does anyone know who was voted best overall wrestler at the eudora regional tournament last saturday. We had to leave because of the weather and we were curious.

Matt Noblet of Paola, 130 lbs.

What does a wrestler receive as an award for being the Regional OW??

A very excellent certificate.

Very excellent in deed, however why doesn't KSHSAA fork out a few more bucks and get a nice plaque for the kids and coaches? There are many schools that can afford to do this during their individual tournaments through out the season and come regional time they get a piece of paper. I just feel that if you are going to take the time to recognize the regional wrestler and coach of the year they could make it a little more exciting to the recepients. Congratulations to all that received this honorable award and I hope your very excellent certificate was still in one peice by the time you got home with it.

I think it from the kwca ?

Actually it is the KWCA that gives this award. It is fairly new (3-5 years) and there is not much budget for it. Sorry if it offends anyone to receive a certificate. I have not ever heard an actual recipient complain?

James Stout
KWCA President

I agree Mr. Stout.

Like I tell my elementary students after I give them a compliment and sometimes they say, "Can I have a sticker?" -- "No, not if you ask. BUT, you should get the internal satisfaction of a job well done! That is MUCH better than any sticker I could ever give you!"

Darn and the KSHSAA bashers were just getting started! I was hoping you would let them go for a bit longer before you torpedoed them.

What would be wrong with a small plaque? There are 16 regionals so if we give them a $8 plaque it would be $128 per year. I will pay for next year's! A certificate is, I am sorry, a joke! You are the best wrestler in this regional, here is a piece of paper? I am sure you could get Brute,Adidas, or even Blue Chip to sponsor the Regional OW's each year. What does the state OW receive?

I am still lobbying for a change in medals too. Those KSHSAA trinkets that they have been handing out for 30 years need to be shelved. How about a state of Kansas with the Seal in the corner and two wrestlers in the middle? Medals are not expensive so there is really no excuse. Maybe have a contest to have a high school student design medals to be used two years in advance or something cool like that.

Without change there can be no progress!

that actually sounds kind of interesting

Cokeley,

Are you serious? Let's see do you go to tourneys that give away the BIG medals or do you go to the tourneys that have great competition?

It is an HONOR to be voted the OW of regionals. What wrestler would not want that because they get a certificate? Sometimes I really wonder where our kids get their materialist attitudes.

I would hope that all regional OW would frame the certificate and proudly have it on display at school or at home.

It's not what you get, it's what you gave! A champion is always a champion.

Mike

I am entitled to let Mr. Cokeley have his opinion. It just differs from mind. Personally, I lose 'nick nacks' all the time. This is part of having ADD. So beit it a medal or a certificate or a plaque means little to me. But the memory of BEING a state champ (something I never was) would be something I would have until they put me six feet under.

Again, however, to each his own and I did find Cokeley's argument cogent and convincing inspite of it not being in line with my personality. DIVERISTY boys. It can and SHOULD be a wonderful thing.

Mike,

Obviously you are part of the problem and not the solution. Climb out of the academic world you are in and think outside of the box. Materialism!? A plaque or even a "framed" certificate (that would be better than just the piece of paper) would hardly qualify as material! Get out and about and see what types of rewards are being given to those who EARN them. Materialism, capitalism, being driven, rewards those are all good things. Socialisim, communism, and failure to look for ways to improve, those are bad things!

Without change there can be no improvement!

The medals that are received at State Wrestling are the same medals the KSHSAA gives for every other State competition. This includes Vocal, Band, Drama, Track, Volleyball, etc. If they customize medals for wrestling then they would have to customize for all activiites. Not saying that would be a bad thing. Just that probably not a lot of people care enough to get it done. I have a son that wrestles and he has an impressive collection of awards from the past 7 years.(he's 11)If some day he is awarded a KSHSAA wresting medal it will pale in comparison.

yea my certificate fell into a puddle of water...

Goodness! Aldon! Why didn't you give it to your mom?