I believe, in this sport more than any other high school activity, that a coach walks a fine line in his treatment of his athletes. Our sport allows us to have high rates of individual success, while team success may be limited depending on how many of those individuals are experiencing those high winning percentages. Using the CK as an example, would I punish an athlete for missing the first week of practice to attend such an event? NO. Would I have them doing extra workouts after practices (drilling, conditioning, etc.)? YES. Not as a punishment, but as a way to demonstrate to his teammates that he valued the work that his teammates put into that week. He would be assinged a workout partner for eash session and be asked to work with some lesser skilled wrestlers so that they would benefit from his expertise.
I would hope my practices and coaching would convey to my athletes that no one person is more important than the team. Better, maybe, but not more important. I would assume that the athlete that missed the first week of practice would understand this as surely he has come to understand a team concept. His teammates would accept and support his endeavor prior to him attending practice, just as he would support and acknowledge their accomplishments by putting in a little extra work. Wrestling is a team sport due to the need for competitive workouts in the practice room.
As for the comment regarding coaches ego's and how they are a reflection of KSHSAA hiding behind the voting body's will, I think that point of view is a little skewed. I would ask that anyone who believes that should attend the KWCA clinic in Salina and find out how many coaches are not interested in making Kansas wrestling nationally renowned at all levels.
This post is not intended to be an attack on anyone or any team's policy. Team policy is written by each coach, and possibly building administration, as to what they feel is best for their athletes. While not every policy is the same, or agreed with, there are a few things parents can do. First, talk with the coach and determine why the policy is the way it is. Hopefully, you can then get a better grasp on the policy or possibly find a way to work it out. If that fails, then you can always discuss the policies with administration at the building or board levels. Either way, you would have an answer to this quandry.