Needing your support!
With the District and State Body Meetings fast approaching I wanted to share one proposal that will be offered in Salina this year. We have visited about these issues several times on this forum: “Wrestling Up”, “Wrestling up in Age”, and “Changing KS rules RE wrestling up & double dipping”. As it stands currently, a wrestler may not wrestle up in age or enter two brackets (different age divisions) within the same session. Only when a split tourney is being utilized and with the tournament director’s permission and the combining of brackets may they enter up in age. Never are they allowed to enter twice (double dip). This is contrary to OK’s rules and for the reason listed below I find it less opportunistic for our wrestlers whom want to better themselves. Here are my reasons for voting yes on these proposed bylaw amendments regarding wrestling up and double dipping. Also worth noting, these proposals would not affect qualifying tournaments or the ability to wrestle multiple weights in the same age bracket in one session.
• The choice to better oneself should be up to the wrestler, parent & coach. Why would we want to limit the opportunity to get better?
• This isn’t forcing anyone to do something they don’t want to do, but allows those that wish to a better and easier way to do it.
• Travel and time commitments
o In today’s tough times, justifying a long drive, the expense, and time commitment for possibly only a couple of matches is tough to do for many. Why not make it worth their time and money to be allowed to enter twice making the most of the day, their money and most of all, their wrestler’s experience.
• Receiving permission from the tournament director.
o While I think it is important for the tournament director to have control over their tournament I also know how much they have on their plate come tournament time. Instead of having to burden the director and ask for permission I would suggest if a tournament director wishes not to permit double dipping or wrestling up they opt out on their flyer informing everyone prior to signing up. Given the reason below I can’t understand why they would do it.
o Revenue and space requirements – While this change isn’t driven by money it however brings another positive to the table. This change will provide additional revenue for clubs and great competition without increasing the number in the stands!
o Attracts great talent – Over the years we have had several teams attend Derby’s tournament from OK. One of the things they continue to ask is if their wrestlers can double dip. Last year we utilized the spilt format to try to accommodate the best we could but ultimately had to make the decision what age groups we split it at. With these changes I would argue you could attract great wrestlers from further away enhancing your tournament’s reputation.
• Works both ways
o Not realizing the true impact of this proposed change when I brought it up last year, it is becoming even clearer this year for this reason. My son will be at the bottom of 12 this year and unfortunately he will also be at one of the lowest weight classes. Considering past years and the limited number of participants from week to week in this age/weight class it opens the opportunity to see quality kids from 10 under moving up. Tanner would much prefer to wrestle tough kids from 10 under (several whom are better) than to have to wrestle the same 2 kids every weekend in a round robin.
I realize that there may be a couple of quirks about permitting this including, what happens when they are up on both mats. Again keeping the reason behind this change, allowing kids to get better, in mind I would hope both coaches, wrestlers, parents and tournament staff would be accommodating. However, when push comes to shove and the rules need to be enforced, so be it. Should you not be able to make the 2 minute allotted time requirement then you would forfeit the match and be moved to the backside. (not necessary a bad thing as it will only provide additional matches). Agreeing with Doug in a previous post, those that wish to challenge themselves aren’t doing this to get the award; they probably already have a drawer full.
Finally, I know that there is a discussion regarding 14 unders and the new high school division. This amendment along with that one will need to mesh in order to accomplish both goals. Please consider the positive effects of this change when you meet at your district meeting and in Salina for the state body meeting. Any concerns or questions, please post here so if need be we can tweak the amendment prior to the state meeting and ensure its approval.
Thanks!
