Hats off to a well ran tournament! I thought that the Salina Club did an excellent job this year. Much better than last year if I do say so myself. I feel that anyone who wrestles at the Salina Tournament are Champions...Win or Lose. Very tough tournament.

This was our first trip to Salina in over 10 years of wrestling. Wow, what a great tournament!
The facility was great and the tournament was well run. Several of us recognized the great official on mat 14. I never saw him leave the mat the entire day. Someone please tell me his name.

Great job Salina!

Have to agree with the job well done by the mat 14 official (I did notice him depart for 3 or 4 matches though ). I believe he was also at Hutch and did a great job there. Not sure what his name is but would also like to know.

It was a very well ran tournament. My son wrestled in a 32 man bracket - only the second one he had ever seen, the other being at Tulsa Nationals - and we were finished by 6:30 pm. The food prices were also excellent - and no admission charge. It was so nice to go to a tournament and not feel "taken".

The picture process was a whole lot faster this year. I hate to even voice a concern about it - but do the "printer" pictures hold up year after year? I always thought the started to fade after a few years? But, it was very nice to get out of there without the two hour wait for pictures!

Jim,

The official on Mat 14 was my old Kids wrestling coach, Dave Robison. He did leave his mat though, I know this because was over at my mat (mat 13) getting his gum out of my jacket.

I am reading the messages referring to the ref that was on mat #14 at the Salina tourn. I agree that he was there for most of the day, which was nice and consitant, but i was sitting right above mat 14 and i saw one child get his arm broken because of being thrown (illegally) and another was taken off on a stretcher for being thrown (illegally) and a third child laid there after being thrown (illegally). The third child was able to get up and the ref ejected the one who threw him. All the sections around the mat clapped and cheered because of the child being ejected. Personally, as i watched the previous matches of the two children being taken to the hospital, i wondered why the others werent ejected. SAFETY SHOULD BE OUR FIRST CONCERN.

The wrestler that was ejected had REPEATEDLY exhibited unsportsmanlike behavior. That ejection was LONG overdue. I challenge the club that was involved to address that issue. He's a tough wrestler that needs the help.

The ref on 14 had a rough time last year and was much better this year. Well done.

The ref for the match when the wrestler broke his arm was actually not the same one that was there most of the day. That throw did not appear illegal in my opinion. They just seemed to land awkwardly. The ref stopped the match as soon as he realized something was wrong. The throw (lift actually) when the wrestler was taken off on a stretcher was close and I can see how it could be justified either way. I saw the ejection but missied the throw on the other one. Just my opinions.

The wrestler who was ejected was coached by the official who ejected him several years ago, and I also coached him 5 years ago. You can bet there isn't any other officials in that state who watch him more closly than the two of us do. I don't wish to speak badly of said wrestler, but when you are known to officials as a consistant bad sportsman and have to be watched extra carefully, its not a good thing.

As far as illegal moves are concern. Given the situations that occured, there probably wasn't anything that could have been done to stop them from occuring. Based on what he told me they happened very quickly. I have full confidence in Dave, and he is a state level official, so I would imagine plenty of other people do as well.

deojsds I say this because it almost sounds like you are accusing that official of allowing a wrestler to throw illegal moves. Perhaps I just misinterpreted your post.

the throw that happen on mat 14 was a legal throw and the kid had his elbow taped and when u don't have an elbow to bend something has to and i guess it was his lower arm that did. but the throw was legal the kid got his arm cought up with the throw stuff happens.

the ref on mat 14 was the best ref i have ever seen in a long long time i like how he shaked the wrestlers hands before the match and when someone got pinned he was right there to give them a hand up that is what every ref should be like.

I think the wrestler taken off the mat on a stretcher was Jeremy Maus. Does anyone know the extend of his injury? I know we all have concern when ever there is a potentially serious neck or back injury.

Mike,
It was Maus that was injured on mat 14. He will be out for at least a week if not 2. The move that he was injured by was witnessed by many around Mat 14. No one believed it to be a legal move.

Gerald Kahle
Tonganoxie Predators

Hope there's no long-term damage. Doesn't sound like Jeremy broke anything...? Is it soft tissue or bone damage?

Talked to Coach last weekend...sounded like a good season so far. I've seen his name many times in the results section. Now this?

Please tell him Garret and I will be thinking of him, and we wish him well.