In 6A and 5A, theoretically half the kids that wrestle varsity make it to state. In actuality, with so many open spots, the percentage of kids that make state is above 50%. Then you combine that with the glaring disparity in the quality of regionals, you are going to get some very weak wrestlers that qualify. The free passes even compound the problem. My point is, by sending so many average wrestlers to state, you are diminishing the accomplishments, hard work and glory of the outstanding wrestlers. When compared to some other states in wrestling, the Kanas State qualifier is perceived to lack credibility.
Here's a question to the community and coaches: What would motivate and make a kid work harder? To have a goal to qualify under the current (easy) system of regionals or to participate in a qualiication tournament where you had to beat 4 or 5 kids to qualify for state, which also promotes respect for the kid.
My two cents is that if you put that state qualifier patch on your letter jacket, it should mean more than just weighing in.
I guess I'll take my turn beating the dead horse. I've coached 6, 5, & 321A and wrestled 4 & 5A. I'm not completely biased here. HOWEVER, nothing about a bracket diminishes the accomplishments of the champion. That's bunk. I guess I could say that kids that make varsity without having to challenge for a spot (happens in all divisions) diminishes the accomplishments of everyone that beats that kid????? In Goddard one year, we were eight deep at two weights. That meant it was tougher to make varsity than getting out of some regionals. I guarantee we had a couple of kids every year on JV that were state placers if there was a spot for them on varsity. Don't tell me that because there were some schools that couldn't fill their roster, the state champions had tainted victories.
By the way, if a kid has a losing record, but has beat kids with winning records that also made it to state, should those he beat get bashed too? I mean, they must have wrestled weak competition, "diminishing" the championships. Or was it that the schedule was extremely tough (SJA)? Or perhaps, the kid got better as the year went on, peaking at the right time? You see, too many what ifs.
I'd love to see two regionals for 5 and 6A. Or, let's take all of the teams in the state and make 2 divisions based on size and wrestle it out in a 32 man bracket. But until this happens, there will be some losing records making it to state, some kids that would never make varsity in other schools making it to state, and some kids that would qualify in other regionals making it to state. But none of this diminishes a championship! The champion did all he could do by winning what was put in front of him.
