Mike, there are many wrestlers - both girls and boys - with good records that go two and out when it gets to regional and state tournament time. Since there is only one state champion, are you assuming all non-state champions are pretenders and their efforts that got them to regionals and state tournaments - the intense conditioning, grueling practices and countless matches - were a waste of time?

Girls shouldn't receive, nor do I think most expect, any special treatment when wrestling guys. I think it's clear that what they want is the same thing you want - an opportunity to compete and a little recognition for their efforts.

Why challenge the skill levels of their opponents or assume their victories all come from forfeits? Have you ever wrestled a competitor that wasn't on your skill level or were all the victories in your wrestling career against top ranked opponents? Have you ever benefited from a forfeit - and if so, did you count the victory in your W/L record? What criteria do you think we need to have to determine who deserves to step onto the mat? What standards do you place on a wrestler before you will acknowlege their accomplishments?

Jeff Mercer