venue even if it was a different tournament.
6. USAWKS does not provide any funding for underclassmen at these tournaments. There may be local funding opportunities since most seniors need help as well. However, especially for underclassmen, it is important that all funding be generated privately and not through the school or at the school.
7. USAWKS. does support the senior wrestlers and their coaches by underwriting some of the costs but that is a small portion of the total costs. Each senior, his coach and family traveling with the team must raise the money for their airfare, bus, hotel room, meals etc. We make the arrangements, book the flights, rooms, ground transportation, entries, coaches cards, tickets, team uniforms and awards for them.
8. Every year we have one or two senior athletes and a small group of family members that do not travel with us. All we ask is that they tell us that they have made their own arrangements and want to be included in the team and we try to accommodate them. If they let us know we try to get uniforms for the wrestlers and we try to include them as part of the team. Most often it is just the family members who travel separately!