Now I have seen a little bit of Kansas Wrestling, coaching Kids and High School since 1987, when I moved back from Colorado/Wyoming. Also wrestled for Salina Central from 1976 to 1980.
Myself, I have seen it both ways, guys dodging and those seeking. The way I look at it is some want to legitimize their elite status by beating the best and some just want a record to remember back when. It seems more available with all those middle weights just being 5 pounds apart. But , I could not say whether they were better then than now or vice versa.
Been some great match-ups and didn't have to go hunting, like Henes and Isenberg.
Could they be the next Garcia and Henning, those guys use to battle, with Garcia always coming out on top, but both went on to become National Champs in college.

Tom Peterman