I propose that we change the 16 under division to a high school division. Any current high school athlete that has competed at the high school level, whare it was Varsity or JV would need to wrestle in this division at the qualifying tournaments this upcoming season. This would include 9th through 12 grade. James Cook, Smokey Valley Wrestling Club.
There were two priorities to this proposal. These would define the scope:
1. Remove high school wrestlers from 14U to make 14u, 12u, 10u, and 8u a "Kid's State".
2. To provide an opportunity for all high school (Junior by USA definition) wrestlers to compete in the qualifying series.
There is no intent to exclude any wrestlers but only an attempt to define what high school means which clearly, by USA definition, includes ALL wrestlers born after 9/1/1990. This would include 8th graders who are too old for 14U, wrestlers who were ineligible for their high school program (for whatever reason), wrestlers who were home schooled, etc. There was NEVER any intent to restrict participation.
We can split hairs all day long looking for the perfect wording. Heck, our by-laws in there present state need some fine tuning. At the end of the day MORE wrestlers will be permitted to wrestle if the amendment passes untouched and no one will be turned away.
If amendments to the amendment are allowed within the scope or intent of the author then it will be more clearly defined but the opportunity to wrestle will still exist.
If you vote no then a group of kids will be denied the opporuntity to compete this year which could be their last year.
