Got some updates from day 1 of the Greco Roman Prelim Pools which will finish in the morning:

Cullen Hood 3-0
Austin Hood 3-0
Dylan Penka 2-1
Sharkey Slyter 1-1
Ryne Cokeley 0-2
Colton Kral 0-2
Parker Madl 2-1
Tyler Roth 0-2
Bryce Hood 1-1

Aren't the DeShazer's wrestling up there?

It does not look like they are there. A candid answer is the leaders of USA KS need to step and make themselves heard that the USA summer kids system is only now for the very few. To travel for 13 hours for a regional and then another 12 hours 3 weeks later for nationals is too much for most normal families. KS numbers appear to be way down. I petitioned USA wrestling this year for either a petition process, or closer regionals and it was turned down. I was told by that would take away from the money maker regionals. My contention is that if there was more regionals there would be more participation and USA wrestling would make more money and KS and all kids would be better off. I know my son was not happy but we were unable to go to nationals this year, because he won or placed in all three styles last year, but there is only so much money and so much time off work. IF we would have been able to go to a closer regional that only took the weekend and not the $1000 we spent to go to New Mexico, my son would be at nationals now.

Here is the basic issue...How many families can afford about $2500 and almost 2 weeks of work just for these 3 weeks of wrestling? My familiy spends about $5000 a year on wrestling and even with that crazy amount I can't justify 1/2 of that for 3 weeks and two tournaments.

Kids nationals is the only national tournament without some type of petition process. It also only has one qualifier. For Fargo for example you can go to one of many qualifiers that are fairily close and inexpensive. That leaves you with your time off and most of your money to plan for the big fargo trip.

Just my thoughts,

SlamBam

Great post SlamBam, I couldn't agree with you more. There are other issues that have to be addressed, but the expense is a hindrance for many of the kids and families. I could go into more detail here but one thing that is terrible is the assumption that people know about "scholarships" or help, and then the reality of what it is like for some people to have to ask all of the time. The wrestling community has a responsibility to help where it can if we want to have our best representing our state, and then, helping those with potential to excel for the future.

I sent my kid to New Mexico for Southern Plains tournament. It cost me $185 plus $60 for lodging. A total of $245. Pretty cheap when you considered this included a week long camp and from what I hear really good food. And this option was open to everyone. It was right there in the flyer. Sure I wish it had been closer. As did the New Mexico kids who came up to Kansas for the past couple years to wrestle at Southern Plains.

Kids National Championships - GR
6/29/2005
Green Bay, WI
Entered by Gary Abbott

Results By Weight
Midget
65 Results
Finals
1st - Austin Hughes (Michigan) pin Cullen Hood (Kansas) in 2:09

Pool A
RR3
Cullen Hood (Kansas) decision Paul Fox (California) 10-10
RR2
Cullen Hood (Kansas) decision Robert Csukker (Wisconsin) 6-2
RR1
Cullen Hood (Kansas) received a bye.
Round 3
Cullen Hood (Kansas) decision Logan Massa (Michigan) 10-10
Round 2
Cullen Hood (Kansas) decision Robert Csukker (Wisconsin) 6-2
Round 1
Cullen Hood (Kansas) decision Paul Fox (California) 10-10

Novice
60 Results
Finals
1st - Sam Brancale (Minnesota) decision Braun Marquez (Texas) 12-7
3rd - Austin Hood (Kansas) decision Alfredo Rodriguez (Michigan) 8-7

Pool A
RR3
Austin Hood (Kansas) decision Bobby Nachreiner (Wisconsin) 8-8
RR2
Sam Brancale (Minnesota) tech fall Austin Hood (Kansas) 1-1
RR1
Austin Hood (Kansas) received a bye.
Round 3
Sam Brancale (Minnesota) tech fall Austin Hood (Kansas) 12-1
Round 2
Austin Hood (Kansas) decision Bobby Nachreiner (Wisconsin) 8-8
Round 1
Austin Hood (Kansas) decision Shiquan Hall Jr (Florida) 3-1

Novice
90 Results
Finals
1st - Joshua Villani (Washington) tech fall Walker Slaughter (Pennsylvania) 15-0
3rd - Quinten Strand (Wisconsin) tech fall Dylan Penka (Kansas) 14-3

Pool B
RR3
Walker Slaughter (Pennsylvania) decision Dylan Penka (Kansas) 6-4
RR2
Dylan Penka (Kansas) decision David Volyn (New Jersey) 10-4
RR1
Dylan Penka (Kansas) received a bye.
Round 4
Dylan Penka (Kansas) decision Jordan Wohlfert (Michigan) 7-7
Round 3
Walker Slaughter (Pennsylvania) decision Dylan Penka (Kansas) 6-4
Round 2
Eric Vis (Wisconsin) received a bye.
Dylan Penka (Kansas) tech fall Bryce Chaney (Wisconsin) 10-10
Round 1
Dylan Penka (Kansas) pin Daquon Wilson (South Carolina) in 0:42

Schoolboy / Girl
80 Results
Finals
1st - Jesse Thielke (Wisconsin) decision Cody Pack (California) 11-11
3rd - Casey Lynn (Colorado) tech fall Sharky Slyter (Kansas) 14-14
5th - Nathan Gates (Florida) tech fall Simon Kitzis (Massachusetts) 11-11
7th - Ryne Cokeley (Kansas) tech fall Tucker Smith (Indiana) 14-14

