Nigel,

I appreciate it that you are in a very constructive manner trying to tell us that realistically that this is unlikely to pass and that we might be just wasting our time.

You may be correct in that assessment, but I still think it is at least worth an attempt by our group. I am really a strong advocate of all tournaments having shorter waits between matches and shorter total days at the gyms and arenas. I really believe that it would help promote wrestling in our State. I pretty sure it would in my area of Johnson County. I believe there are a lot of very good athletes playing basketball here. These kids have a lot more potential as a wrestlers than as a basketball players. I really think that the split formats help achieve both of these things, shorter days and waits betweem matches. This would help entice more new families to try and stay with wrestling.

I was not thinking about it at State before Coach Roberts started his poll on it. But I believe it could be worthwhile at State too now, especially after reading about Illegalhold's experience with it in other States. Really, Nigel, doesn't it make sense that a 10 to 12 hour day and 3 to 4 hour waits for matches are just too long for kids say 7 to 12 years old and families who are new to this sport? Really, most people outside of the sport would probably say that if you cut that it half it would still be too long. It may be okay for the true wrestling fan and coaches, but if your child is not having initial success a family new to wrestling may think that it is not the correct sport for their family due to the long tournament days. Don't we want the sport to grow with the general sports public?

Wrestling is the one sport that I have never felt comfortable asking my family or friends to attend to watch my son due to the length of the day and the long wait between matches.