Here is my frustration with this. Personally, I thought it was a great idea and I promoted it heavily with my wrestlers and their parents at the state tournament. I talked with all of them and encouraged them all to join. In the end I had two state qualifiers register and one female register.

I heard multiple coaches and athletes say that they were waiting to see who all signed up - thats frustrating. I also heard "well there was low numbers so we went elsewhere" - thats also frustrating because of course there will be low numbers if you decide not to sign up. Somebody has to step up and register for the numbers to grow. Those are my frustrations from a coaching standpoint that helps me understand the frustrations from those that are putting the tournament together.

However, I was also frustrated to learn at 10 am on Saturday morning that the tournament had been canceled. The two state qualifiers that had registered were already in Topeka and were arriving at the Expocenter when they got the news. So they drove two hours only to find out that the tournament had been canceled. Sure, that got them to the NAIA Nationals and they stuck around for all of the placement matches, but it was not fair to have them come two hours and then not get to wrestle. The female wrestler that I had signed up, had not yet left Fredonia, but she had not signed up for the Park City-Wichita Classic because of this tournament.

In the end I had three wrestlers that were planning on wrestling Sunday in Topeka. All three of those declined wrestling in Park City on Saturday. So they missed out on a weekend of competition altogether because the Throw Down was lacking 29 wrestlers - which it was my understanding that registration was going to be left open until Sunday morning, I would assume that there would have been some show up at the door... VERY frustrating from a coaching point of view when three wrestlers miss out on a weekend of competition. I feel like it should have been put on anyway, even if they only got one match.

For these reasons, it will be very difficult for me to promote to my wrestlers in the future.

Easy Will, I was just repeating a message that was told to me by a pretty good source from the Expo Staff. I wish you nothing but the best of luck when starting these new endeavors. I am am innovator as well. Note the new dual down at NEO. Come on down and watch the action. Pretty sure there won't be a post on here tomorrow canceling.