Pool A
RR3
Cody Pack (California) decision Sharky Slyter (Kansas) 3-3
RR2
Sharky Slyter (Kansas) received a bye.
RR1
Sharky Slyter (Kansas) decision Simon Kitzis (Massachusetts) 5-5
Round 2
Sharky Slyter (Kansas) tech fall Tucker Smith (Indiana) 12-12
Round 1
Cody Pack (California) decision Sharky Slyter (Kansas) 3-3

Pool B
RR1
Round 2
Jesse Thielke (Wisconsin) tech fall Ryne Cokeley (Kansas) 10-10

Round 1
Casey Lynn (Colorado) pin Ryne Cokeley (Kansas) in 3:11

Schoolboy / Girl
85 Results
Pool B
Round 2
Ryan Mango (Missouri) tech fall Colton Kral (Kansas) 10-10
Round 1
Luke Goettl (Arizona) decision Colton Kral (Kansas) 9-2

Schoolboy / Girl
90 Results
Finals
1st - Cody Tyler (Missouri) tech fall Christopher Villalonga (New Jersey) 11-1
3rd - Nick Brascetta (Colorado) decision Chad Thornock (California) 7-7
5th - Nick Odom (Indiana) decision Parker Madl (Kansas) 13-13

Pool A
RR3
Cody Tyler (Missouri) tech fall Parker Madl (Kansas) 12-2

RR2
Chad Thornock (California) tech fall Parker Madl (Kansas) 13-13
RR1
Parker Madl (Kansas) received a bye.
Round 3
Parker Madl (Kansas) decision Travis Rife (Michigan) 11-7
Round 2
Parker Madl (Kansas) tech fall Lukas Bohm (Wisconsin) 11-1
Round 1
Cody Tyler (Missouri) tech fall Parker Madl (Kansas) 12-2

Schoolboy / Girl
95 Results
Finals
1st - Riley Ewalt (Michigan) decision Dylan Carew (Iowa) 12-12
3rd - Jacob Gregorson (Illinois) pin Marc Collier (California) in 0:53
5th - Blake Sorenson (Iowa) decision Kaleb Friedley (Missouri) 9-9
7th - Tyler Juby (Wyoming) pin Bryce Hood (Kansas) in 3:04

Pool A
Round 2
Kaleb Friedley (Missouri) pin Tyler Roth (Kansas) in 1:00
Round 1
Dylan Carew (Iowa) tech fall Tyler Roth (Kansas) 11-11

Pool B
Round 4
Riley Ewalt (Michigan) pin Bryce Hood (Kansas) in 2:46
Round 3
Marc Collier (California) decision Bryce Hood (Kansas) 5-2
Round 2
Bryce Hood (Kansas) tech fall Seth Higgins (Wisconsin) 10-0
Round 1
Bryce Hood (Kansas) received a bye.

Barry,

You make excellent points and for kids the age of Atticus it is valid. My son however is 10 and most of the kids in Wisc are younger. He was not comfortable in traveling 12 hours away from home without me. Therefore my costs are valid. I know a few kids that young went on the bus, but obviously not many made it then up to Wisc.

Also consider for your cost justification to be valid you must add the cost of the camp, (I think that is the only way to ride the bus), gas to and from Hays. and food money for kid for the week. So add about another $300-$350 minimum. That brings the cost to about $600 anyway. That does help with the parent time off work.

Your point about the New Mexico kids having to travel in the past is valid. That is why I believe we need more regionals. Dont you think more kids would attend if the tournament was within 4-5 hours? The problem is KS, MO, and OK must support the rest of the region. If you pulled them out and had a smaller region NM and others like it would starve. KS had 60 kids in NM more than any other state. All I am saying is to have more qualifying options just like Fargo. As my son gets older I am sure I can send him alone but they are not catering to their younger customers and arent these the future of our cadet and JR. teams.

The other thing to consider it the location of Nationals was moved even farther north. Putting more stress on the locations and cost of the regionals.

These are just my opinions, not right or wrong. But there is some validity to it if we only have 8-10 KS in Wisc.

Thanks for listening,

Mike Pursel

Worth noting:

Cody Pack, who defeated Sharky 3-1, is an exKansan from Chanute.

I understand what your saying Mike. I don't know the answer. I do know that if we don't make Southern Plains a qualifier for National then pretty soon SP won't be worth going to. SP will be in New Mexico one more year and then should be in the midwest.

What "scholarships" are we talking about?

Barry you are correct. One more year in the cactus and then it moves to Missouri for two years then to Oklahoma for two years. I just need to start working on a plan or saving for next year. Hopefully my son will ride the bus by then.

I am just looking for options to provide easier opportunities so we get more participation and build our youth programs as feeders for the Cadet and Jr. levels. 8-10 kids in Wisc.is not repsentative showing of our state. Hat's off to the Paola gang as all but two of the kids in Wisc are from that club!!!!! And who were the kids folkstyle state champs last year?.....(I know its an unofficial championship) Cleary the more we compete in the summer, make kids tougher in the winter. Hard Knox traditionally does the same thing.

Atticus is doing a great job at the JR. Duals and he did awesome at the Cadet duals as well. He is an ironman. See you down the trail.

SlamBam

Congratulations to the following athletes for attaining Greco Roman All-American status at the 2005 USA Wrestling Kids National Championships.

Cullen Hood, Second Place
Midget - 65 lbs.

Austin Hood, Third Place
Novice - 60 lbs.

Dylan Penka, Third Place
Novice - 90 lbs.

Sharky Slyter, Fourth Place
Schoolboy - 80 lbs.

Parker Madl, Fifth Place
Schoolboy - 90 lbs.

Ryne Cokeley, Seventh Place
Schoolboy - 80 lbs.

Bryce Hood, Eighth Place
Schoolboy – 95 lbs.