Most know my position on this topic, but it bears repeating in the hopes that maybe others will read, think differently and create a collective dialogue about what is best for ALL Kansas Kids, not just the top 30%.

Wrestling is a Journey for an athlete (boy or girl). It involves a PROCESS for most that are not naturals. (I define a natural as a beginner who is very strong, very quick, very aggressive or has tremendous hips/balance, or a combination of these.)

The Journey begins like many others in that the Climb up the Mountain is fairly easy to start. You use Novice Tournaments and Novice practices to begin to hone your schools for the Journey ahead!

As the hill becomes steeper, each wrestler has to begin an ascent that will be different for each one. No 2 wrestlers will take the same path, learn the skills in the same sequence, invest the same amount of time or money, or both.

Along the way they have to begin to identify key spots to climb to that then allow them to regroup, refocus and update the Journey log. These goals might include placing in an open tournament; making it to the 3rd period with a wrestler has pinned you quickly every match before; getting a takedown in a group you never got a takedown in before; winning a bracket; going to a national tournament; making a dual team, qualifying for DISTRICTS, qualifying for State, placing at State, etc.

Without these views in front the wrestler the mountain seems un-scalable! Subdistricts for many average wrestler was the tournament where they began their ascent up the State part of the mountain. They were heartbroken when they didn't qualify. They adjusted the plans and re-attacked the next season. They celebrate (we as coaches, fans and parents celebrated with them) the milestone of being a District Qualifier! Then we start the next part of the Journey with the accomplishment of being a D.Q. in our bag, we approach the next goal.

For many good and great HS wrestlers, the D.Q. label was what kept them in th sport until their physical maturity kicked in and they started re-attacking the mountain.

I believe the Loss of Subdistricts will be a milestone that we look on in a few years and ask why have Kansas USA memberships in 10s, 12s and 14s diminished? I was told that ALL kids will be District Qualifiers. I'm sorry, that person was wrong! They all paid to be in the District Invitational for All-Comers to try to only achieve one goal.

Of my 3 sons, one was a "natural." The other 2 were the 50% that had to work harder on the Journey, and it STARTED at Subdistricts! They all 3 had strong high school careers with many accolades earned along the way.

Colby Johnson was one of our 50% through the age of 11 when being a District Qualifier was the driving goal because he was average. As he continued to climb he was a 4-time State Placer, 2-time undefeated State Champion, a Kansas Career Win leader, and now he is climbing the next summit as a college wrestler at Baker U. He is still on the Journey to the next point. He was a National Qualifier and won a match. I know Colby J well, and I know he has stopped looked around and looked up to his next spot to climb to!

Yesterday, another wrestler from Emporia with a similar story won a NCAA Division II National Championship for Newman U. His High School coaches know his story well. I know his climb from MS to HS and now beyond. He was the average kid that kept climbing towards his goals. Today, he has that and in 4 years he has his Bachelor's Degree and in in 2 months his Master's Degree IN 4 YEARS TOTAL as his journey also shaped the student, man and citizen he has become!!

I don't believe in change for change's sake. I will adapt with the rules and keep my focus on helping ALL kids on this Journey!

Someone commented yesterday at Subs, maybe we can have Subdistricts the Sunday after HS State? Maybe we can have Subs on a Saturday and Districts on a Sunday the same weekend?

Maybe other like-minded people will ask: What is BEST for the 30% Advanced, 50% Average and 20% Novice kids that I've referenced?

Ask yourself - What if we continued this belief? As opposed to - Why this won't work?

Continuing the Journey -
Doug Vander Linden
Burlington Wrestling