Iwould suspect that the number of particpants has increased greatly, but so has the opportunity to medal. In 1971 there were two state tournaments and 12 weight classes, with only 4 awards given in each weight class, resulting in all the wrestlers in Kansas competintg for 48 state medals. in 1992 and now, we have watered it down to 4 classes, competing in 13 weight classes, for 6 awards, totalling 312 medals. so if there are 3 times as many kids wrestling out there, the opportunity to win a state medal is the same. The really sad part of this whole picture is that until the title 9 question is resolved, there are MANY more kids out there that would have been good enough to wrestle college in 1971 that won't get any chance at all. regardless of how you look at old timers Vs. young wrestlers, that title 9 deal is a crying shame.