I just read mrs. Grater post and as far as the way she feels about wrestling I know for sure shes loves the sport of wrestling and I have new her for years and yes she should not have said it and let anybody hear her, but that being said its hard for me as a coach to be sold a bill of goods that this was in the best interest of the kids or kansas wrestling. Theres been so much said about this that the state body either gives floor passes out like they have in the past or kids wrestling in kansas has been set back 10 years and I hope the familys of the kids that love wrestling don't pull there kids out of a sport the they like and so I think its time to rethink what happened and put a end to the mess. What do you think the kids and parents that read the talk forum think about the mess that kansas wrestling has gotton its self into.
First the dist.1 has a big amount of money taken and now this, its not looking good for Kansas wrestling.

Leana weren't you and ned talking about selling passes last year for 50-75$. I believe that thread is on this website. So were you really joking. I think you enjoy having the power over people to deny them passes. I overheard you and ned talking last year about it.

Yes. Coach Gonazles was not attending the meeting as he was not up for re-election and had announced long ago he was retiring from the Executive Board.


Yes. Mr. Disney was not in attendance as he was prosecuting Scott Cheever for the murder of Greenwood County Sheriff (and former high school wrestler) Matt Samuels.

On a Sunday, last I knew the court houses were closed on weekends.

I would like to chime in on this topic being someone that has been around the wrestling scene for many years. I think that the first part of this topic is leaving the meeting "early" well if memory serves me right attending the meeting is voluntary and done by members of the clubs that donate their time. In the past members from our town's wrestling club mark the calendar, get up at the crack of dawn, and donate their time to drive across the state to District and State meetings. They donate their time and their money to attend these off season meetings. They do this not because they have to but because they want to. Things like this is what makes wrestling in Kansas great when people give of their "free time" to help Kansas kids. I find it disturbing that throughout this post people are having to defend why they didn't attend the meeting or why they left before the end. I think there are bigger issues that need addressed than attacking long time wrestling volunters. Some of these people being called out have gone to these meetings for years donating their time I am amazed that if they miss all or part of a meeting how fast others point fingers. I think if people are looking for a pat on the back for donating some of their time than they are in this for the wrong reason. It's the people that jump in and get their hands dirty helping at tournaments, duals, meeting ect.. that do it because they want to . They don't do it for the look at me look at what I did these are the kind of people who are pointing fingers in this post. I think the biggest part that bothers me about this topic is at this time over 7 pages of replies, which we all know some of the kids read and if we as parents are fighting over something like this what message do are we sending to the kids. I feel don't punish the kids for what others do or don't do, support the kids win or lose and to all the clubs have a great upcoming season.

Scott:

I am stunned by your response. If it was your father who had been gunned down while performing his job I hope you would appreciate the job done by Barry.

A mans life was at stake in a capital murder trial and I know Barry was spending all of his time concentrating on this far more important matter.

My First job is to save a life and I had been up all night long fighting a house fire inwhich a family lost most of every thing they owened and in there eyes its means as much as Barry job does and your right the court house is closed on sunday but we are not here to cast stones, we are here for the kids that wrestle in kansas or are we. your right the people in charge are looking out for them selves and yes most coaches will get there passes if the don't say anything to upset the apple cart. When Kenny and Caty were in charge this kind of thing would have never got out of hand and as I remember I think Grater house bunt one day and if you would have asked her the fire department was there and if the men who worked for the department would have packed up and went to the state meeting she would have been up set to. In other words coaches do not get paid they do it for the kids, and yes some of them do it because there kid wrestles but the people that come from the dist 1 know my kids are out of kids wrestling and one is the head coach of Hiawatha middle school and asst. coach at the high school and yes, I was going to get out two years ago when the club though they could run it without me and that lasted two years and the hiawatha wrestling club has went out and again I was asked to step in and start a club so thats why I was in slaina sunday and the club called team hawks will lose a coaches pass because we left early but if I have a choice to make again to help save a familys home or lose one pass to coach the kids wrestling club at state the familys of our kids that wrestle are smart enough to understand and thats why today I still love the kids and familys of the people of hiawatha and in return I hope you find a way to help the kids insted of patting yourself on the back on the long hours you spend in making a mess of kids wrestling in kansas and by the way whem barry gets done with his court case he could fine time to get the money back that was taken from dist. one.

