I have watched this topic since it started. I was amazed to see Ned in our district instead of with the Manhatten crew out of district 3. Good to have you with us Ned and Thanks. I was able to talk with Ned about this at District and breifly at State. I wanted to see how the season ended up going into summer wrestling before I weighed in on the subject. We need to increase the numbers in summer wrestling but I don't know how. I've personally made phone calls and talked to these kids that are really going to try it this year, every year. They see improvments and gains made through summer wrestling, the proverbial "Summer wrestlers make winter champions" and they are really going to do it, but don't show up. We can't drag them out but WE need to get them out somehow. Ned shared with me the dollars spent on the olympic styles VS. Folksyle and it is amazing.
My oppinion has not changed over the years. Six and under are not mature enough to handle the entire season and then what could be two brutal days at a state tournament. More so most parents are not mature enough and need some more seasoning. I think that's where the real kicker is. The kids just want and need to be kids. The parents are the ones wanting to push these extremly young kids into more and more wrestling. They would just as soon sleep in and watch cartoons. They've just started major changes in their lives and starting to spend more time away from home. When do they have time to be children ? I would be curious as to an average of how many trips it takes to the state tournament to actually place ?The numbers of kids that start at 6U wrestling through to High School compared to the number of those starting around 8U wrestling through to High School? Is there a large differance in burn out? It was also mentioned the physical toll put on some of these young bodies. I almost found it humerous that next it would be how unfair it is for a four year old to have to wrestle in the 6U division but it is serious. That's the complaint now 6U against 8U. Sorry, forgot they could be almost nine.
In my oppinion, perhaps only mine, an eight year old State Champion just isn't that impressive. Even 10 year old Champs. Some of these had wicked head & arms that didn't advance or learn anymore. They didn't have the capicity and burnt out. 12U have learned to wrestle a bit and a 14U State Champ, I beleive the toughest step in Wrestling, speaks volumes to me over an 8U State Champ. I could list several from district one that didn't even wrestle High School. What exactly is a 6U State Champ supposed to mean. He matured way to early or wasn't allowed to be a kid. Sorry folks but that's where I see it.
It doesn't seem there is a large number of people wanting to drop 16U and I'm strongly against that. Modifying weight classes is a good sugestion but I still wouldn't do it to make room for 6U. Do it so the competitors now would get a full mat. Especially the 12U that move lightening quick. To suggest 16U had their state and need to move on does not wash with me. How many good wrestlers can not make varsity because they can't beat a senior or because of inner politics aren't even allowed to challenge a junior or senior. How many of the upcomming wrestlers, parents/coaches watched any of the 16U at State? That's some good wrestling. To me it is appalling to see a six year old struggeling, just burnt out tired. Can't quit crying or get his head off the mat and a parent yelling at him hanging off the top rail. They want the kid to quit crying and acting like a baby. I'm sorry but they almost are. Some of them want the six year olds to grow up and act like a man. Give them a chance! Whom is it that wants to place there, the parent or the child? I do understand the parents and coaches just want their child to do well but a lot of these kids don't understand why everybodies so mad at them. Yelling at them. I've personally grown (some) through wrestling. You think I'm wrong on this I suggest you have someone tape you through a match instead of the six year old and re-evaluate. If you are the exception your child will be just fine and grow into a fine competitor.
We were fortunate to attend the Brute Nationals. With this event following our State Tourn. this year I watched a lot of kids that didn't get a lot of mat time since HS State and I watched a lot of our Freshman that competed through subs, district and State. That Freshman class looked really good. I didn't watch a lot of the So. & Junior Class and know I missed some good wrestling. There is a topic on the forum about the Freshman class. How many of those Freshman wrestled on through Kids State? Somebody run these numbers. I hate seeing wrestlers using injury time because their out of shape and just trying to suck in some air. From what I witnessed a lot of these boys were from States, MO. to name one, that don't allow kids wrestling, states that don't have kids programs or the kids that were above the 16U age group. To repeat myself these kids were idle or didn't get much practice since HS State. Is it on them, or us for not providing them the oppurtunities for more mat time? This is National exposure. Don't we want more Ks. kids in college wrestling. How many posts are there on that topic?
I'm not bashing on 6U, they have time. The parent's have time. How many parents burn out before they get their kids into High School? How many would admit they got tired of hauling their kid around and taking all Saturday every Saturday for how many months. Are they the same ones hollering for the split formats. Lets only spend half of our Sat. at tournaments. Speaking of which. How crowded was it Sat. morning at Baldwin?
That split format needed some fine tunning for sure. Coaches bands meaning absolutely nothing at either one of our qualifiers. Sorry another topic.
Positively we need to keep our 16U on the mats as long as we can. Look at how our seniors did this past weekend and think how our seniors could do in a couple of years. Thanks for the time, I could be wrong on a lot of this. Dan