Dear Kansas wrestling coaches and KWCA members,

Thanks to all of those who recently attended the 39th annual Fritz Knorr Fall Coaches Clinic in Salina. The weekend was another great success. We had over 145 in attendance. Coach Manning (University of Nebraska) was very impressed with the turnout of Kansas Coaches.
Coaches Mark Manning and Chas Thompson were excellent clinicians. We also had a very productive coach’s forum with Dennis Charbonneau (Emporia) and Bill Johnson (Norton) leading great discussions about wrestling and how to run an effective program. We honored our sport’s contributors, service-providers, coaches, and athletes at the annual Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet.
It certainly was a memorable weekend in celebration of Kansas wrestling and an exciting way to kick off the 2009-2010 season.
If you were unable to attend the Fall Clinic; High School, Middle School and Kid Club Coaches are still encouraged to join the KWCA for the 2009-2010 season. The KWCA will be giving a Middle School Coach of the year award and also award four Kids Club Coach of the year awards. To be eligible for these awards coaches must be a member of the KWCA. A registration form may be found on the KWCA home page along with instructions to purchase a clinic DVD. Being a member of the KWCA is a great way to help continue to make the great sport of wrestling stronger in the state of Kansas. The group plans the Senior Classic Dual, coordinates rankings, awards an All-Academic team, gives out post-season awards, and honors coaches, athletes, officials, contributors, media, and inducts Hall of Famers each year. Each year the KWCA gives $4,000-$6,000 in scholarship money to the College Wrestling programs in Kansas. The KWCA also works toward rules proposals to improve our sport.
We also need to welcome several new board members and thank outgoing board members for their years of service!
New President – Travis Keal, Mill Valley
New Vice President – James Renfro, Cherryvale
New 5A Class Rep- Dennis Charbonneau, Emporia
New 4A Class Rep- Mike Medina, St. James Academy
New 321A Class Rep- Jason Brown, Sabetha
New USAW-KS Rep- Kale Mann, Mill Valley
Web-Master- Brett Kramer, Jayhawk-Linn
Academic Chair- James Stout, Abilene

Outgoing board members Brian Shelton of Valley Center and Bill Johnson are to be commended for their years of service to the KWCA.
Your class reps can help you throughout the year with any KWCA questions. They are:
6A – Bob Gonzales, Manhatten
5A – Dennis Charbonneau, Emporia
4A – Mike Medina, St. James Academy
321A – Jason Brown, Sabetha
The class reps will also be coordinating the Senior Wrestler and Coach of the Year awards at the State tournaments and will be nominating names for the Senior Classic All-Star dual. Please assist them with this process.

Thanks for supporting the KWCA and best of luck this season!

Regards,
Travis Keal