Great Post

As I hear it Barry did a great job with his case. Thanks to him the Samuels Family may get some of their peace back. But that should not be the only reason people should get a break. Leaving early because of a drive or their family should be a good enough reason. Everyone should be thankful for those clubs that have enough dedication to show up and not just say forget it. I had to skip a day at work, drive close to 140 miles to and 140 miles home and still lose my pass. I probably won't be there next year because our awards banquet for my children is always on the same weekend so I won't be wasting my time and fuel next year.

Not meaning to talk for Scott, but maybe the point is why does anyone need an excuse. And, if an excuse is needed, who rates what is a good enough excuse. As stated very well by Slap, its volunteer!!!!!! No excused needed. And, I understand this was not on the agenda, it came from the floor. It wasn't expected. And, on the important things that could be talked about, how about audit requirements for the clubs to ensure the member's money is taken care of. That makes a lot more sense than taking away passes from someone who thought time with his family was more important than sitting in a voluntary meeting.

To Mr. Johnson
Great post your right on its to bad others don't understand. Thanks

Who made the motion to have clubs that weren't present at the end lose a pass?

Here is the deal -
1. Attendance at the State meeting was falling off very badly;

2. The State tournament directors were concerned about the number of people on the floor at the State meeting who were not coaching and making it harder to run the tournament;

Obviously a lot of people don't like the approach that has been taken to remedy these two things. So how about suggesting alternative solutions? How do you get people to the State body meeting? How do you keep the floor at State less congested?

I agree with John Johnson that we don't want to be rating excuses for non attentance. But we do need clubs to attend the State body meeting.

And we have all be on the floor at State. No one can seriously argue that everyone on the floor NEEDS to be there ALL the time. How do we get those who are just standing around and don't have a kid coming up for an hour or so to get off the floor.

(And thank you Richard for the support)

Who made the motion to have clubs that weren't present at the end lose a pass?

And I would add, stay till the business is concluded!

Richard im glad Barry is doing his job with this case. I wasnt knocking him for doing it. I was just telling the facts. We all got jobs that we got to be at. Keep up the good work Barry.

Scott - I understand you were just making a point. No offense taken.

This topic is where I need to ask the following question:

I have attended (to their conclusion) all of the State Body Meetings for the past 14 years.

I did not attend the State Body Meeting this year(football commitment, as I volunteer for that sport too). Lose 1st "free pass".
Guess you can say I left early too. Lose 2nd "free pass".

What happens when 4 kids from Mill Valley Wrestling Club qualify for the State Tournament?

Will these kids have to forfeit because their coach can't make it to the floor to coach?


Better yet - Should 9 kids qualify and we earn a "free pass", how in the world will 1 coach keep up with all of them, let alone manage to keep an eye on the clock and scoreboard, as well as actually coach the athletes. Remembering that scoring errors are hard to get corrected if we can't keep an eye on them.



Respectfully,

Jeff Broadbent - MVWC

Excellent question Jeff. Set aside all the other comments about the value of staying till the end and why individuals could not and someone please tell me; how a coach is going to explain to their wrestler that has worked their rear off to get there why they had to forfeit their match because their coach couldn't be present? This is a scenario I hope never happens but given the recent decision I can not see how it will be avoided! Who are we in it for? Who is being punished here? Someone please answer!

Well Jeff Smith thats a no brainer the kids, although it may take the brain trust a little longer because they will have to have a meeting to talk about it, and then vote

I also disagree with the outcome of the vote, but to be clear, your scenario would never happen. There are so many coaches on the floor that almost any of them would gladly coach the wrestler. He would be disadvantaged by not having the coach that knows him, but forfeiting is out of the question.