we had about 10 6u kids this year who were pretty good. 3 of them burned out begore subs. 7 of them competed in subs. 0 qualified for districts. 7 competed at 6u state. 1 state champ, 1 fell victim to the big bracket (he lost to 2nd and 3rd placers, has pinned the 5th and 6th all year), 1 went two and bbq, the other 4 won a couple of matches each.

there is a wide range of wrestlers, and records. one coach/dad blamed burn out for his son's finish at state. my son was an early burn out, we didn't compete the week prior to subs! some of these kids wreslted at tulsa, and liberty. some of them never left SEK. some wrestled novice all year, and weren't ready for the big time. 10 different kids = 10 different finishes.

my point here is this, it is my responsibility, as a coach, to work with the parents, to make sure these kids wrestle in high school. i think we made the right decision on every kid. i don't think there is one blanket rule that can cover 10 different kids.

i believe that the 6u should be rewarded with a state series. i believe that ottawa has done a great job, when the state turned it's back, and given the kids something awesome. as for burnout i believe that the natural selection of a state series would handle the burnout, just fine.

the one tournament concept is too big, too overwhelming, much tougher, than a series. imagine you are 6 years old, new to wrestling, don't understand how to read a bracket, have only wrestled in round robins, and BAM here's your name on a 64 man bracket!!

my son understands brackets pretty well, but when i told him that his best buddy was in a 64 man bracket, he said "i hope it's not a round robin, poor Gabe!"