We do not pick the tournaments we attend based on whether or not it uses Track Wrestling. We attend tournaments that we have for years that provide what we feel is the level of competiton that our wrestler(s) need for them to develop.
For instance, we send most of our Novice wrestler(s) to smaller tournaments (seldom any of which use Track Wrestling) because they are loaded with the level(s) of competition those wrestler(s) need, not because we are worried about what their record(s) will be at the end of the year at seeding meetings, but rather that they gain a positive environment that contributes to them having fun and gaining experiences and enhancing their skill level in the hope of retaining these kids for years to come in our wrestling community.
On the other side of it, my own son is in his top year of the 12U and has set some lofty goals for himself (for this year and his future). His record is good, but not as good as it could be if he would not wrestle up in weight or in age or sometimes both. He will not run from a fight and we think in the long run he will be better off for it, but if we were overly worried about his seeding at the end of the folkstyle year, he would miss out on alot of mat experience.
Please remember that we are developing young men and women; it is our responsibility to do so in a manner that contributes to them becoming people of integrity and character. They will mimmic what they witness so if they see us working the system to get a seed they don't deserve or arguing a call unjustly, etc. these don't lend themselves to what should be our main goals.
Oh and by the way, if you let your tournament schedule be dictated by their use of Track Wrestling, you will miss out on MANY good tournaments with ALOT of good competition. One really sits fresh in my mind: Western Kansas Classic in Hays.
Just some thoughts and opinions,
Pete Eck
