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Kansas Wrestling Community: Below is an e-mail I recieved today concerning proposed changes in weight classes by the NFHS. All of the proposals eliminate the 103 pound weight class. I personally feel that this is not a good change for the sport or for athletes. Wrestling is a unique sport that gives the smaller athlete a chance to compete and attain success. This is really not found in any other team sport. If you feel strongly against these changes, I encourage you to sign the on-line petition. Good luck to all at Regionals this weekend! Don't forget that you can watch Norton's on line. Kale Mann --------------------------------------------------------------- CONTENTS OF E-MAIL:
Head Coach- Blue Valley High School
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Kale, While I agree that eliminating 103 is a bad idea, I feel that something should be done to address the fact that kids are getting bigger and there are issues at the higher weights with "talent stacking". This leads to kids having to make decisions to: - Accept the fact that they will not wrestle varsity
- make a decision to move to another weight class accepting that they will either have to lose an unhealthy amount of weight or be light for the higher weight
- quit the sport because they will not wrestle much for the year
I have seen all three of these, and would have to admit that I am biased as my son has been in that very position the last (2) years. He made the decision to go lower last year and was able to get the Doctor to approve it, and after battling through that he wrestled up this year. But, here is what I really don't get. If you look at Proposal B (my favorite for the upper weights), they list the lower two weights as 106 and 113. This leads me to this question: If we are only changing the 2nd weight by a pound from 112 to 113, why not just keep the first weight 103?Is that too simple of a solution? Chuck
Last edited by ChuckMies; 02/19/10 04:32 PM.
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Is NHFS trying to solve the wrong problem.
We discussed weight classes the last couple of years.
Still would like to see a couple of NEW Weight classes in the upper brackets. Take 215 down to 204, add a new 225 and a new 250.
The current weight spreads are far too big (189 to 215 = 26 lbs = 14%, and 215 to 285 = 70 lbs = 32%). We don't ask our lighter weights to face thos differientials, i.e 135 to 140 is 5 lb and ony 3.8%.
The big differientials are keeping a lot of big kids out of wrestling. Splitting the brackets should bring more kids and good athletes to the program. Lots more footballers should be wrestling!!!
Bill Mason Lansing
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Problem with making more weight classes is filling them. I don't believe kids DON'T wrestle because they are caught between weight classes. They don't wrestle because it is HARD. It is why we lose lots of kids to BBall late in the grade school years.
I had someone tell me at the Pratt regional that they are SOOOOOOO mad at their 8 yr old son because he is playing basketball. I asked "why you mad at the kid, you are the one that gave him the option?"
Too many parents give their kids the option of quitting (or not ever starting)this sport. That doesn't teach them anything about real life.
Last edited by doug747; 02/21/10 11:26 AM.
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I would be for the Option B more than any of them. So many schools have 103 open, and I understand some kids only weigh 85-90 pounds, but an extra 3 pounds would add some more kids to that weight class.
I don't think we need to be adding more weight classes because of filling them, but it will water the competition down even more.
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That is another point that I left out.............watered down competition. It would make the "make the kids feel good about themselves" crowd happy though!!!!
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I would like to see some more upper weight classes too, the jr league has them why not high school?
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I don't think we need to be adding more weight classes because of filling them, but it will water the competition down even more. Agreed, no more weight classes, just spread them out a little at the top to accomodate the fact that kids are getting bigger.
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I like option B the best.
Jonathan Whisnant
Goodland High School-USD 352
Assistant Wrestling Coach
jonathan.whisnant@usd352.org
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I think the idea of getting rid of 103 is a bad idea. There aren't that many schools that have an open 103 usually any decent school has it filled. I know in the Turner regionals there was more 103's than 125's and 112's
Lansing High School
Kevin Keller
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As disappointing as getting rid of 103 may be (bumping it to 106 in option b) what about not having a weight like 235 or 245 in between 215 and heavyweight. I liked option B the best because it did a better job of balancing the weights, ex...160, 170, 182, 195, 220. In my experience this year we have seen very many brackets with very few 103 pounders in it. Doesn't mean they aren't out there, but we have seen alot of open weights. Take it for what it's worth.
"If it is to be, it is up to me!"
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Its a trade off neither side wins, You either have left over light weights or heavy weights
Lansing High School
Kevin Keller
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The fact that girls are forced to wrestle at state in the middle of the week is laughably sexist.
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It seems odd to me that a majority of 321A and 4A schools can roster a 103lber but 5A and 6A schools can't? Maybe coaches should be compensated base on filling the roster? If you are getting $2800 to coach and you put 13 in your regional you only get $2600. I am adamantly against bumping it up again. From 98 to 103 and now even more!! Cmon, are we really wanting to further exclude the small high school kids from sports?? They can't play any of the ball sports. Wrestling is all that is left. The coaches just need to get into the halls and get these guys out!
Will Cokeley
(708)267-6615
willcokeley@gmail.com
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I think I like the rationale behind C better. The statistical point that those weight ranges encompass right at 7% of the population per bracket added to those weights stretch from the 5 to 95 percentile for all weights is just facing reality. There desperately needs to be less than an 18 lb jump to '89 and 26 lb jump to '15. I think spreading the lower weights a little would be a good thing.
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Every year there are plenty of undersized 103 lb kids that weigh 90-100 lbs, wrestling against kids cutting from whatever to get to 103. They are giving up as much or more than these kids wrestling the upper weights.
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Problem with making more weight classes is filling them. I don't believe kids DON'T wrestle because they are caught between weight classes. They don't wrestle because it is HARD. It is why we lose lots of kids to BBall late in the grade school years.
I had someone tell me at the Pratt regional that they are SOOOOOOO mad at their 8 yr old son because he is playing basketball. I asked "why you mad at the kid, you are the one that gave him the option?"
Too many parents give their kids the option of quitting (or not ever starting)this sport. That doesn't teach them anything about real life. I'm sorry but that is just about the worst parenting advice i have ever heard. Most kids I have met that are forced to wrestle end up hating it. and if the kid doesn't want to wrestle wouldn't you still want them doing some sort of physical activity? Pretty sure I would rather have my children play basketball then have them sitting around the house doing nothing.
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I have always been a big fan of wrestling, but i never pushed my son towards it. It took his 7th grade football coach ( who was also the jr high wrestling coach) to suggest he go out for wrestling as it would help him in football. Needless to say he fell in love with the sport. He has taken his lumps over the past 5 years, but keeps at it because he enjoys the sport. Sometimes i wander back thinking what if he had started earlier, but then i realize that that is a waste of time. I am just so glad he enjoys it so, successful or not. I think it has really made him a better person, and he has made countless friends through the sport. By the way, he gave up football because of his size. Options for smaller weights need to be kept.
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After summer weight training and being in a weight lifting class as a freshman, by the end of wrestling season my son tipped the scales at a whopping 87lbs. Giving up almost 20% of his body weight,I never once saw him back down from opponents that were most times a head taller. He kept a positive attitude and I encouraged him by telling him that his time will come. He will most likely stay at 103 for one or two more years.
His brother is a 75lb 7th grader who will likely be in the same boat as his brother. Both boys have wrestled from the age of 5 and are looking forward to some success in High School wrestling. This is the only sport that levels the playing field for the smaller athletes.
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Thanks, I will allow my kids to run the house from now on. Obviously they are much more experienced at life than me...........
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