Redstorm,
I think I may be your guy (or close at least). I have coached in both ends of the state and have coached at the 6a, 4a, and 3-2-1a levels. I have had coaching experience at 3-2-1a; West: Oakley (which is where I grew up and competed in the 80's), and Leoti; 4a: Wamego (East); and 6a Junction City (East). I have had the privelege to coach state champions at every school except Wamego (but did have a runner-up), and numerous state qualifiers and placers. I point these facts out to illustrate that I am well acquainted with the state qualification process in large and small classes at well as in the West and the East. I have always felt that experience has given me a good grasp of the "toughness" of each class and I am more than happy to share. Please realize that I am not commenting on the overall quality of each class, just an experienced opinion on the relative difficulty of state qualification/placing.
What I have seen after years of coaching in various locations is that qualifying in the smaller classes (4, 3-2-1)is much more difficult, while the most outstanding indivdual wrestlers has definitely been in the larger classes. While at the smaller I have seen numerous state placers (and even a state champion or two)fail to qualify for the state tournament in subsequent years. The separation between the 1st and 2nd place wrestlers and the 5th and 6th place finishers is much closer in the smaller classes (many times they meet in the tournament and a 1 or 2 point nailbiter is common). As an example, one of my state champions from Leoti won in the semi's in sudden victory and the young man he defeated finished 6th. In the larger classes the separation between the top 2 and the bottom 2 placers can be great. As an example, while at Junction, we had a state champion who wrestled the 5th and 6th place finishers numerous times and literally never had one of those matches go past the 1 minute mark. That being said, the outstanding individuals I have seen in the larger classes (Zach Roberson, Tanner Gardner, Joe Johnson, Shawn Bunch, etc..)have been more outstanding than the exceptional individuals from the smaller classes.
Again, realize I am not passing judgement and there are exceptions to every rule. Classes go through their down times and times when they are tough as nails. Let me end by saying that regardless of class, I have been blessed to see outstanding wrestlers, coaches and people. They all deserve credit for their sacrifice and willingness to compete in the toughest/greatest sport on earth!! We are all biased in our own ways toward our own class/wrestlers and we should be...if we don't defend our own, who will? Best of luck to everyone this weekend, you are all special (regardless of class or location!)
~John Steiger
