How is the tournament in Topeka going to be handled? Do the kids have to qualify at Ottawa in order to wrestle at Topeka?

Thanks in advance,
C. Wallace

Two totally different tournaments...two totally different champions...no clear champion...confusion NOW runs wild!!!!

Does it really matter who the true 6u state champ is? Most of these kids will quit wrestling before they are 14. All I have heard the last few years is we need the 6u to wrestle on the big stage in Topeka. Now they have their chance and Ottawa won't give up the tournament. But I guess it's hard to give up a cash cow like that. I wonder if the best interest of the kids is the deciding factor in their decision.

Yes, at least to the kids who win the tournament, it matters a great deal. Maybe we should just do 4 man round robins at 6U state so everyone wins a medal and feels good. The reason kids quit before they are 14 is that we always make sure they feel like winners when they are young. When they get older and reality sinks in that they won't always get a medal, they quit. I don't have a 6U anymore but there should be a TRUE 6U state champion. Why should Ottawa have to GIVE UP their tournament? They started it and kept it going, now another club wants to swoop down and pick it up. Was the best interest of the kids a deciding factor when another 6U championship tournament was created? Personally I don't think so.

Well said, Beeson.

I agree with Mr Beeson.
The ottawa tournament is working very well, I would not take a chance on moving this tournament. What topeka might do instead, add a tournament in Topeka on a different week end and let them build it to the level that the Mat Masters have. Then you will have two quality tournaments if Topeka is up to the challenge.
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I think most tournaments at least the ones I have been to over the last 10-12 years don't let every 6u medal. There are a lot of 16 man brackets where only the top 4 place, how do we make all the 6u feel like winners,I don't understand that statement. The reason kids quit is because as they get older it takes more hard work and dedication to contend at tournaments, A lot of kids don't want to put in the time to improve so they quit.
All I have heard the last 10 years is we have to let the 6u wrestle on the big stage in Topeka, Now they have their chance and Ottawa is fighting it. In the best interests of the kids involved why didn't they offer to cohost the tournament in Topeka with Mark Stanley, The expo center is a much better facility, they would all get full mats and they would be in the big arena. Maybe they don't wnat to share the proceeds, i don't understand their position at all. It is not their tournament it's the kids tournament why not give them the best facility possible.

Just my thoughts

Ottawa should be fighting it. Not only did they start this when no one else wanted it but they run a quality tournament and deserve to continue doing so. As for the wanting to wrestle on the big stage what we need to ask is who wants this the parents or the kids.

Over the last few years there has been a big push to add 6u to the state tournament. One of the main reasons cited was that these kids need to wrestle on the big stage just like all of the other kids.
This subject has been brought up year after year. I don't think Mark Stanley was trying to steal Ottawas tournament, He is just trying to give ths 6u the big stage, that has been asked for over the past 10 years.
Why not let these kids wrestle in Topeka, it's a better facility. Personaly I think Ottawa is acting like a six year old crying about someone stealing their tournament, when they should of stepped up and helped Mark make it a great experience for the kids. It just makes me wonder if the money is really the underlying issue in their reluctance hold it at the expo center. Because it's obviously a better venue and the kids would get to wrestle on the big stage like everyone has been pushing for.

Have they been asking for a bigger stage or just to be recognized by the state?

My boys are both 6 &U, and don't remember what we did last night AT PRACTICE, let alone tournament to tournament, so I don't think the kids are worried about how big the stage is, sounds like the parents to me. These are 5 and 6 year olds' let them be what they are.

Who really wants to fight traffic and large crowds anyway?

Besides Ottawa is closer for me!!

I wasn't there last year but my wife was, at Ottawa, but she was not impressed with the facility. Too small, couldn't see matches, too many people surrounding the mat.. Parents go to watch there kids wrestle not the back of a spectators head or the heads of 15 coaches just standing around....Maybe coach Beeson could give Ottawa some tips on how to control a crowd ha.ha. But seriously it is easier to watch matches in bigger facilities, Hutch. Salina, Topeka. maybe something to consider, if Ottawa is will to split profits.

I think that is the problem, they want to keep their cash cow.
How much money does this club make off of tournaments, They have the Ottawa tournament 600-700 kids, fight fiercly every year for districts, In fact this year it was voted on at the seeding meeting to hold district in Topeka, they fought it, They brought it up again at the district 1 meeting that it needs to be in Ottawa, now they don't want to let go of 6u state. It just seems that money is the underlying factor in their reluctance to let any tourament leave Ottawa. I'm surprised they don't make the case to hold state at Ottawa, maybe they could make a few thousand more off of that. It's shouldn't even be a discussion the expo center is a better facility for the kids, the fans, for everyone.

Nice opinion, but not for my kids, or their fans.

What are you going to do when your kids are old enough to wrestle at kids state, start an ottawa state tournament?

Rassler, how much do you stand to make if this is big in Topeka? You seem to be the only one worried about this CASH COW. Do you have 6U wrestlers or are you just looking to make money off of them? Parents of 6U want just one 6U state championship to give some validity to their little one's accomplishment. Have the state recognize 6U and I have no problem with having the tournament in Topeka. Until then I say have just one tournament and keep it in Ottawa.

I have nothing to do with this tournament with Mark Stanley or the Topeka club. I wont make a dime off of this tournament. I had a 6u wrestler before and we went to 6u state in Ottawa. I don't like the facility. When districts are there we wrestle all night, and it's not big enough for any tournament of this caliber. Why are you not willing to move it to a better venue if money or pride is not an issue.

Call me a loyal traditionalist, old schooler, small town fan, a guy who roots for the underdog, or just plain old hard headed. One thing is for sure 2 state tourneys is not a good thing.

Then why doesn't Ottawa and the Topeka club get together and make this thing work at the big venue. Instead of the two clubs fighting over it get together and make it the best 6u state possible. Remember it is for the kids, don't you think they would get a thrill wrestling in the expo center instead of just another high school gym.

"What are you going to do when your kids are old enough to wrestle at kids state"

When or if that time comes, that's cool. No problem.