Level playing field!!!! What are we talking about. There is no such thing. Life is not fair. That is what wrestling is all about. Its about learning to overcome adversity. In life you will have many and if every time you face some you yell 'I want a level playing field' you are never going to get anywhere. You want a level playing field in wrestling - maybe we should dictate how many stars each high school team can have.
I think what Will is trying to say - sometimes not real well - is wrestling must improve in Kansas or is will go the way of golf and swimming. If something doesn't improve, it will ultimately cease to exist as we know it. Having been away from wrestling for almost 25 years before my son started I see wrestling is in a state of decline. Yes the good kids are better now, but many schools cannot even fill out a whole team. Will is just asking the 'powers that be' to allow us to improve. My son will go to a 3A, public school, and the changes Will wants will help him. Small schools lack practice partners and would be better off if multi-squad practices were allowed. Allowing these kids to attend Purler clinics during the Christmas break would not only help, but is about free choice - an American principle. And, I do not think my Democrats would be against that Doug.
The whole idea that 3A schools cannot compete unless KSHSSA holds everyone else back is bull. I understand that small schools need all their athletes to go out for every sport and do not like a specialized athlete. But it will come. Whether you like it or not kids are going to specialize. It cannot be stopped. The discussion needs to be how to make this work, not how to stop it. Will has some good ideas, maybe not all. But, people need to recognize that those who strive to be the best will seek each other out and do what it takes to compete on a national level. Then what will we do - level the playing field and ban them from KSHSSA events because they are too good.
My son will start High School next year and I think it should be between him and his coach who he practices with, if he attends clinics, etc, not a governing board - and to say 'then don't participate' is not a choice.
