The proposal, as stated, may not be perfect for everyone but we will never find one that is. However, it is a step in the right direction. There is NO ARGUMENT that it will give an OPPORTUNITY for more to wrestle. We will never know how many will take advantage of this opportunity until we allow them a chance.

Our state tournament is at capacity but our sub districts are not. Too many brackets are not full and wrestling is not even needed to see who qualifies for Districts. This will hopefully have an impact. I would love to see some 32 man brackets at Subs but I seriously doubt that happens. If we double our number of 17-19 year olds we will only add roughly 15 total wrestlers to each sub. I am hoping that this plan will add 50 wrestlers to each tournament but that still won't force the use of a 32 man brackt.

Where does this all eventually need to go?

Two month 6U and Novice season 12/15-2/15 capped by a 6U & Novice state series. All that would be needed are a one day district and one day state tournament conducted on Sundays. It would be an OFFICIAL USA Kansas State Tournament. AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE WHO NOW DON'T HAVE A STATE TOURNAMENT. If they choose to they can move on to the open series. The State Tournament should be held in a centralized location that allows travel home to any part of the state during reasonable hours, not driving all night.

CADET and JUNIOR STATE...Districts the weekend after HS State followed by a state tournament the next weekend. Top six get their entry fee to USA Folkstyle Nationals paid. Same awards and format as it would be USAWKS SANCTIONED and an OFFICIAL State tournament. Cadets WOULD be allowed to participate as Juniors but not both. This will be as close as we will ever get to a grand state. Some SUPER AWARDS could be created to entice Seniors and those who wouldn't normally put their status on the line to participate.

KIDS STATE... 8,10,12, & 14 state or it could be modified to age groupings and MIDDLE SCHOOL. Same format as today's state tournament but it will be a smaller event allowing it to be more mobile. I still feel the season needs to shortened so we don't have conflict with many, mnay national events such as USA Middle School National Duals. However, given our shortage of officials, venues, and volunteers it might be difficult to pull off unless Sundays are utilized.

These are not radical ideas. They are a progression to giving EVERY Kansas USA Card buyer the chance to compete for a USA State Folkstyle title. This OPPORTUNITY does NOT exist today. It will promote wrestling and increase our membership. It will, hopefully, capture more interest in moving on to Freestyle and Greco wrestling (Honestly, the best thing for these two styles would be the relaxation of the KSHSAA offseason coaching restriction. MANY, MANY HS wrestlers would go to their room if their HS coach were allowed to work with them in the spring on FS and GR wrestling.)

These ideas are ALL about growing our sport. We should not beat each other up for creating more opportunities.