Members,

On Sunday, September 9th, the Kids Executive Board met in Salina for its annual pre-State Body meeting. The meeting was just under six hours in length, and a number of items were discussed. Here is an overview of what took place, these are not the official minutes but just a snapshot from my notes.

Treasurer – Kansas Kids Wrestling
Checking $69,207.59
Savings 14,392.47
CD’s 53,521.06

State Freestyle/Greco Director
There is concern over the numbers attending the Southern Plains camp.
We are seeing an increase in popularity of the FS/GR dual teams.

Officials Representative
He will provide an overview at the State Body meeting on hiring officials for tournaments including numbers, contracts, and pay.

District Directors
District 1 Tuff Hermreck will be stepping down as District Director.
District 2 District meeting October 7 at Derby Rec Center 1:00 p.m.
District 3 Nothing to report
District 4 Nothing to report

Executive Director
Three areas of emphasis are the expansion of the dual teams, the continued coordination of potential additional “State” tournaments, and the support of the college wrestling fund.

State Chairman
1. USA Wrestling has negotiated a 20 cent per wrestler fee for the use of trackwrestling with a $60 minimum for tournaments.
2. USA Wrestling has indentified a very good vendor that can help with logo and flyer assistance.
3. Use of,or the implication of, a “State” championship will no longer be allowed in the name of sanctioned tournaments not approved by the board. The board then voted to not allow the use of, or the implication of, a state championship unless the finances go through the USA Wrestling-Kansas.
4. The signing of the waivers of insurance that are attached to the USA Wrestling cards is very important.
5. All directors shall provide either original statements or have the bank send the statements directly to the State Chairman.
6. Southern Plains will be held in Dodge City for three more years. Folkstyle will be on the first day, Greco the second day, and Freestyle on the third day.

Qualifying Series Uniformity
The board discussed and voted against (6-10) the use of satellite weigh-ins at Sub-District or District. The weigh-in times for Sub District and District will be 6:00-8:00 p.m. Friday and 6:00-7:00 a.m. Saturday.
The board voted in favor of keeping all fees the same at the State Tournament – Gate Fee $4.00 Adults, $2.00 children, and children under 4 are free. Officials will be paid $400 plus one way mileage and a hotel room with two officials. The entry fee for all competitors will be $20 at each qualifying event.

Proposed By-Laws Changes
Disciplinary Rules – Passed by the board.
These were a clean up from last years significant changes. The changes designate the State Disciplinary Committee as the first level of appeal for anyone ejected from the state tournament, and designate the time within which an appeal must be filed from an ejection.

14U Division Change – Passed by the board.
A high school freshman who places in the top six at a KSHSAA State Championships will not be allowed to wrestling in the 14U division.

Board Terms – Not passed.
Limit board terms.

Special Needs – Passed by the board.
This will allow children who would be developmentally delayed to wrestle one age group below their normal age group. An example of such a child would be someone with Downs syndrome or with an IQ of 75 or less. There is a case by case approval mechanism for such a designation.

Other State Tournaments
Will Cokely is working on a late February 6U State Championship. More details to follow.

Budget
The estimated income next year for Kansas Kids Wrestling is $66,550. A budget to spend an amount equal to that was approved. Next year’s budget included increases in funding for the Pre Season Folkstyle Nationals, Middle School Duals, Elementary School Duals, School Boy Duals, and Southern Plains Tournament. Also approved were the purchase of 13 additional trackwrestling compatible clocks for a cost of $35,000. This expense will be paid for out of our accumulated reserves.

NHSCA Senior Nationals vs. USAW Folkstyle Nationals
Randy Hendershot requested input from the board on which national tournament USA Wrestling – Kansas should send athletes to.

Slate of Officers – Approved by the Board
Executive Director Matt Treaster
Asst. Ex. Director Mark Stanley
Treasurer Leanna Grater
Parlimentarian Jeff Sheets
FS/GR Director Will Cokely

Again, these are not the actual minutes, but just a quick overview of the items discussed at the meeting.

Thanks,
Matt Treaster
Kids Director

As Matt stated, the Executive Council passed a zero budget, not including the purchase of 13 TrackWrestling scoreclocks at a projected cost of $35,000. This additional cost will come out of accumulated reserves. You can view the complete budget compared to last year's budget at www.usawks.com/Kids/budget_1213.pdf.

I am not sure why we voted to restrict our freshmen wrestlers if they place at high school state. I understand the arguments for doing this I just have a different view. If we are going to do this then I recommend you do away with the Triple Crown award for high school level wrestlers. Personally I like the award but you are hurting kids chances of earning that award by not letting them wrestle in their age group.

Have we sold all or any of the old clocks?

Funding for Pre Season Folkstyle Nationals? Is this a new thing?

Not so far. I'm trying a few other strategies to get the word out on them. In the meantime, we're finding that the requests for TrackWrestling capable clocks are coming in frequently enough that we decided to go forward with these additional clocks. The old clocks will probably be stored in western Kansas until they are sold, giving us three locations to make our clocks more equitably available throughout the state.

I agree with Shawn, if they placed at State does that mean they aren't 14 anymore.