Wow, I just can't keep this to myself any more. My senior wrestler was in the orchestra his freshman year and they took a trip to enjoy the Boston Pops in April a couple of weeks after Spring Break. They were gone for two days of school. No one flunked out of school.

I haven't understood this 500 mile rule.....ever. If your team can afford it and wants to go.........go. If you don't want to take advantage of the opportunity, travel to Newton to a great tournament. What is the big deal? I heard this same crap in Oklahoma back when the OSHSAA forbid football players from traveling to post season All Star games. The first lawsuit that resulted from some kid being denied a scholarship because he didn't participate ended that one right smartly.

The five match rule is also silly. First, it happens to what, two wrestlers in a Tourney? And the two times I have seen it happen this year, the wrestlers involved each had matches among their five that lasted less than two minutes.

Now for the "coaches are more competitive so there should be a time off" discussion. I see both points of view and I am leaning to the more the better thing. I don't/didn't play either softball or flag football because I am so competitive. You will be hard pressed to find someone more so. Both my sons have participated in sports all their lives and I have watched them and coached them both. While the coaches where you are may insist on specialization, none of the coaches at Shawnee Mission East do. In fact, most of our wrestling coaches don't specialize in wrestling. If any coach threatened any kid within my hearing of, "play only my sport or not at all," there would be a "discussion". There may well be some merit in the "need a break from each other," argument, but I am not sure I am persuaded.