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Here are the results from the state tournament survey, updated as of 2/10/17: www.usawks.com/StateTournSurvey_170210.pdf

The state tournament committee will be meeting soon to review this data. If you have any thoughts, concerns or other input, please share it here.

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It's apparent we can't get great participation from the survey. I have many members that received the survey but chose not to reply to it for whatever reason. They have no hesitation in expressing their feelings to me so maybe it's a familiarity or trust issue. That's not meant to be negative just a statement.

With over 100 kids in our club I can tell you what most feel/want.

Many are fine with the length of season but would be OK with the season ending before spring break starts.

Most don't want to start before mid-November for practice let alone tournaments.

Most don't want to add 6U to the state series.

Most support HS kids wrestling (at least 16U)

Majority will not do freestyle.

Most all do not want a split state tournament.

I grew up in D4 (now live in D3, and previously D1) and get the travel thing, we can't abandon them or make them a casualty in the decsion. Kids and HS numbers are down out there where they used to be strong, we have to ensure it keeps growing or the whole state will suffer.

We as club directors and coaches have a good feel for our club and what they would like to see. We have to come together at the state body meeting, discuss, cuss, put personal agendas aside or whatever and make a decsion.

Starting in November, NCAA's, freestyle, or what "everyone" else in USAW is doing can't be the determining factor alone. We have to do what is best for KS folkstyle wrestling 1st and foremost and go with it. But until we can get everyone to come to the state body meeting and take part in the decision we are going to continue to have back and forth.

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Daniel DRW - very well stated.

Listening to the constituents/members is important. Quit spinning it. Get rid of all these extra state tournaments - you are losing volunteers and donors. If you are going to shove 6 & under on to everyone add it to the state put it by the game area and bouncy bounce area and have two extra dippin dot vendors over there, I have friends who work for Kimberly Clark who might help sponsor that division (there is a lot of data and facts that say do not do this). Bring back 16 & Under so we can help develop those in that age group. Let the schoolboy, cadets and juniors lead the way for our national teams. We do not need a fashion show to outfit these guys - they can get neat gear that makes them look like a team and they will still get the needed experience without an extra $$$ whatever per athlete/family. Why not be the host of some Land of OZ duals or Tin Man Duals and bring a little cash back to the state - for goodness sake we have the clocks, computers, all these guys and parents wanting extra mat time and cool stuff could work the tournament - and at the same time it might help the USA WKS bottom line. Heck if you set it up properly a host college could get involved with some cheaper housing compared to hotels. Invite the best teams - that is whoever you want to challenge you - IL, PA, OK, MO, MN, IOWA, Ohio, WI, KS, NEB, CO - start with those states or add TX, ArK you can do Free/GR or Folkstyle - I think the Disney Duals are folkstyle and they draw a pretty big crowd. Oh sure they have Disney World and the Ocean. Put on a good wrestling tournament and they will come put it on in Ottawa, Salina, Wichita, or any other wrestling college town in Kansas that can handle it.


Last edited by smokeycabin; 02/11/17 11:15 AM.
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Good post by both Daniel and Smokey. Our clubs response is very similar to Daniels club, at least when they talk to me. The main difference is some of mine report they provided an email address and never got the survey (not sure if this is true or not). As far as adding 6U to the state tournament I say no especially if we are going to have to run 2 tournaments on 2 different weekends to do so. This kind of defeats the point of some districts getting rid of subs to eliminate one travel weekend. 2 different tournaments or even running split format takes the excitement of the parade of athletes away, as it will be 1/2 the size, as well as eliminates the ability to watch ALL the best wrestlers under 1 roof,and makes some families or coaches spend motel and food money 2 different weekends.

I feel ending the season earlier is going to do nothing BUT hurt the wrestling numbers. Not only will you take away or move 2 of the biggest tournaments in the state you will also lose many middle school kids as their season is not over until the 1st week of March. You will also lose all HS or 16U if they remain in the kids division.

Yes ending the season earlier will help those few select wrestlers that travel to national tournaments and participate in the Olympics styles. But it is just that a FEW SELECT WRESTLERS. Odds are those are not the wrestlers we are losing after a few years as they are going to stay out and wrestle no matter when a season ends and when the next one starts. I think we are focusing on the wrong group of wrestlers when making some of these decisions.

Just my opinions and some feedback from my club.

Lance Geyer

Last edited by L.Geyer; 02/11/17 01:52 PM.
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Previous post, posted twice........

