Okay ... it's time to chime in! I support Gutwrench1's premise that the Kansas system does not select the “elite” wrestlers in a given weight class. Given this opinion, I will quickly counter (for fear that someone will suggest I need chapstick) and also agree with the esteemed Coach DeWitt.

If the goal of KHSHAA, is to produce “the elite” wrestler, then I would suggest that we fail in that regard. But if the goal of KSHSAA is to produce good student-athletes then I think that that goal is being met.

I would venture to suggest that it is not the duty of any public school system to produce the elite wrestler. I would also suggest that looking at the number of State titles a wrestler holds … does not correlate with their placement on the elite level. Jamil Kelley, might support Gutwrench1’s ideas. He was never a State title-holder in California but is clearly, an elite wrestler. As far as Kansas, Neil Erisman, has yet to wear a State crown (any one of the four per weight class) and while I can’t put him on the same level as Kelley (yet) he may in fact be our states best wrestler.

I’ve got some other thoughts but I’m running out of time. More later …