I am flattered. I have never been called a liberal in my life. Maybe that University of Kansas education is finally starting to rub off on me. I think you assume too much from my response. I have never said that the CIF doesn't care about wrestling nor that they are less sensitive to the opportunities of wrestling. I can not speak as to what the goals of the CIF are, but I am glad that they are satisfied with their treatment of wrestling. Is there a reason why they do not do this for all sports?

All the state of Kansas and KSHSAA would have to do is extend the season one more week, have a Grand State tournament and then annoint one state champion per year. Even if that were the case, I am quite certain that NY and CA would still proclaim how difficult their tournament is because of the sheer number of participants that compete each year and what it would take to go through that many people.

You've made your point that it is more difficult to be a state champion in CA or NY and I don't think anyone is here to argue that statement. Most people were already aware of that. I would not expect you accept my premise. I don't think kids in states with less classifications and fewer state champions quit wrestling because the goal is too high either. Nobody believes that, at least not for wrestlers. My concern was for the elimination of programs because of their inability to compete with larger schools.

Relatively speaking Kansas's 4 classifications waters down the relative value of being a Kansas state champion. Relative to what? California or New York? or just being a state champion in general? Due to sheer numbers, Kansas will always be relative to either state based on population alone. That is why I believe people are stating on this post that Kansas does well at a national level versus more populous states that have a much larger pool to pull their "studs" from.

If you are saying that being a state champion in Kansas is watered down because there are four classifications, then you are certainly entitled to your opinion and I won't attempt to change it.

As per this post. I do believe that 5A will be very diffucult this year with the addition of STA and Emporia.