I guess my position is that the takedown is the key to winning wrestling matches. More precisely, the first takedown is critical.

We had a thread a few months ago about statistics and percentage of victories where the first takedown is scored. And the figure is somewhere around 85%. That is if you score the first takedown you will win 85% of your matches.

I consider myself a fairly knowledgeable fan and we (Kansas) have had some limited success at the National level. But why are those wrestlers successful? Obviously some coaches and some athletes do a good job on their feet. I have seen a few matches and my opinion is those that are successful at Southern Plains, U.S. Nationals, World Team Trials, etc. have been extremely sound on their feet.

I would love to see Kansas elevate its wrestling skills. Yes, we are knocking on the door but in order to step or barge through it, we need to elevate our wrestling.

Although there are a few exceptions, most all of our successful wrestlers compete in summer freestyle and Greco. Clearly the emphasis in those styles is on neutral skills. Many of our wrestlers are learning some technique from the likes of Coach Klemm, Coach Johnson, Coach Garcia, Coach Peterman, Coach Vest, Coach Riech, Coach Fergola, etc. And they are also learning from recent grads like Bunch, Spalding, Hermreck, Blanding, Metzler, Gable, etc. Is the Kansas coaching fraternity willing to learn?

A couple of years ago, I tried to get a Silver level clinic in Kansas. But due to a lack of interest it was dropped. Now we have an opportunity to attend a Coaches Clinic organized by Bob Gonzales and Bob Phillips. Are Kansas’s coaches going to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity? Are Kansas’s coaches going to elevate their knowledge level? The clinic will be about freestyle and Greco … that also helps with folkstyle.

I don’t agree with Guts method for motivating Kansas’s coaches but I find some credence in his message. Maybe its’ preaching to the choir. Most of the coaches that read our message board are teaching sound technique and emphasizing the same.

One of my concerns is coach’s education. I hope the Kansas coaches take advantage of the opportunity to further their education.