The season can be as long as anyone wants to make it as there are wrestling opportunities abound in every month except August. Only a minority of our 8,000 kids are interested in that type of season. The state tournament series needs to be changed for lots of reasons including that it ends too late in the year. This doesn't mean that your wrestler has to stop wrestling but it does mean that for the majority of wrestlers in our organization it will be better. I strongly feel our state tournament is too big now so I think we need to look outside of the box to accomplish two goals: 1) Finish the Kids State series earlier 2) Make the size of the tournament(s) more manageable.

Finish the Kids (6, 8, and 10) with a sub, dist, and state tournament that ends in February. All of these events could be one day events which would make them more economical. Have another state tournament for 12, 14, and 16 after the JH/MS/HS seasons have ended. There would be no need for subs as the numbers don't justify it. Start this series the weekend after HS state. If there are some MS/JH programs extending beyond HS state we need to work with those leagues to end them earlier to permit these wrestlers the opportunity to wrestle for a state title (something KSHSAA doesn't offer). These tournaments would be small enough in size that they could be moved to all four districts. Honestly, the only city big enough to adequately and fairly host the current state tournament is Wichita. Topeka doesn't have the hotel room capacity needed not to mention it is not centrally located. The younger kids should be going to the HS state tournament to see what their long term goals are. We need to join forces and advocate a single site HS state tournament where we all gather annually to celebrate and recognize our wrestlers and the greatness of winning a HS state champioship.

This plan shortens the season for the kids and doesn't eliminate the opportunity for the older wrestlers. I feel it is a win-win. It lets the younger kids, who are involved in soccer, baseball, or whatever other activity feel free to be finished with wrestling but if they are not their are numerous events they can participate in past the state tournament series.

I would never advocate that we MANDATE a shorter season by telling kids are parents that they CAN'T start practice or attend tournaments but I think we have to be cognizant of the fact that for most two or three months of competition is plenty. We have to focus on ways to grow the number of competitors.