One gentleman to consider for and nominate as our next Executive Kids Director is Will Cokeley. Will is and has been for years passionate about kids wrestling in the state of Kansas. He has spent hours and hours of his own personal time, and thousands of dollars $$$ of his own money promoting and helping our youth anyway he can. He has never ever mentioned all the time and money he has spent to help our youth here in Kansas nor has he ever even made it known how much time and personal money out of his own pocket he has spent on our kids. Most folks that don't associate with Will would not believe how much time and money he has spent on our kids. Will does not care about time and money when it comes to kids wrestling, he wants to do whatever he possibly can to help any wrestler. Will does not care about any personal accolades, he does not promote youth wrestling for himself, he does it for the kids here in Kansas. He is not everyones best friend on the forum (just ask sportsfan02), nor is he every officials best friend when he is coaching in the corner of a wrestler. (just ask a lot of officials) He is however a very passionate father, coach, youth wrestling supporter, and friend. If you are looking for someone who will represent our children (our great Kansas wrestlers) with the best interest in mind of our KIDS, nominate and vote for Mr. William!
AKA Will Cokeley

Denny,

Great post! I agree with what you said. What do we have to do to help this along?

Shawn Budke

We might have to talk him into it! (and his wife)...

By the way....How do you like my new Wahoo McDaniel avatar?

I have known Will for over thirty-three years. I remember going to many national folkstyle and freestyle camps with Will and several other wrestling dads. We all know that wrestling is one of the toughest mental and physical sports out there that prepares us for challenges in life.
It is obvious that Will Cokeley wants Kansas Wrestling to be a powerhouse at the national level. Not to mention all of the money and time he has given to the sport. He has the burning desire to get us to where we need to be and should be. He has been through it all (wrestler, promoter, sponsor, organizer, coach ect..) The challenge is there and I would love to see Will Cokeley leading the way.

Will would definately be a great choice!!

Definately a nice avatar selection Chief! You should have fewer challenges to your all-class rankings.

I am the first to appreciate Will Cokeley's contributions. From what I have heard he has sacrificed a ton of time and it sounds like money to KS wrestling.

That being said....I would like to know what he...or anyone that wants to run for this position for that matter....plans on doing to make KS wrestling better. I want someone with foresite and vision, the ability to devote the time, and the ability to lead the entire state body. Can this person, who ever it may be, keep everything in perspective?

Thanks,

Coach Craig Adams
Carroll Jr Wresting

I appreciate Denny’s confidence and kind words along with the rest of the posters. I do plan on running for an office but I don’t know which one. I know I want to be involved with our sport now and at least for the next 10 years but I haven’t determine at what level. To do this job and do it right you have to have commitment and support from your entire family and wrestling community. Someone will be elected and I hope these are the ideas that are floating around on their agenda:

Increasing the number of participants
a. More novice opportunities
i. Novice State

b. Sanctioned, stand alone 6U tournament
c. More teams for team events
d. More spring and summer wrestling
e. Keeping the sport affordable
i. No Friday only weigh-ins.
ii. Remote weigh-ins or matside weigh-ins
iii. Fair driving distances
iv. Rotating the location of state and other tournaments
v. Electronic voting instead of mandatory meetings

Improve tournament bidding process
a. More detailed demands to be met by host venue & city
i. Explore available funds and cost share
ii. Control over concession menus and allowable items to be brought in
iii. Central hotel management to avoid “opportunistic” exploitation of our families

b. Annual or biannual rotation.
c. More local sponsorship dollars

Changes to the qualifying series
a. Options
i. Move state tournament date to earlier weekend.
ii. Redistricting to eliminate a week of qualifying.
iii. Resize tournament to allow more venues to be available.
vi. Make 16U a standalone sanctioned state tournament.


Strict Code of Conduct
a. Severe penalties for transgressions against the sport. Theft, vandalism, child abuse, etc.



We have to identify the challenges that make the greatest positive impact to the sport and when we have a majority in agreement we have to work together as a team to overcome these challenges whether we agreed with the majority or not in the first place. We cannot let our differences erode the foundation of our sport but that means are rules, regulations, policies, and plans have to make sense to the majority of our membership. Our leadership has to be involved year round. They have to be in touch with the wrestling families. They cannot abuse their position or power by making decisions based on personal issues instead of the greater good of their constituents. We are a USA Wrestling organization which means that we support the development of international wrestling styles. Growth has to come from all areas including coaches, female wrestlers and greater numbers of competent officials. No one person has all of the answers to the questions and issues that we will face in the future but whoever our leadership is must agree that we have to stimulate our sport every year with change. If we do not change we cannot improve! So when you are meeting this year and looking for leaders make sure that they are going to A. Be involved year round! B. open minded and able to compromise. C. think outside the box! D. LOVE wrestling passionately!

