I think the real question is "Why did the camp move from FHSU to Dodge City?" Simple answer is to have the kids at the same site as the tournament when Kansas is hosting Southern Plains. The Dodge City community really rallied behind having the camp and tournament there. Numbers were down and it was disappointing but the camp was great this year for those who attended.

The purpose of the camp is to expose our wrestlers to FS/GR technique and to prepare for the tournament. I don't think it has outlived its purpose but I am brainstorming with several coaches and parents to figure out a better formula. It hasn't helped that we have the athletes report on a Monday of a three day weekend for the past three years but the scheduling is sort of at the mercy of USA Wrestling's calendar.

We have been spoiled for the past six years by having the tournament in Kansas. For most it is either a distant or non existent memory when we had to travel to Carlsbad, NM to see the smallest number of participants in the tournaments history. We have the ball for three more years and the facility in Dodge City is absolutely phenomenal. We need to figure out how to push our numbers up. I am all ears for suggestions...

Some of the recent changes:

We began allowing campers to stay on Friday night to be picked up on Saturday for the tournament.

This year we allowed wrestlers to pay an additional $25 to stay Saturday night and we returned these wrestlers to their homes.

We have been offering VAN transportation to the camp. It is simple, if you are a coach and have 10 kids I have been arranging transportation.

The curriculum has been focused on learning the rules, technique, and strategy. We have moved away from making this a conditioning camp as to not fatique the wrestlers before the tournament.

I really think publicity has been an issue. I am going to get the staff assembled before the state body meeting this year. We will have flyers and blast emails going out to the membership during the entire 2012/13 season this year.

I would love to see MORE HS coaches, like Cody Parks, who bring around 10 wrestlers to the camp and have them participate in the tournament. The camp tournament combination is a great opportunity for all wrestlers. Lets put our heads together and figure out how to overcome the logistics, football coach mandates, and other obstacle.