Please explain how disagreeing with the majority is a bad thing?
Have you always agreed and gone along with the majority!
Have you never voiced a dissenting view or tried to change something you didn't agree with? I hate to say this but your view and MR. Ryan’s' go against the very principles this country was founded on.

KSHSAA is NOT a democracy, it is a dictatorship. The taxpayers are so FAR removed from the decision making process it is a joke! Taxpayers elect a schoolboard, the schoolboard hires a principal, the principal hires an AD, the AD hires the coaches. The coaches and the AD's have some input into KSHSAA. The KSHSAA board is comprised almost ENTIRELY of members of the academe, no meaningful at large membership. You have seen the procedure for change documented on here. It is accurate and nearly EVERYONE thinks it is broken. Most know that what Gary says goes. Dictatorship! A true democracy would embrace change.

I would like to think that makes me right more often than not.


So as long as that opinion is judged by you to be "realistic", then we're alright? Otherwise we're "communists, socialists, democrats" or my personal favorite "retards".

I love you sportsfan02!

To quote my sons:

Walker: [the boys are running around when they should be in Sunday school] ANARCHY! ANARCHY!

Texas Ranger: I don't know what that means, but I LOVE it!

MAN CHRUSH!!!

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

some of the prior comments are just amazing! I laugh at the ignorance of the governing body! and its faithful followers its about the kids and the sport not money and restrictions of the level of competition due to classifications by KSHSAA!!

"Why is it that when I subtly raise a point you have to be negative and sarcastic?"


You, subtle? Puh-leeez!

Me, Negative and Sarcastic? No to negative and Yes to sarcastic.

However, let me be clear, I find you every bit as negative as you find me.

My sarcasm is more sophisticated than yours; that is probably why it bothers you.

I went back and re-read the list and stand corrected; Catoosa, OK is included in the tournament field of the B-East.

And again I say, Hooray for Catoosa!

Greg,

Who pulled your chain to begin with? I didn't call out you or your cronie organization. I simply asked for support, in general, to gain the right to attend this tournament while attending a Kansas high school. When we recently talked on the phone you even agreed that an exception to travel to one of the big three tournaments would be acceptable to you through some petition process. I felt we had a great conversation but then the first time I post regarding travel you attack my position instead of either letting it go or supporting it. Do you often talk out of both sides of your mouth? Kiss me on my lips and stab me in the back! Mr. Mann you are negative to progress and I don't find your sarcasm humorous or sophisticated. I find it eGREGious but I laugh in the face of those who oppose me. You will never bother me as you continue to fall into the abyss of occupied by those who cannot see how to make the future a better place because they think the past or present is as good as it gets.

Bottom line, the justifications for travel restrictions are outdated and ignorant. If you support them then the shoe fits.

Will you have the money you should just take whoever you want to these tournaments whatever makes you happy. Maybe if schools choose not to be apart of the kshaaa then they will give in to your demands. Its obvious you have way more money than us hillbillies out in western kansas. Maybe we should disban cause we are too poor.

I am sure I made way less than you did in 2008. You want to compare tax returns? Most of Western Kansas cannot survive without Eastern Kansas tax dollars. Comments like these clearly explain why progess is slow to happen. There are a little more than 5300 students in 101 321A schools, top three classes, according to eh KSHSAA data and that many kids only utilize three high schools in Johnson county. Who is rich? 321A schools spend WAY more money per student.

On top of that, funding has NOTHING to do with this rule. If you don't WANT to afford to travel then don't! There is NO ADVANTAGE gained and nothing lost by those who don't from a team perspective. I guarantee you that Norton would come up with the funds to go to The Clash if the rules permitted them to go. Heck, they couldn't even go to the Garden City Rocky Welton tournament because of the small minded mentality of the league they participate in! I really hate the wait but eventually there will be enough consolidation and elimination that your votes won't carry as much weight.

Since your talking about doing good for the kids and the sport what good does traveling all the way to Newark, Delaware to compete in a tournament with the top teams in the nation do for a program that is not even a top 10 team in all of the state?

HMMM... sounds kind of selfish to me to take a team of 14 kids to a tournament of this caliber and only a few will have a chance at success.

My point is that if you have a great team and the funds, then travel and compete and see where you are at. If your looking to go all that way to compete for only 1 or 2 kids what about the other 12? You can beef your schedule up and wrestle teams in the state of Kansas and all of your kids can gain some valuable experience and confidence. Start building the concept of team along with the individual.

