I also agree changes need to be made. I like the idea of technique belts, a novice league. The novice league especially, too many kids do not start wrestling until later, 10 or so. By then they run in to kids that have 5 or 6 years of wrestling. Even very good athletes can get discouraged. The idea of duels vs tournaments is also excellent. It would allow families who do not want to spend a full day at a tournament to participate. Maybe couple it with the novice league. But,I think one of the main reasons wrestling is in decline (other than x-boxes and playstations) is junior high wrestling. Gunner, I do disagree on the 8 week season. We have that now in junior high, and it is a failure. I know this is somewhat off topic, but junior high (jh)wrestling need to be improved. Think about it, a lot of families, due to gas prices and just not being able to get their kids to evening practices, do not have their kids participate in sports until junior high. In jh their coaches protect these kids and normally do not let them wrestle the kids with a lot of experience. These kids have a good experience, then they hit USA wrestling or High School and run in to ex-USA wrestlers and wam, its no longer fun. And, remember, jh wrestling is an 8 week season, during Thanksgiving week (for most of the state), which takes a week away. The coaches do not have time to teach much.

My point is, jh wrestling needs to be a full season, not the half season it is now. All most 30 years ago I graduate from ACCHS and was an average (being nice) wrestler. I was shocked to see what has happened to wrestling since then. We had a full A and B team. All the schools in the Big 7 had teams - full teams. Today kids qualify for state in some classes without winning a match. Getting back to topic, whether it changing weigh in, or what ever, wrestling needs help. It is a tough sport. It always will be. As such, the 'powers that be' need to find a way to make it work.