Can high school or middle school wrestlers go to open practice rooms put on by kids club teams?

Unfortunately NO

Not during the high school or middle school seasons...

While this is definitely true for high school wrestlers, middle school wrestling is a different animal. Bottom line I would encourage every middle school wrestler to seek out and take part in any opportunity to better themselves and the Brawlers’ open room is one of the best! In fact I would also, when there isn’t a school conflict or strict instructions from their coach, recommend middle school wrestlers compete in both their middle school program and club tourneys. The upside far outweighs the down side. Feel free to PM or call me if you want details.

I hope you are correct in implying that you can do open rooms during middle school.

Keep this in mind with respect to MS wrestling. There are no formal dual/meet records kept and there are no qualifying tourneys at the end of the year. It is looked at totally different than HS. Had the Pioneer League here locally recognized the benefit of an early season this wouldn't even have been brought up. Shame on them!

KSHSAA Handbook Rule 22 (page 34): "Outside Competition" prohibits the practice of wrestling in school and kids tournaments during the season of sport. The rule applies to students in grades 7-12.

From Labor Day through the Friday before Memorial Day a student who is a member of his school team may NOT compete as a member of an outside team or as an independent competitor in outside competition in the same sport.

A student becomes a member of a school team when he/she first participates in a practice session.

it is true Middle Schools have no set season of sport as do high schools; meaning middle schools could play football in the spring if they wanted to. . . but the restricitions on practicing and participating with outside groups while a member of a school team remain the same, regardless of the time of year.

While this is true, KSHSAA’s oversight of MS athletics is not their top priority. They primarily provide only guidance to the number of MS leagues across the state and very rarely become active. Fact is here locally (ICT) the quality of wrestling at the middle school is lacking and while there are other benefits in supporting your school until something is changed the risk of possibly having to have a conversation with Mark Lentz is well worth it.

Don't you think it sends a real wrong message to encourage kids and coaches to not follow rules of competition?

There are penalties for not following the rules. . . beyond "having to have a conversation with Mark Lentz." While it is true the middle school violator could not be barred from participating in the "middle school state tournament" they could be declared ineligible for their middle school team. To allow them to continue to wrestle would put the team, coach and school in jepordy.

Like sheep headed to slaughter....

There is something to be said about not following rules that are either useless, or prohibit someone from bettering themselves, without harming anyone else.

"Rules? Don't need no stinkin' rules. . . if I don't like 'em."

Did anyone say "skip middle school practice to go to open room"? Did someone advocate theft or murder?




Who gets hurt by a kid going to open room night and getting extra work in?

The kid does if it is reported to KSHSAA. It has always been my understanding that penalties for such an infraction could include loss of eligibilty on the other end of their high school career.

Greg, when KSHSAA puts the same emphasis on middle school athletics and mandates the same season across the state as they do with high school I would then advocate following this rule. Until then we are putting kids at a disadvantage and Truth is they won't because middle school athletics is not high school. For the record if a wrestler's coach or school had an issue with their wrestler competing outside their schedule I would encourage them to respect that. Also worth noting, I've came to this opinion after witnessing for years kids electing to not support their middle school or those that do go backwards in their skills (late season). For those areas in the state that have figured out the early season is the best this discussion means little and I applaud them. For those that don't it is a very difficult decision where to wrestle. And, it shouldn't be!!

Originally Posted By: doug747

Who gets hurt by a kid going to open room night and getting extra work in?


The kid does if it is reported to KSHSAA. It has always been my understanding that penalties for such an infraction could include loss of eligibilty on the other end of their high school career.


Hey I would like to know of the A$$ that would report a kid for getting a little work in heck some or most of these kids run the other way from extra workout however the good ones don't, And I guess football must fall under a different umbrella for right now there is no hich school season for football so there should be no teams working out I will bet you I could find one come on take the bet.

Can a kids club wrestler k through 8 participate in high school practices?

Pretty simple to me. Either join your club team and compete or join your middle school and compete. If your prodigy is too good to work with some middle school noobs and help them get better, then get far away from the program. One of the best ways for middle schoolers who have never been a part of the world's greatest sport to improve is to have them watch teammates who have some experience properly warm-up and control a match. Don't do both and encourage your child to break the rules in the process.

..and is it the kids that are electing not to support their middle schools or is it the parents? If it's the kids, then I would say you are giving your 12 year old one hell of a say in how your run your household.

We've had some pretty elite kids come through our program and to a kid they have all chosen to participate with their middle school teams. But to be fair, we've always had parents who gave the kid the choice and knew the true meaning of the word "team''. The participation with the middle school team didn't seem to hurt their development or success at the high school level.

Our club/ middle school put 6 wrestlers on the Kids State podium last year. NO rules were broken, and the effect on the other kids on the MS was awesome, 45 kids out this year. 25 wrestling in the club now. ask any HS coach and he'll tell you a strong room is better than having 1 superstar.

I'd take that bet,then you'd be the A$$!