A good rule to fight would be to have a grand state again. Also making Kansas High School Wrestling more compatible with college wrestling (Weigh ins & out of bounds rule). These are some of the rules I think we should be debating. We can also push to have a national tournament here in our own state.

Will,

As a paid KSHSAA official & representative wouldn't it be in my best interest to support what the Association stands for? It's rules & policies are enforced through it's officials & administrators... Rules are rules you konw that, so how exactly do you think my view on a travel rule will affect the outcome of the match? I've already discussed this with Mr. Bowden per your email last fall to him. Thank you for your concern on the topic though.

Now on to your quote about no advantage gained, you said it yourself. There is no advantage gained either by going or by not going, so drop it. You aren't going and get to stay home in KS give it a rest. If it doesn't benefit the team as whole then why go? So one kid can gain national exposure? Everything you seem to complain about is pretty clear in definition by the KSHSAA bi-laws as to why it's not allowed and I do believe it has been explained to you. You know the process it takes to get a rule changed, follow it and stop trying to be the savior.

Your choices are clear, either follow the rules and stay home, or you can disbar from the KSHSAA and then take your team wherever you want, whenever you want, and wrestle year round with your coaches coaching the athletes. I would however suggest you discuss this move with the other coaches/players/parents/administrators in the school before making such a hastily retreat. You have considered that SJA has other sports besides wrestling correct?

Now on to a more personal level about Western KS failing without Eastern KS tax dollars... Your comments like these show why we put all the "educated" in large cities away from the rest of us.

We have too many 321A schools... give me a break. Should we close Hoxie, Oakley, Atwood, and Brewster and bus them to Colby? That would make so much more sense because it would eliminate 4 schools and we could build a super school in Colby and house everyone, not to mind you that they would now have a 30 minute bus ride to school or have to drive everyday just because it would fit your ideal of a perfect world? I mean I know a 30 minutes bus ride is pretty common in the city, so why can't it be acceptible out here? I would much rather be in one of those "nuissance" 321A schools than your 5/6A jokes. What are the graduation rates of your high schools as whole in the KC metro area? I would venture to guess it's less than 60% and when compared to those 321A schools I would say it's well over 80%. The student to teacher ratio is much better, and it shows. Which would you rather have your kids in?

Will your views are as biased as anyone on this board. And to be honest that's fine, it's your opinion. But like you, we have ours. It may be as biased the other way, but it's our different ways of life. This is the never ending debate and you're just like a kid who's parents said you couldn't have the new toy on the shelf you are throwing a fit until you get your way, but it doesn't work that way, so please just give it up and go about it the right way.

Donkey Wrestler,

I am not going away and I do believe it is you who are in the minority. When you say "we" you must be talking about you and the frog you are carrying around in your pocket!

Freedom is a fundamental reason this country was founded and you are advocating that I give up fighting for freedom? I am glad your pansy butt wasn't around 230 years ago or we would still be operating under English rule.

Find me the data... 60% graduation rate? Where did you get that? Eventually it all comes down to dollars and western Kansas cannot afford the luxuries you have described much longer. To answer your question, YES those schools should be looking for ways to consolidate. Those counties should be looking for ways to consolidate. They do not have the tax income to afford so many rooftops and employees. It is a shrinking population! Wake up Donkey Wrestler it isn't 1964 anymore.

I am not giving it a rest! The problem I have with you is that you are supposed to be unbiased to be an official. Is that concept foreign to you? Since you dislike my position and me so much that you attack me it is impossible for me to count on you being able to remain unbiased. You are an EMPLOYEE of the KSHSAA and your job is to enforce wrestling rules. Maybe you are good at it and if so you should stick to it. You are in over your head outside of the gym.

Hey Alex...

Can you still ref our 6A matches?

Actually Yes Eric. Thanks again for brining it to Will's attention that I had a new post, glad I have your attention.

I put in my $.02 on this debate and will now again retire for a day or two...

See you all in a couple months

I don't think this topic has anything to do with school quality and/or graduation rates. There are many good schools found at both ends of the state.

As for the topic... I agree that building a team is first and foremost as a coach. The scheduling should reflect that. HOWEVER, if a coach feels his team needs the experience and exposure, then they should have the freedom to do so.

Coach Jones

Matt,

I would take that one step further, if a coach has A wrestler that has worked hard enough and is talented enought to wrestle in an event he should have the freedom to do so.

Coach Sonderegger did a great job with his son by doing this.

It seems that everyone has the mentality of holding the top down to keep things fair instead of bringing the bottom up.

This is not a good example. I was not involved with the team when this happened, but there were still hard feelings on the team a few years later. I support the team concept in wrestling.