The executive board has voted on this issue since we changed the 16U division to HS. At the time Beeson was on the board and he was adamantly against mandating that ALL HS wrestlers wrestle the HS division and not be allowed to wrestle DOWN to the 14U KIDS classification. The vote was carried to the state body. I modified the recommendation to apply only to State placers as a compromise and I believe it passed the Executive Board without any opposition. It was shocking that 2/3 could see that allow HS state placers to wrestle against 7th and 8th graders is not how you develop and improve Kansas wrestling. As Beeson said it is about opportunity to get better. You don't get better by dropping back and dominating those who didn't get a professional coach and five day a week practices for four plus months plus a schedule of competition that was the same age or up to three years older. Wake up! There is NO DEBATE here. The question is do you want develop wrestlers or do you want to discourage our KIDS. The Zach Campbells and Chad Beesons of this topic need to agree that is what is happening even if they don't agree with the rule. At least that way they can admit they are not willing to change to improve. I have been on both ends of the spectrum here, for every Ryne Cokeley there are 20 Sammy Cokeleys. The rule as it stands today is ridiculous and every HS state placer who makes a choice to wrestle 14U should be called out. The facts have been stated and my opinion stands.
