Scooby states in response to my post: "Wrestling for my family was something we all enjoyed. Wrestling is a fmily sport and one that people need to remember is about the kids and making them feel like they are the best and not telling them they ruined spring break because they had to wrestle."

Neither my wife or I would say this to my son or try to make him feel that way. I believe that most of the wrestling people who know us and the time that we have put in with Jacob over the last eight years know that about us. I think they also know that we treasure every moment that we have spent with him during this time. I just don't understand why a person can't suggest a change on this forum without being considered selfish and unwilling to spend time with their child. Most people who know me and the time that I have spent with Jacob over the last eight years would find the idea that I am unwilling to spend time with Jacob in his wrestling laughable. In fact they would say that I go to the other extreme. Isn't this forum suppose to be about a free exchange of ideas about Kansas Kids wrestling? How can a person feel free to do that if they believe that they are going to be attacked personally for offering their honest opinion on something they consider to be positive change?

Scooby, that being said I will address your comment about the middle school wrestling which I do consider a positive exchange of an idea to my topic question. I agree that would be a problem to ending the Kids season early. Some adjustment would need to be made either at the middle school level or the timing of my proposal. This by the way was not my original idea. I first read about it in the USAW Kansas Kids Wrestling State Body Minutes 11/03/02: "The KWCA had approached Mike and said that they would like to see the Kids wrestling season end earlier. They would like to see it end before High School State, take a couple of weeks break, and then start the summer freestyle-Greco-roman season. They honestly feel we are going too long!! A brief discussion followed, but it was decided to leave as is."
So it appears that it was the KWCA's position at the time that they would prefer not to have their high school wrestlers involved in our post season tournament. In other topics during that time period I seem to remember that someone stated that most other states do not have their high school wrestlers wrestling in their Kids State tournaments. I know Missouri does not and I do not believe that Oklahoma or Iowa do either. Kansas may be more the exception than the rule with this.

Mom160, you do have a good point about the financial hardship of a second tournament. To be honest I really do not think another tournament is necessary for the high school kids. They have quality in-season tournaments and a great regular season State High School tournament. I believe we should let the grade school and middle school kids have their own separate tournament. But if we would have another one for high school kids who want more folkstyle wrestling after the regular season yes you are correct that it would be more expensive to those families who would have children in both. I know one of the things that has been said about the benefits of split tournaments is that it benefits 80% of the participants but doesn't really benefit the other 20% (coaches, workers and families in both sessions). The percentages might be different but like with any new idea or way of doing things you are probably not going to benefit 100% of the participants but the question than becomes would the majority benefit from the change. High school wrestlers could probably attend the tournament on their own with teammates and they could share costs like rooms and transportation. I know that would not be ideal for the family but this is a possible cost savings solution for them to this extra season tournament which I would not see as important for the family to attend as their regular season High School State tournament.