First, as for promoting USAW tourneys vs. non-sanctioned one, I will not apologize for being a USAW loyalist and extolling the virtues of the same. After all, these message boards that we are conversing on are supported by USAW-Kansas. I don't believe AAU, Roller Productions, etc are providing any funds to support the Kansas Wrestling Forums.
Next, I wholeheartedly support bringing top-level tourneys to Kansas. Again, my issue in this, let’s say I have a “King of the World” youth wrestling tournament. And there is no entry qualification (other than age and weight) and essentially this is an invitational tournament. The winners of this tourney get a fancy trophy crown and a t-shirt that extols them as being the “King of the World” winner.
Also in my tournament I claim that the top 6 placers receive “All-American” status even if there are less than 6 entries in the division. A competitor can go 0-2 and still proclaim AA status. Occasionally we run into this same problem at our state level tournament. A few years ago, we had kids placing as an AA in the Folkstyle Nationals that did not even place in their own District tourney.
Today, a kid has many tournaments they can enter and if they win it, they can claim to be a National champ. Even the KSHSAA has 4 State champs at every weight class. I think, especially in younger wrestlers, this sets up an interesting dynamic. What happens to a kid, who wins a National tournament, and goes 0-2 at a local tourney?
My real problem lies in what tournaments call themselves! Some have expressed concerns over Ottawa, claiming to hold the 6 & under STATE championships. But really there is not much we could do if they wanted to call the tournament, the “6 & under Championships of the World.”
I agree with Klint’s “middle of the road” approach. But my belief is that if a parent can find a tournament that their wrestler (under 12) can obtain All-American status, regardless of how watered down it might be, they will do it.
It is a delicate balance. I support Mike’s efforts to bring a tournament to Kansas!
