Kansas Wrestling Forums General Discussion Kids Folkstyle Mat Size

I can not recall from last year. What ages actually get a full size mat for state?

16U is the only one where it is required.

So is that the only division to wrestle on full size mats?

Why do you want to know who gets full mats???

With all of this talk about 6U being added to the state tournament, I just want people to realize how small the mats are we wrestle on right now. I believe that 8,10, and some 12 wrestle on 1/4 mats.(Correct me if I'm wrong) How can we add another division, that would possible make it so that the smaller 14 year olds might wrestle on 1/4 mats. If anything I think that some weight classes need to be dropped from the current State Tournament. Every year there are wrestlers who are state champs who did not wrestle a single match. What about dropping some weights that only have an average of 3 wrestlers a year and have them wrestle up. Lots of 90 lb Froshman and Sophmores wrestle 103, its not that far of a stretch. I can not justify 6U being ADDED until 8 and 10 are at least on half mats.

The late Greg Grater had worked the numbers and said adding 6U was possible if we would trim the 16U and 14U classes to high school and middle school weights. Also, you will lose a weight or two at the bottom of the 8U division which currently consists mostly of 6U kids.
I for one think the mats are too small now and 14U should NEVER wrestle on anything smaller than a full mat. That is what always brings me back to eliminating the 16U division unless we are going to split the tournament into two segments. Our goal for state should be no mats smaller than a half mat and as many classes as possible on full mats. I will never understand everyone's desire to keep the 16U division. Those boys have had their folkstyle season and one would hope are preparing for an upcoming FS/GR season. With the growing number of regional and national folkstyle events it's only a matter of time before another tournament, in effect, decimates that division anyway.
If you are bound and determined to keep the 16U group then have them and THE 6U state together. Allow the 16U to just show up, weigh in and wrestle at that weight. We still should cut the weights back to recognized high school weights.

Rule 2-1-2
The wrestling area of the mat shall be based on the age group competing, as follows:
Under 11
must have a minimum wrestling area of 15'x 15'
11 to 14
must have a minimum wrestling area of 20'x 20'
15 & 16
must have a minimum wrestling area of 24 feet square or a circular area of 28 feet in diameter