First, ask my kids what I say second place is. They will tell you it's the winner of the losers. But I have a smile on my face when I say that.

Second, I don't 100% believe that. Maybe some of you really do, but in reality, we treat 2nd differently than 3rd. When talking about coaches who are conducting camps, we see the phrase "runner-up" as a reason to send your kid to the camp. We put second place on the podium just slightly above all the other placers. In short, it is winner of all the losers and it is almost the best.

I don't buy into the "you have to beat the best, so who cares where you are seeded." That is why tourneys are seeded, to get the 2 best on opposite sides so they don't face each other until the finals. I think this is the right way to do it in any sport. If you disagree, then you should advocate abandoning all seeding.

But you will never be able to do this at State. Too many ages, weight classes, and districts. What is a solution for one is a problem for another.

It would be nice to have your top two wrestlers on opposite sides at State, but no system will realistically be able to do it.