I think a combination of a modified Montana system that I described in my previous post of this topic and redistributing the 6A, 5A and 4A classes into 48 schools each would be the best solution to increasing the regional competition in 6A, 5A and 4A.

The 16 largest 5A schools would have to go up to 6A. Then the 32 largest 4A schools would move up to 5A, and finally the 16 largest 3-2-1A schools would move up to 4A.

The part of the Montana system that allows each team to bring two wrestlers per weight class would be especially beneficial for large schools that have a lot of wrestling depth. It would allow more kids who are 2nd team on these types of teams to wrestle varsity and compete at State. I know two and three years ago Aquinas could have fielded a second team which would have been stronger than the majority of teams in the state and a lot of those 2nd team wrestlers would have qualified under this revised system even with 48 teams in the class. I know the same could be said for teams like Bishop Carroll, Goddard, and Manhattan in those years. There are teams now like Emporia and Lansing to name a couple that probably have state qualifying level second team wrestlers on their teams.

One thing though to remember about wrestlers with less than .500 records going to State is that they too have worked hard and it will be a good experience for them to compete at State that could prove to be beneficial and inspirational for them in future years. Also many of them may be relatively new to the sport but might be developing a life long interest in the sport. They could become kids club coaches, referees and possibly the parents of future state placers, champions and life long contributors to the great sport of wrestling.