As a technicality , you are somewhat wrong.

This is the process as I understand it. All divisions below Cadet must wrestle the regional tourney in order to qualify. They can't just pay the fee and sit out. They have to compete. To qualify for regionals, they have to wrestle the state tourney. As a state, that is our qualification. It's up to the individual state. I think it's Missouri that has as part of it's qualification for Southern Plains that they have to go to camp. No camp, no wrestle.

Fortunately for us, we don't have that as a qualification.

For Cadets, they can either qualify by being in the top 2 from the state free/greco tourney, or from placing in the top 3 at their regional. They cannot go to other regionals. Those tourneys are "closed" to any state not within their region.

Juniors on the other hand, can go to other regions and beat kids out. That's why Vegas is such a popular tourney. Aside from the fact that it's Vegas, lots of kids go out there.

As far as the AA's from last year petitioning for a spot, I'm unfamiliar with it. Care to explain how that works?