Here is my two cents. We have done this survey twice now. Suggestions have been made. Some have been followed. Others have not been followed. If we start worrying about what national level wants, are we really doing what is right for these kids?
By looking at the survey, it seems moving the state tournament to the second week of march would not be a bad idea. Make the first week in march district. But here is the kicker on that. You have Hays and the wichita classic every year on that weekend. Are we going to do away with these? If you make 6-10 under a different tournament when will it be? The last two weekends in February is high school regionals and state. Are we going to compete against them? Isn't that defeating the purpose of kids wrestling?
I have ran the numbers and posted them many times on the length of the season. We are just about in the middle of everyone around us. If we push the season to end in the first of march, we will have tournaments starting at the end of november. You have the crowd that says we will put a cap on where you can not start a tournament before the first weekend in december. Ok fine but here is the catch. You have Monster mash and preseason nationals and such starting the first weekend of November. Are you going to say its ok to attend those tournaments but not local tournaments. How will that look to the state body members.
One thing that was not mention on the survey and i wish it was, is getting junior high seasons at the same time of the year. Yes it is a league decision on when to have it, but shouldn't the BoD push to get this in line throughout the state?
Another thing that really jumped out to me is the district size question. You have 29% i believe saying it should matter most. That leaves 71% disagreeing with that. This is becoming a major issue. Travel is becoming a big issue. You will have the hard liners who say oh if they really are into travel does not matter. Ok to a point you are correct. But if we want to encourage more interest in the sport, travel HAS to be considered.
Finally, the question of how the money is spent. I have no problems helping kids with cost. But i would rather see it spent on kids that truly can not afford to wrestle than on helping special dual teams. Now if there is a kid who can not afford it and he made the team, then fine i have no problem with that. I would rather see the money go to helping getting more kids involved in the sport than special interests at the end of the season. Just my personal opinion on that one.
Just my two cents.