I am using a separate thread to respond to Mike Furches' post entitled "Time To Brag".

Am I reading this correctly? Is the Kansas State Tournament leadership rejecting a request to honor and/or support Tyler Graebner during the Kansas State tournament?

I don’t know where to start but will start with an apology for reacting yesterday in such a way that I acted with my heart instead of acting with my brain. After some thought I went back and deleted the posts I made last night, I deleted them for a reason. As of this morning I am glad I did that. I just finished a long conversation with Ned Price of the Tournament Committee regarding the situation with Tyler. Let me say first off, that I believe many within our state, including our board, and those on the tournament committee realize the impact that Tyler Graebner has had on the wrestling community. As a result, there are several things that are planned at this point in time that I will explain. Again, I had a long conversation with Ned Price and he is someone that I really appreciate. Ned is one of the people who has always been willing to pick up the phone and make a phone call. I appreciate that Ned and our state has a good member of the board in your willingness to communicate appropriately.

Now what is going to happen and not happen at state for Tyler.

• It looks like the items for the Tyler Auction will not be on display due to space limitations. I will try and have photographs of the items with me that people can see if they ask and the auction will continue on, just not on premises. People will be able to still bid on items up until 5:00 PM, but they will have to make those bids and finalize them via my cell phone or in person. The number is 316-841-5814. Until then you can still bid on the items by visiting the photo section of Tyler’s web site, http://www.tylergraebner.com and emailing me at mike@furches.org. I will be leaving for the tournament in Topeka on Thursday afternoon and I can not guarantee that online bids will go through after that. If the motel has a computer I will be able to monitor the bids. I will have items in my car that individuals can pick up if they win the auction either before finals or after finals at state. Again, I realize and respect this decision and fully believe that for many reasons this is okay. It really is not about selling or auctioning off items as much as it is celebrating Tyler.
• Each club will have in their packet information that will tell them where they or their club can contribute to Tyler and his family’s medical cost. There is precedent and I understand that money will not be taken up at State for any individual. Again, I understand that and this has never been about money. There will be a brief bio about Tyler, and of the way he has brought the wrestling community together along with an email address, and physical address to contribute. The state has even offered to pay for these items but I will try and find a printer to do this on behalf of Tyler without expense to the state.
• The following is great news and high school tag team members get ready. THERE WILL BE A TAG TEAM EXHIBITION FOR TYLER AT STATE. This is huge because it will show the dedication to Tyler of these wonderful High School Wrestlers. Again, along with the collection of money, no money will be collected during the exhibition. There will be information in the packets, and individuals or clubs can send money to the Tyler Graebner Fund and Foundation.
• Tyler, a member of his family, or a representative, possibly the Buhler Team Lightning will carry in the American Flag for the start of the tournament. I am so pleased with the state boards willingness to allow this to happen. I am moved every time I see a military branch carry in the flag because of the sacrifice I realize that they have made. While it is obvious that Tyler, his family, or others are not military, they represent the need for all of us to love our children with all of our breath and soul. It truly is one of the things that makes America beautiful and we can celebrate in that beauty in a new way with a little different illustration. It is also a chance to recognize Tyler's contribution to the wrestling community. When we see this, it will be a reminder to how the wrestling community has come together this year to support our own. There has been far too many tragedies in Kansas this year and we have shown that we are a family. Again, from the bottom of my heart thanks for allowing this to take place.
• There will be announcement about what Tyler has meant to the Kansas Wrestling Family this year during the exhibition match, in the packets and prior to the presentation of the flag. I, and the USA Kansas Wrestling Board realizes this as well as the tournament committee.

Now, thanks to their generosity and yours, everyone at the Kansas Kids State Championship will realize and be able to reflect on the contributions that Tyler Graebner has made to our state this year. God Bless our wrestling family and God Bless Tyler Graebner.

Thanks to all that are making this possible. It will be a State tournament to remember, hope everyone has their cameras ready.