The posts on this forum for the last few years have generated a long list of recurring “burning issues” for Kansas HS wrestling. I am going to list a few of those issues so perhaps the wrestling community can come together to get some of them in a package in front of the decision makers-first the school district superintendents, Athletic directors and the KSHSAA Executive Board and Boards of Directors-------not just the KSHSAA Executive and Assistan Executive Directors (Musselman and crew).

Here’s my list (this is not a prioritized list) of the issues I keep reading on the HS Forum.
1. One site (all four classes) State Tournament.
2. Dual State Tournament.
3. Wrestling at a Kansas D1 University.
4. Combine 5A and 6A classes.
5. Outside Kansas border travel distance increased, or travel restriction eliminated.
6. High school coaches work with their high school wrestlers out of season.
7. Coaches and wrestlers allowed to practice over Christmas break.
8. Eliminate the Christmas break (at least continue high school competition during part of the break)
9. Wrestlers allowed to travel/ wrestled non-KSHSAA competition/tournaments during Christmas break.
10. No five match rule.
11. One program/format for online websites of Regional’s and State Tournaments. For example: TRACKWRESTLING.COM, or a similar program.
12. KSHSAA telecast state tournaments.

I know I have missed many “burning issues’. Please feel free to add to my list---and prioritize the list if you comment.

KSHSAA will get a new Assistant Director for Wrestling this summer. The wrestling community needs to get a package of issues in front of the decision makers and then to the new AD for Wrestling and KSHSAA staff. There needs to be an organized campaign started this spring to get the package together. Initial tasks are to solicit more statewide burning issues, to poll and prioritize the list, and then recognize and publish the list as the wrestling community’s list. With the list in hand (perhaps a POWER POINT Format—paper copies and digital), wrestling smart members of the community to meet and discuss the list with their district superintendents, district ADs, principals and HS ADs, and to attend and present the list at conference/league meetings.

Nothing against coaches, but coaches, school administrators and ADs do not always agree with wrestlers, ex wrestlers, and parents on what may or may not be best for the sport. The above issues have been around for a while and the KWCA has not been able to get action on any of them at KSHSAA. And, to not attack or criticize anyone, but nasty grams back and forth between a parent and a KSHSAA administrator will also not get anything accomplished. To get anything done on any issue will require the concentrated efforts of the wrestling community as a whole: parents, coaches, wrestlers, ex-wrestlers, and referees. Let’s either get it together or stop gumming the issues to death.