I don’t know if I am ready for this job but I do know whoever takes it must have the full support of their family. There are meetings to attend, discussions to be conducted on the phone or in person, tournaments to observe, officials and volunteers to be recruited, venues to be evaluated, events to be coordinated, and many other responsibilities. Our athletes put their hearts and souls into the sport so our leaders can be expected to put nothing less!

These are my thoughts about our future. Whoever is ready and willing to give all they have or our sport will die instead of thrive.

One closing note. If I do run for any office on the board this will be my campaign slogan: “State Tournament Coaches passes for all certified coaches!!”

Will, forget about state director. You should run for president. LOL then the whole world would have to deal with you.

Will, Can you pass all of that in one meeting?

We all know that we can't make everything happen now. The critical topic this year is the bid for the Kids State tournament. If we are going to position our organization for change we have to create some flexibility. The state tournament bid MUST be for only 2010 not for three years. In my opinion, if the bids are financially close and there are no major points of contention, the tournament should be in Wichita in 2010. You know the old saying, you don't know how good you had it until you don't have it anymore? Topeka needs a wake a up call and honestly, it is logistically much more fair for District 4.

Hot topics: One year state contract, New location, Coaches passes for all coaches in 2009.

What is the biggest challenge in most elections???? Getting people passionate enough to care to vote or have an opinion!!!!

Will Cokeley has the one thing we need the most...The ability to polarize the KS wrestling community! (he also has as much knowledge, far reaching contacts, energy, and passion as anyone I know) You might not agree with Will, Heck I think he is nuts sometimes, but he does move for progress and more times than not he is right on the money.

When he talked to me about building a barn behind his house for wrestling, I tought he was crazy, but he was looking for a way to improve wrestling like East KS club had done. Several years later, he has organized teachers like Eric Akin, Tony Purler, Lindsey Duhrlacher, and many more. Look at the high level kids that barn has put out!!!!! Yes it has no doubt helped his sons as well, but my son and dozens of others are much farther in wrestling that they would be without some of his "crazy ideas". He was one of the first to put together middle school duals teams, etc. You can't list the things he has done. And yes he goes off the deep end sometimes, but so do I and probably most who are reading this. Bottom line however. Put Will in charge and a board that is respected and reasonable to "temper his enthusiasm" once in a while. At the same time realize he will constantly push the edge with new ideas for change. Many of them great, and some not so great. But all of them much better than doing nothing. Some will argue that KS wrestling needs no change, we are doing great. But look at those kids that people are hanging their hat on or taking credit for. They are the one doing the extra things Will advocates. This does not even take into account the non-wrestling issues most if not all want changed like, state tournament concessions, etc.

Not many stand on the sideline when Will is involved. You either support him, or you work to your last breath trying to defeat him. Either way KS wrestling wins with great involvement, deeper discussions, and more passion to move KS wrestling forward.

24/7

I would propose a Cokeley/Sayler ticket

I won't say much on this topic but I will say this. I have wished Will lived near Wichita for a number of years now. I only wish he could be cloned. We haven't always agreed, but I have always, and I mean, always respected Will. I couldn't say I fully support this at the moment, as I don't know who else would be considered. That said, it would take a heck of a person to impress me more with the love, and support of wrestling more than what Will has shown. He has done more than talk about being satisfied with the status quo, he has made proposals to bring change, change that I am confident would improve the status of wrestling in our state.

by the way, i meant Cokeley and Salyer as write in candidates for our US presidential election--

I can't speak for my husband, but I think Will would do an outstanding job. After working with him on several occasions, including his jumping in and helping with our tournament (KCWC), I know he only wants to improve this sport. Although we aren't in KS right now, we will be back (hopefully in July 09) and it would be nice to come back to some positive changes. Good luck to all who will be running!

Will Cokely has done nothing but brainswash my son, shake up my entire life, cost me money I did not intend to spend, caused me to resign from a job I intended to retire from, has my wife wanting to live in the city, etc....

All of the above because of the passion he has for the sport of wrestling in Kansas. The thing is, he doesnt do it for only his personal benefit, but for the benefit of the entire wrestling community of Kansas, and I believe we are already personally seeing the rewards. Do I agree with all of his ideas? No. Do I have a problem telling him so? No.

Bottem line, would I support putting him in this position? Absolutely! Progression is mandatory to improve any situation, and Will is all about progression and not being stale. If ole "Little Willy" is willing, I would throw him the support.

And Will would work to get a double layer of mats to cover the entire floor, bleachers, scorers' tables, and walls, at the Wichita Classic!!!!!!!

All BS aside, Will would do what is best for KS wrestling. I can't think of anyone that would be better.

Doug

I am excited to hear that there is someone out there that can bring this much to the table! And I too think that Mr Cokely would be an excellent choice for this position. But the question I have is, is there only one person out there that has ANYTHING to offer as well? I would just be interested to maybe hear a few other suggestions!