First, as for promoting USAW tourneys vs. non-sanctioned one, I will not apologize for being a USAW loyalist and extolling the virtues of the same. After all, these message boards that we are conversing on are supported by USAW-Kansas. I don't believe AAU, Roller Productions, etc are providing any funds to support the Kansas Wrestling Forums.
Next, I wholeheartedly support bringing top-level tourneys to Kansas. Again, my issue in this, let�s say I have a �King of the World� youth wrestling tournament. And there is no entry qualification (other than age and weight) and essentially this is an invitational tournament. The winners of this tourney get a fancy trophy crown and a t-shirt that extols them as being the �King of the World� winner.
Also in my tournament I claim that the top 6 placers receive �All-American� status even if there are less than 6 entries in the division. A competitor can go 0-2 and still proclaim AA status. Occasionally we run into this same problem at our state level tournament. A few years ago, we had kids placing as an AA in the Folkstyle Nationals that did not even place in their own District tourney.
Today, a kid has many tournaments they can enter and if they win it, they can claim to be a National champ. Even the KSHSAA has 4 State champs at every weight class. I think, especially in younger wrestlers, this sets up an interesting dynamic. What happens to a kid, who wins a National tournament, and goes 0-2 at a local tourney?
My real problem lies in what tournaments call themselves! Some have expressed concerns over Ottawa, claiming to hold the 6 & under STATE championships. But really there is not much we could do if they wanted to call the tournament, the �6 & under Championships of the World.�
I agree with Klint�s �middle of the road� approach. But my belief is that if a parent can find a tournament that their wrestler (under 12) can obtain All-American status, regardless of how watered down it might be, they will do it.
It is a delicate balance. I support Mike�s efforts to bring a tournament to Kansas!
