There are two wrestling changes being considered at the upcoming KSHSAA Regional Meetings; both have to do with scheduling and both are, in my humble opinion, "no brainers" but I am offering some information, just in case.

HIGH SCHOOL. Every quasi-team sport overseen by the KSHSAA, except wrestling, is allowed to be involved in a limited number of multi-team events (a.k.a. tournaments or meets) that begin before 3:00 p.m. and with NO designated school days. As you know, wrestling has some limitations as to start times for tournaments (no earlier than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, unless a two day tournament, then there is no designated Friday start time(???). Similarly, quad duals cannot start before 4:00 p.m. on Monday through Thursday. This recommended change does two things: #1 Allows for two (2) SINGLE DAY tournaments that can be held on Fridays and which could start as early as 1:00 p.m. (this is done in Nebraska quite a bit). This could possibly allow for (a) an additional Saturday or two at home for our coaches and athletes, and/or (b) allow schools to not have to double up JV and Varsity events on a Saturday.

Or, schools can choose to NOT utilize it. It is just another possible tool.

The second change for the high school would be to allow quads to be held on days other than Fridays with a start time of 3:00 p.m.

MIDDLE SCHOOL/JUNIOR HIGH. The second proposed change has to do with JH/MS wrestling. Out here, we are having to gather more and more schools together to give our kids three and sometimes even two quality matches. If we bring more than five or more schools together this is considered to be a tournament and we have to burn three competition points. . .even though we are not keeping team scores or placings, individual placings or awarding medals. This has the affect of allowing us only 6 competition dates: four days of "dual" competition plus two "bona fide" tournaments. We propose to allow for a new category of competition for JH/MS we call"GET TOGETHERS" If more than 4 schools would "get together" to wrestle only TWO (2) competition points would be burned IF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET:
(1) NO team scores are kept;
(2) NO team awards are given;
(3) NO individual places are kept;
(4) NO individual medals or ribbons, etc. are awarded; and,
(5) NO individual wrestler wrestles more than 3 matches during a "Get Together."
This change would increase the the number of allowable season events by 25%. to 6 such events plus two "bonafide" tournaments.

If you are in a more populous part of the state and can get your competition with only three or four schools getting together, this would not affect your school at all.

I urge you to visit with whomever it is in your school that attends the Regional Meeting and votes on the proposals and ask them to support these changes.


Greg Mann
Manhattan, KS