Last edited by L.Geyer; 02/11/17 12:57 PM.
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Just simply an FYI: the entire state does not have the luxury of middle school wrestling in any meaningful form, let alone a structured league, that may be news to some folks. It seems ironic that some of the most financially "well off" districts are the ones who don't have it perhaps the state body should be concerned about that since purportedly this the the age group where we are losing wrestlers


The opinions herein are Mr Bluel's alone and are not that of OSHS, Falcon Empire or any other entity
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This year We took a page from the KC Wrestling Club and put yard signs in front of the middle schools this year and some high traffic areas around OE/STA - I think it helped and increased our numbers in the 10 -14 range. It was a good turn out - we had a free clinic and early registration period. I bet a dime if every club (all 200 plus across the state) put 10 to 20 yards signs in front of middle schools and around their community the KS clubs and the USA WKS state would see a noticeable jump in 10 - 14 year olds that was my tip for the day. No body wants to talk about the elephant (s) in the room and drop in over all numbers - WHY WHY - ?????? Which translates into lower revenue at a time when spending has increased - fact. It took families from the past 30 - 40 years to help build a healthy fund balance - I am curious what the reserves were 5 years ago and what they are now? Fees were raised recently and numbers have dropped and new activities and line items continue to be added since board consolidation . What if USA Wrestling KS helped fund the signs for every club. We are in a fortunate situation and we're able to self fund our signs and increase our numbers and help USA WKS and the national numbers - it took 25 years of hard work by many many people to keep these clubs healthy. I think a few years back our total numbers were about 9,500 - I think we have about 8,500 statewide now - or down about 1,000 kids - jump in and correct me if I am wrong. If membership is down + expenses are up = you make the call. No charge on the pro bono consulting from smoking cabin. So all you guys with your hand in the cookie jar don't do it - you know who you are.


Sean McCarthy
913-579-1835 - cell

Last edited by smokeycabin; 02/15/17 09:30 PM.
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Our kids club numbers are up 33% this year. Our Middle school number are up 25%. our high school numbers are down 10%.

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As for the recruiting piece..... We (HS coach and Club Director/coach) visit our MS team at the beginning of their season and then about a week before it's over.

The other big plus that we have is our HS coach also coaches MS football, that is a great asset to encouraging more kids to wrestle.

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Originally Posted By: Cokeley
it was necessary to only have like minded members on the board to push his simple agenda.


I'm not looking to get in the middle of the college fund disagreement but the words above from that thread caught my eye...(I moved it here as to not hijack that thread, so if you need the full context go read that thread) I think those words though could be spoken about many parts of KS wrestling right now. Who's agenda is being pushed, the board or the body?

We sit at the state body meetings and people say "everyone wants this or that" or this is what we need to do for the KS when in fact it's a small group that want something and feel that if they want it so should everyone else.

We have some great people doing great things for KS wrestling but some items on the agenda should be taken to the body to ensure the majority are on board.

I understand feelings are going to get hurt and the final decsion may not work in every clubs future plans or desires but I also feel that at times we are not even truly considering the majority.

That being said the body must show up at the state meeting and be heard!! If we continue to rely on surveys no one completes or only half the clubs showing up at the fall meeting we will have no room to complain.

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Originally Posted By: Daniel DRW
Originally Posted By: Cokeley
it was necessary to only have like minded members on the board to push his simple agenda.


I'm not looking to get in the middle of the college fund disagreement but the words above from that thread caught my eye...(I moved it here as to not hijack that thread, so if you need the full context go read that thread) I think those words though could be spoken about many parts of KS wrestling right now. Who's agenda is being pushed, the board or the body?

We sit at the state body meetings and people say "everyone wants this or that" or this is what we need to do for the KS when in fact it's a small group that want something and feel that if they want it so should everyone else.

We have some great people doing great things for KS wrestling but some items on the agenda should be taken to the body to ensure the majority are on board.

I understand feelings are going to get hurt and the final decsion may not work in every clubs future plans or desires but I also feel that at times we are not even truly considering the majority.

That being said the body must show up at the state meeting and be heard!! If we continue to rely on surveys no one completes or only half the clubs showing up at the fall meeting we will have no room to complain.

Whe you use the word "body", I assume you are referring to the governing body? Those elected or appointed by their various clubs to represent them at district and state meetings?

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Yes that is correct, 1 representative from every club that has a current charter and is in good standing in the state gets a vote.


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