Vince:
I agree that a D-I program in Kansas would be great, but more schools at any level would be too. You have to remember, while Iowa has three D-I schools, there is also a D-II (Upper Iowa), nine D-III programs (including three of the top six at Nationals), four NAIA and three JUCOs. And the bulk of the kids that are on teams other than Iowa, Iowa State or UNI are Iowa kids, state qualifiers, state place winners and they're having successful careers and are getting great educations. I have five kids that I coached up here that are wrestling D-III right now.
The thing is that, yes, having K-State or KU add wrestling would be great, but D-I wrestling is struggling right now. I'd rather see the MIAA and KCAC schools add it. It's an exciting show; believe me, there is nothing like a packed house in Waverly, Iowa as Wartburg (D-III champs) and Luther (Matt Pyle's school) go at it. It's better than Iowa-Iowa State, trust me. It would be much easier for the lower division schools to add it and support it, not to mention find a wealth of Kansas kids to fill out the rosters and compete at the national level.
Wouldn't it be great to see Emporia State and Pittsburg have a dual meet? It wasn't that many years ago that George Worley was coaching some pretty good teams at NW Missouri State. D-III and NAIA schools are adding wrestling every year. D-II is even starting to grow again. These schools are not as badly effected by Title IX as D-I schools. At least it would be a place to start.
And Will, keep fighting the good fight. You keep slamming into that wall the way you are and one of these days you're going to break through; there will be a Will Cokeley-shaped hole in that wall, just like in the cartoons. Hang in there.
Last edited by maybeimamazed; 05/06/08 09:02 PM.
