I crunched a couple numbers on the upcoming regional qualifiers in FS/GR...The Southern Plains tournament this weekend that we are a part of has less than 200 entries. The Western Regional tournament has 992 entries . If you factor in population of the states involved we should have 668 entries to be equal. Based on population KS should have about 46k kids going. I believe we have about 20. Heck, I might have flown my son to Oregon for a tournament like the West is having if it was an option. The Tulsa Kick off only had 1100 entries last year. This leads to alot of questions??? Heck I am part of the problem now. I pulled my kid out of Southern Plains because I was not going to put the time or resources for him to go 700 miles for a bracket with 2-3 kids. I will help him get anywhere available for big tournaments that will help him and we feel we get a good return. Next year we are supposed to be allowed to go to any regional like they can for Fargo. If that was the case this year, there is 30 entries in his weight in the west. How many would love to have 30 kids in a bracket for a summer tournament? And if they are still wrestling in the summer odds are most of them are pretty decent.

That leads to the question do we place to much emphasis on Folkstyle in KS and not enough on FS/GR?

How are we going to compete in the long run in Fargo and as they get older, giving up these types of numbers?

If your child has any dreams of college wrestling...Where do you think the college scouts are...Fargo! And who does it seem is better preparing for that? I fully realize only a very select few will be wrestling in college, but you want to at least give them the best chance you can. Families in the west certainly are.

I know we have had better numbers in the past, but this looks bleak. Hopefully next year Southern Plains will be in Hays, but even if it is. If there is this type of low entry, from the surrounding states we are still far behind.

I don't know the answer but I am frustrated with the low participation we have as a state (and from the looks of it in this region) in FS/GR this year. One final thought to think about...

Do you think KS is a stronger supporter of wrestling than Idaho???? I know I do, but Idaho which has 1/2 the population we do has 105 entries traveling an average of 890 miles (if you use the center of the state) to it's regional. We are sending just over 20 and they have to travel 790 miles if you use the same center of the state starting point. Just something to think about. If you want the quickest example of how this effects us look at the SchoolBoy duals last week. Idaho had TWO full teams with backups, and we had to scrap to get one and still have 4 open weights.

Thanks to those that are participating but we need more.

Thanks for listening,

24/7