Great post. Interesting takes on the subject. I particularly admire "Murph's" take on the issue - Kudos.

One of my sons also wrestled in the greater Wichita area in the kids program some time ago.

We started out with one particular club - which had great coaches and excellent facilities - but with very limited practice "partners", for my son (a perceived, necessary ingredient to better yourself as a wrestler)at my son's weight. We changed clubs.

While the coach may (well, did)resent the move, this move proved to be the absolutely "right" move.

We transferred clubs and affilliated with the Maize kids program, which, at the time had no restrictions for "district", "attendance at Maize High School", etc.... It was a great move, their attitudt was: You want to wrestle, come check us out.

At that point in time, Maize was fortunate to have some of the best kid's wrestlers from west Wichita and beyond(the "Brawlers" were just getting underway). the Maize experience, was an invaluable experience!

While in kids wrestling, my son would periodically visit other kids wrestling venues to take advantage of "match-ups" with other steller wrestlers (in my son's weight class) from other kids wrestling clubs in the area.

Never a problem. I always sensed a genuine appreciation for the interest and willingness to show up and provide another body for "that program's" wrestlers. "Everyone" benefitted!

There was no artificial division, while participating in the "new" kid's wrestling program. My son was expected to respect and follow "their" rules, and he always came away from that experience with a very positive mind-set, and, I'd hasten to add, his injection into this new environment probably served as a pretty significant motivator to both my son and his opponents at the time.

Too say that my son and his new challengers did not invest a little "extra" effort into their match-ups, would not be true, as their "match-up's" were (not probably)the focus of the evening, and their respective pride and reputations served to give their little "work-out" some significant meaning. It was great.

I may be mistaken, but I was of the opinion, that any wrestler, from any kid's program, could occassionally visit another program and be welcomed and accepted (at least, in Western Sedgwick County, Kansas)

I'm extremely disappointed to hear of Eagle One's comments. I think alot of Bryce Hughbanks. This parochial attitude which is now infecting/poisoning, the kid's programs is not to my liking,and will not serve the interests of the greater Wichita Wrestling area.

Let's not go there. Whether it's the coach, the level of competition, the availability of practice schedules, or whatever, let's leave that to the parent's, and not artifically create barriers ...