Will I understand your perspective but I do not see how this bylaw change will improve Kansas wrestling. You have shown no linkage or evidence as to how freshman wrestling in 14U makes Kansas worse in wrestling.
The argument that other states don't do it doesn't fly. There are too many other reasons that contribute to why some states are better than KS and why KS is better than a lot of other state.
Your quote: One thing is certain. Without change there can be no improvement and Kansas needs to improve.
In general terms you correct....without change there can be no improvement. The trick is showing how a change will cause improvement. You have not done that with the case of 5 high school wrestlers wrestling in the 14U kids state. Heck, I would argue it helps us improve. The 8th graders that they have to wrestle know that they have to spend their season prepping to wrestle high school kids potentially. I know it motivated a lot of our 8th graders to put in extra work.
"Kansas needs improvement"- Really, based on what? What kind of improvement? Define the end state you see or the conditions of wrestling in KS that would cause you, Chief, etc to say....Man, we made it. As a state we have achieved our goal.
If there is no goal, end state, or vision set forth then it is impossible to establish programs and define success of those programs.
So far all I see is that we must suck because we let 5-15 freshman wrestle for 3 weeks in the 14U kids state series. If we change this bylaw then KS wrestling will be improved and successful. I absolutely do not see the linkage to this and being successful as a state.
Shawn Budke
THERE IS NO POINT EVEN GOING ANY FURTHER WITH YOU. IT IS LIKE ARGUING WITH A FENCE POST. HS WRESTLERS WILL NOT GET ANY BETTER WRESTLING 7TH AND 8TH GRADERS WHEN THEY COULD BE WRESTLING OTHER HS WRESTLERS. JUST ADMIT IT. ALL OF OUR WRESTLERS SHOULD BE LOOKING AT MAKING A TRIP TO CEDAR FALLS FOR SOME REAL COMPETITION BUT I HAVE HAD JUST A HANDFUL SIGN UP. SINCE 2010 WE HAVE HAD A SEVERE DROP OFF IN THE NUMBER OF D1 LEVEL WRESTLERS AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN COMPETITIVE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL FOR THE PAST THREE SUMMERS IN JUNIORS. STEEL SHARPENS STEEL SHAWN, YOU KNOW THAT. IF WE ONLY HAVE A HANDFUL WRESTLING DOWN THEN LETS CLEAN IT UP!
OUR GOALS SHOULD BE TO PLACE IN THE TOP 5 OF JUNIOR DUALS. TO HAVE 10 FARGO AA'S AT THE JUNIOR LEVEL BETWEEN FS AND GR. TO PLACE IN THE TOP 5 OF CADET DUALS. TO HAVE 20 FOLKSTYLE AA'S AT CEDAR FALLS. TO HAVE 600 KIDS AT OUR FS/GR STATE TOURNAMENT. WE NEED MORE COACHING CONTACT BETWEEN MARCH 1 AND MAY 31 SO WE CAN KEEP THE INTENSITY AND IMPROVEMENT AFTER HS STATE. YOUR REQUEST IS OFF BASE AS WE ALL KNOW THAT MOST OF THIS IS SUBJECTIVE BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY VARIABLES. I WILL, HOWEVER, STAND BY MY POSITION THAT HS WRESTLERS WILL NOT IMPROVE BY WRESTLING 7TH AND 8TH GRADERS.
