I would be interested in the feelings of the wrestling community about wrestlers from high schools who do not belong to the KSHSAA participating in post season meets such as the Metro Classic or the Senior Classic.

Gary Ulmer

Could you give an example that would illustrate your question?

I'm against it. Students who wish to compete in these events need to enroll in a KSHSAA school in my opinion. In addition to this opinion, I believe it would be very hard to compare selections between a kid at a KSHSAA school that competed all year in high school events and the the State Tournament Series to a kid that didn't. The selection process would become very difficult.

An example I could think of would be like a home school kid. For example, if Alex Thomas had never enrolled at Norton and had remained home schooled. Although he had wrestled in several federation events and the kids state series, he would have never competed in KSHSAA events if he had not enrolled in Norton this year as a junior. Obviously, he is very good and may be headed to the Senior Classic after next year, but he would have been tougher to evaluate and select if he had not enrolled at Norton.

Scott,

Lets say that a wrestling coach from the Faith-Has-It School here in Olathe, a non-KSHSAA member, has recommended a wrestler from his/her team. This wrestler will not be allowed to participate in the Kansas State tournament , but is a high school senior and will be graduating this year from FHI High. Also, I might add, this wrestler has wrestled this year a season that has involved several KSHSAA sponsored events. I might say also, that this wrestler is pretty good and could well be the best qualified wrestler for a spot on a post season team.

Gary Ulmer

Does the question have anything to do with Christ Prep Academy? If so, I think there are more questions to be asked and answered prior to deciding if a non-KSHSAA affiliated school student can participate.

who's the kid from fhi high?

Inasmuch as the Metro Classic and the Senior Classic are events not sanctioned by the KSHSAA, and the primary requirement is to be a senior, if the athlete meets all the criteria, LET HIM WRESTLE.

If the school is not a KSHSAA school, there is the possibility of that school having a whole team of recruited athletes. That is one of the reasons for this rule being set. It all comes down to the wrestler. If it is that important to him, that wrestler should enroll in another school and legally participate in the event. There are a lot of decisions you have to think about when you choose to go to a private school. If you decide to enroll in a school that is not affiliated with KSHSAA than you have to think about all of the decisions and weigh out all the pros and cons beforehand and know that you are getting involved with. When this wrestler was enrolled in the school, the kid and his parents should have been prepared for something like this to happen. You can't just enroll and then expect the rules to change when you decide that you would now like to participate in these events. It is always sad to see something like this happen where a good wresler is not eligable. All situations are different and if it is just one wrestler, it might seem like it would not be a problem to bend the rules and let the kid wrestler in the events. But the rules are clearly stated about this matter and everyone should know all the pros and cons about going to a private school. It seems like this is a fairly common thing. It is not the first time that it has happened. I think it is a pro that private schools may provide a safer environment and also they spend more money on education, but for me, not being able to wrestle in KSHSAA events would be something I would have thought about before I had enrolled in a private school.

Gary,

I could imagine a thousand reasonable arguments. But, for me, it wouldn't change a thing, it’s too simple.
1. Are they a Kansan?
2. Are they a senior in High School?
3. Are they the best representative?

From a previous post, “Obviously, he is very good and ...” The word ‘obviously’ says it all.

IF we have a good program in our state, THEN there will be many arguable cases - even beyond “whether the kid is KSHSAA, or not”. The selection process should be difficult, and it may well be hard to compare selections. This is a ‘good’ problem to have (we produce quality in quantity). Selection is then meaningful to the dreamers AND the achievers ... not to mention the fans.

To be an eligible candidate, one should be capable of making it a good bout and have the desire to represent his community. This should be the only discriminating factor for candidacy.

Any HS student, KSHSAA school or not, should be allowed to compete as often as possible. Regardless of money, politics, egos, recruiting, etc. After all, aren’t we doing all of this stuff for “the kids” anyway?

Education and development is the point. Ten years from now, we won’t care what school this person went to. We will be most concerned about their contributions to the society we share. Or, we'll ask ourselves if we gave the kid the best chance we could. Let kids enjoy the present while we prepare them for the future.

If the kid has never wrestled in a state tournament, than where would his criteria come from to say that he is worhty to wrestle in the Senior Classic or the Metro Classic?

i suppose if he has beaten some kids who have placed or been a state champ you could make an argument. i think he would have to be head and shoulders above anyone else to get the nod though. if its close you about got to go w/ the KSHSAA affiliated kid.

If it is a Non KSHSAA program, that kid can travel all over the place and go to tournaments from NY to California unlike our other guys. He can compete in the Prep Nationals tournament, and also if he places there can go to the Sr. Nationals tournament.