Population of a state means alot in regards to how deep wrestlers are in each weight class. But I do believe that most states that are active in wrestling, have about the same quality of state champs.
Wrestling requires 4 things in my opinion, genetics, comprehension,spirit, and the availibility to get the proper training.I feel that some kids have some of these traits and a few have all, but it is based mainly on population, not what area you live in.
I might disagree on that. Ask any college wrestling coach and they will tell you state champs from different states are not equal. That's like saying a PA state champ is good as a Missouri state champ (lets pick on Missouri). I don't think i'm exaggerating when I say college coaches would look at a state placer out of Pennsylavania before looking at a state champ from most of the other states including Kansas. Just look at the stats of where the recruits come out of. You will see PA, NJ and OH dominate, thats because the quality is so high there. And yes these states have higher populations but also have fewer classes, which means it the kids that make the state champ are going to be outstanding and have the skills that really seperate them from the other wrestlers.
No back to point. I think the whole philosophical point is that by having a smaller supply of rewards (state champs and state placers, state qualifiers), will create a higer level of competition to obtain the reward. With a higher level of competion you create more and higher quality of wrestlers. Now this philosophy is different that the KS approach that states lets reward more wrestlers with state championships and state placers. I'm just comparing results and come that conclusion that these states with lower amount of classes (lower amount of rewards) consistently produce the most college recruits and NCAA all-americans.
Example of support:
NCAA 2009 finalists by state
Pennsylvania 3 Number of classes 2
Indiana 3 Number of classes 1
Ohio 3 Number of classes 3
New Jersey 3 Number of classes 2 (I think)
12 out of 20 = 60% from these 4 states. Whate are they doing right?
