Vince : I dont have a problem with the thought of a weight between 215 and 285. (235 or 240) My problem is the disrespect that you have in the past directed at the smaller wrestlers, and that you continously suggest getting rid of their weight bracket all together. (At least now you are suggesting an increase in the lowest weight instead of completely removing it.)
My other issue with your posts is you constantly use both football and upperclassman as your guage.
This is NOT FOOTBALL. Wrestling is unique in its structure and I oppose trying to mold it to the mindset of the football attitude. (re: Bigger is better, sit on the bench until you're an upperclassman, etc..) Thats a crock, IMO.
I would propose to you to research the success that our smaller wrestlers have had OUTSIDE of your comfort zone in Kansas and outside of the Kansas wrestling season. If you are in favor of Kansas continuing to get recognized for their quality of wrestling I would strongly suggest you rethink your size and age platform. Just think how far back you would put Kansas if you were to deter kids like Slyter, Furches, Vesta, Ruiz, Ornelas, Stroot, Windham, Penka, Moeder - and this years freshmen like Pursel, Locke, Seybold, Kriss from going out initially because they were too small to even have a chance to try out and no hope of making the team! The national tournaments like Cadet and Junior duals start with smaller weights than our High School division does. There is a purpose for that and if you step back and think that out you would understand there is a reason for it.
I'll give you another reason that it is imperative to have the smaller wrestler alive and well in Kansas. There will be a higher percentage of them dedicate themselves to wrestling, and if they are good enough, they will continue on to another level. They are not going to use wrestling as a "side-sport" during the football offseason. They are going to continue working their wrestling skills year round. We have had some of our quality "big guys" sign wrestling letters recently and that excites me. I will say however, I think they are the exception and not the rule. The greatest percentage of Kansas wrestlers that will move on to the College arena will have started in the smaller ranks.
