In response to the previous post, there is no way that a media guy from a newspaper knows enough about wrestling across this state to be a ranker. We, the KWCA Board, have been doing the rankings for quite sometime, and we do a good job.

Being a coach and the 321-A ranker I try my hardest to be unbiased, and there are too many people out there-coaches, fans, parents, and administration that help me in this endeavor. Is it a process like the football/basketball crowd-no-we do not have the scientific analysis like power-ratings and such, wrestling is not even the same kind of sport.

Do not get me wrong, the media that does take an interest and actually understand our sport do a wonderful job. But as an example of how this would not work-in Hays before state the media picks the winners of each weight class. These are obviously bias towards the western kansas schools and they should be because the paper is located in the west! Are you sure that someone from Hays could be the ranker for Desoto? Would they have any idea of the competetion you face? Coaches do understand this, we see it every year and we do email, phone, and discuss amongst ourselves.

Last year was my first year being a ranker and it was a very time-consuming and hard job to do, sometimes I was raked over the coals. But I did it as best I could and second of all they are only rankings. This year will be easier due to the fact that I know what to do, just like I became a better coach after my first year.

I'm not going to lie and say that I do not enjoy it now, but I know when one of my wrestlers is not good enough to be ranked. To rank someone on your own team for a false assessment of your teams strength is unethical.

I do understand your concern but our sport is unique and we should embrace that fact-we are special and to allow someone who has never wrestled or is not a fan do the rankings would be wrong. And if you think the rankings are biased now or wrong, I would hate to see what the media would do.

As for when will they be available, I am currently working on them and plan to have the 321-A rankings out by the first week of practice.

Coach Brown
321-A ranker