In the current KSHSAA Journal were some interesting participation numbers. I am sharing them here NOT to start any arguments or for any other reason than I thought most of you would find them as interesting as I did.

Kansas ranks 33rd nationally in population but 25th in participation in high school athletics.

In 2007-08 there was an increase in the number of girl and boy participants and of course, total participation, over 2006-07.

In Kansas the top five most popular boy sports (as determined by number participating) were as follows: football, frack & field, basketball, baseball and wrestling.

Nationally, the top five most popular boy sports were: football, basketball, track & field, baseball and soccer.

Interestingly, KANSAS RANKED #6 NATIONALLY in 2007-08 in the number of wrestling participants (4792).

For the girls, the top five sports in Kansas were: volleyball, basketball, track & field, Softball and soccer.

Nationally, the top five sports for girls were basketball, track & field, volleyball, softball and soccer.

Greg Mann
Norton, KS

That's pretty amazing that we rank 6th nationally in wrestling participation. Where did you find this number? Just curious what other states look like. I'm guessing Ohio, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and California were all ahead of us.

Not really amazing that we rank 6th nationally as I believe that we are ranked ~4th or 5th in kids participation. I could be wrong about that (Salyer) but I know in the 80's we were 3rd only behind New York and California. We also almost always place in the top ten at Fargo, Senior Nationals and at the National duals. We beat California to take 3rd in 2000.
What's amazing is that we do not have wrestling at KU or KSU. They and much of the state really show their ignorance when it comes to that because NO HS age sport in the state has performed at a higher level nationally or given the state more to be proud of than wrestling. Great Kansas wrestling and wrestling as a source of great state pride is not a secret to the rest of the country but apparently it's the best kept secret within the state. How sad.

Yeah but according to some on this board none of those tournaments count.

That part is not amazing since wrestling is not a revenue sport at any level.

Even sadder that it is still a secret to some on this board!

I understand sportsfan02 what you are saying about it not being a "revenue" sport but apparently that is not the whole story as the Big 10, half the ACC, half the Ivy League and half the Big 12 find a way to support it. As far as revenue, I understand the dictionary definiton, but could revenue be measured some way other than monetarily. I guess it depends on what value you put on the benefits of wrestling or wrestling as a source of pride. Not to mention the great kids that KU and KSU lose to out of state institutes as a result of not having wrestling.

They would gain money from tuition because there would be 20 to 30 students that would not receive any scholarships because there are only 10 full scholarships that the coaches can handout.

Go to this link. http://www.buckeyewrestling.com/index.php?q=node/2618 Once at the link scroll down and listen to Jordan Kellers interview about Kansas not offering the opportunity to wrestle D-I. Our state is out of touch with losing these types of young men. His brother John just left K-State after 1 semester - for an opportunity not offered by the State of Kansas. I am not going to reinvent the entire list of guys D-I, DII, wrestling in general that have left over the years. Many
of those STUDENT athletes will not return to Kansas to work after college. Go ahead and talk to Kansas business leaders and politicians about Kids leaving the state (BRAIN DRAIN) - well it is these leaders that are letting it happen. They (Governor, Senators, Congressman, Board of Regents and Ad's acrossed the state NEED to listen to Jordan's interview.

http://www.buckeyewrestling.com/index.php?q=node/2618

Nice post Sean. I agree completely. I had a full ride to K-State for academics, but wanted to compete in wrestling in college. I went to Penn and wrestled (and paid to go to school). I think we lose too many good kids because of lost opportunities for wrestling.