This very issue was brought up to the Kids Executive Council because we knew it was a conflict with the Sub-District Qualifiers and the HS National Tournament. To be honest, I don't know that the Exec. Council could have made the decision since it would need to be brought before the State Body.

Since it was not approved for them to do both, the wrestlers had to make a choice and our son was one of them who made the choice to go to the HS Nationals in Nebraska.

Whether you think it was right or wrong, it was their choice. Yes, he would have loved to come back and wrestle his last year in Kansas Kids. However, he is looking ahead, as well as next years HS Senior Nationals, and at this time, his goals are set to wrestle somewhere in college. Yes, the coaches were their and they were watching the wrestlers from across the United States.

Did he bail on Kansas Kids or the wrestlers in our local club? No he did not, because he is coming back in the wrestling room and working with these wrestlers and helping prepare them for our District and State Tournament.

Danny has a little brother who we hope will make it to state this year. Danny had enough heart when he made his decision to go to Nationals to work with his little brother and others in reaching their goals as State Qualifers. Danny's feelings were that is was Gavin's time at Kids State and he would be there supporting him and helping coach him. (Don't worry he's been through the certification classes and has a current coaches card).

As someone said, these kids that went to Nationals bailed out on Kansas Kids. No they did not; they were mature enough and made a choice because they were not allowed to wrestle both. Some of them have their goals and priorties in the right place and it is time for the them to look ahead. I doubt any of them who went would have done anything different, other than wrestled in both tournaments if they had been allowed to.

For a first year tournament, it was ran well. Yes, there is room for improvement, but I can guarantee you this tournament will only grow. The competition was great and it prepares them for other National competitions that many of them will be attending over the summer. I've heard the date may be different next year as they know it conflicted with several other tournaments/qualifiers.

It will be discussed again at the Exec. Council Meeting and at the State Body Meeting and hopefully provisions can be made by the STATE BODY to allow them to compete in both.

Don't blame these kids for "bailing out" on Kansas. They represented our state well in Nebraska at the National HS Tournament and we should be proud of them to have the guts to go and compete whether they placed at the tournament or not!!

Leanna Grater