SF02 has a couple of good points!
First, April - August use to be reserved for FS/GR, so those competing were doing so in the Olympic styles. Now, one can wrestle in a number of "national" events competing in Folkstyle, throughout the Summer!
I think Kansas needs to get on the band wagon that Idaho and Georgia have. That being, holding 3-style tournaments through the Spring and Summer! Idaho especially, is making the incentives to wrestle Greco and Freestyle, very attractive to the Folkstylers!
I agree also that Folkstyle is America's (and Kansas) choice! We seldom get wrestlers from 4A and below. Primarily due to those athletes are competing in Baseball and Track in the Spring. The "specialists" seem to come from the Metro areas.
The $500.00 Fargo trip in very cheap as far as Fargo trips go! Kansas is the cheapest in the Nation, to the best of my knowledge. I have said before, the biggest bang for the buck in the Summer is competing in the Duals!
We cannot give enough credit to USAWKS Folkstyle kids. Whether it be the Fargo trip, the Schoolboy/girl trip, the Folkstyle Nationals, the Senior Nationals, etc.; it is that branch of the organization that funds a big share of expense. But as SF02 said,"as long as kids are spending time on the mat during the spring and summer I don't care what style they are participating in."
I do remeber a few years ago, we had elimination matches at the Fargo camp. Now, if you want to go, you probably get to go. But, again in my opinion, we should not be taking a wrestler who admits ... "I do not know how to stop a gut wrench."
The experience of going 0-4 can be a mixed bag! Our own Danny Grater went 0-4 his first trip and the following year, was a National Champ! But more often than not, those that go 0-4, will take their gear and not make the trip again! The Fargo trip is an eye-opener for some! As I said earlier, “while Fargo is a great place to get schooled it is not a great place to learn!
This year we had a bunch of wrestlers fall just short of being All-American. They have a challenge and how they accept that "failure" will be a true test of their metal!!
Probably without fail ... if you are winning matches at Fargo ... you are placing in your respective HS State in February!
... that's enough for now! What do you think?
