Mr. Copkely. If you do not have kids in the KC KS schools perhaps you should not speak out. Inner city schools are not the grand palaces you see in your neighborhood at ST James Academy, Desoto, Eudora, Olathe NW, Gardner, and several other palcas out SW. Lots and lots of kids in all the KCKS schools are on reduced and free lunch programs, many are single parent famalies, there are many homeless student. Lots of students work after school and still maintain their GPA. Very few can afford to do eat, much less do kids wresling, or club soccer or club volleyball. The meal they get at school may be theonly meal they get that day.

My wife is a guidance counselor at Sumner Academy. A great school, A natioanlly recognized school of excellance. Standardized test scores right along side SM and Olathe schools. Big Advanced Placement and International Bachelorate programs (do you even know what IB is). My wife also has an Administrator's certificate and Sumner tries to send an administrator to all away activities---so we see a lot of sports all year. Now, these KS KS kids may not be as good as your suburban teams in wrestling, but in inner city sports (basketball, football, track) they will probably kick your butts. Additionally, not denying it, but I find it hard to believe that any coach rolled up the mats and told his state qualifiers to go find a place to wrestle. I have seen all KSKS wrestling coaches several times this year and I thought they were all enthusiastic and dedicated to their kids.

If something needs to be done to supposedly level the school classifications and brackets, I have no objection--in fact I agree. Might be wrong, but I think MO has different claffications for different sports. A sytem somewhat like that may be useful for Kansas.

Now as for college sports. I really don't accept that preparing HS student atletes for college recruitment is the primary reason for HS sports. Participation, sportsmanship, building of a competitive spirit, life time comraderie (uh oh--there's a socialist term), community pride, and a lot of other factor is what it is all about. In any HS sport only a very few athlete go on to the college level. Those that do may or may not have been in a successsful HS program, or HS satisfied there need to play. Individual will power aor a pushy dad took most of them to college sports. I once read an article about HS football at Albany, Ga--a perinial GA State football power, with a HS FB stadium with a capacity bigger than the town population. Not many grads go on to play college. When asked why, the reply was sme like: where or what is is better than Albany FB.

So, lets cut some slack.

And yes, I am one of those bleeding heart liberals!

Added: I am going to forward your post to the KC KS District AD.