Here are the notes from our first ad hoc state series review committee meeting. Please review our ideas and give us feedback. Let us know the problems you see with our ideas. We want input from the membership as we go through this process. Any proposal that this committee comes up with will be given to the USAW-Kansas board for review. If the board approves the proposal then it will come to the State Body at the next State Body meeting in October. No change to the state series structure could take place until the 2018 Kids State Tournament.

This is a summary of our meeting held on January 24, 2016. Each of the committee members have volunteered to serve on the committee. The members present were: Chad Beeson, Matt Treaster, Daniel Reling, Doug Eck, Ed Edison, Joe Knecht, Jonathan Whisnant, Mark Stanley, Scott Schroeder, Tracy Peterson, Will Cokeley, and Zach Campbell. Unable to attend were: Billy Johnson, Cody Parks, Richard Salyer, Ryan Salyer, James Cook, and Travis Keal.

The first hour of the meeting was a brainstorming session on our state series of throwing out ideas of potential changes and discussion of problems those changes might cause. The focus was, “What is best for the kids?” We then made a list of Priorities to see how our ideas could dovetail with our Priorities. Our priorities were then listed as 1) Funding for USAW-KS, 2) Expense to Families, 3) Kids Finish Earlier, 4) 6U Included in State Series 5) Better Fan Base Experience, 6) Grow Participation, 7) Reduce Qualifying Tournaments.

As we discussed the ideas we had come up with in light of these priorities the group came to a consensus to look at the possibility of the following: Splitting the state series into two tournaments. The first tournament would involve the 6, 8, and 10U divisions and be a one day State Tournament held the weekend before the High School Regionals (approx. 2nd weekend in February, district would be 1st weekend in February). The first state tournament would have approximately 950 competitors. There would be a district tournament qualifier from each of the four districts. The second State tournament would be a one day tournament for the 12, 14 and HS divisions and be held two weeks following the KSHSAA State Tournament with a District qualifier one week after KSHSAA state tourneys. The second tournament would have approximately 850 competitors. The registration fee for the State tournaments would be increased by $10-15, or $30-35 (currently it is $20)to offset the $22,000 we receive from the host city organizations. The idea being that this small increase would easily be offset by having to spend two nights in a hotel and meals for two days as our state tournament is currently set up and the savings for not having to attend a sub-district.

A survey will be sent to our membership through Survey Monkey to ask for input from the membership on possible changes. (If a person wants to participate in the survey but they do not believe their email or their wrestler’s email is on file with USA Wrestling, then they can forward their name, email address, club name, and card number (participant or coach) to Joe Knecht at joe.knecht@gmail.com. Once the survey is done we will be able to send each club leader a breakdown of their parents’ and members' responses, which will allow them to determine what their club’s sentiment is.

The next meeting of this ad hoc committee will be at the Salina Bi-Centennial Center on February 28 at 10:00 a.m. This meeting will be held in conjunction with the 6U State/Elementary Duals State.

Thanks,
Matt Treaster
State Folkstyle Director
USAW-Kansas