Does the HS state tourney select an OW?

Do the rankings thoughout the season have any bearing on the state tourney?

If the answer to both is "no" then i wonder why we need them at the before state tourneys.

Can we discuss pros and cons of having rankings and OW's?

I have read about the 'recognition' factor on this forum and i understand its importance but i wonder if it comes at too high a price (kids bragging, people getting mad because they weren't ranked right, arguing about who the OW should have been, etc). Maybe the wrestling community would be better without ow's and rankings. Just settle it all on the mat and let each state champ (and/or place winner) know that he is an OW.

What is the history of Kansas High School rankings and OW's? Their purpose? Their value?

Your thoughts?

The high school state tournament does not have an outstanding wrestler award for the tournament. There is a Senior High School Wrestler of the Year selected by the KWCA for 6A, 5A, 4A, and 3-2-1A.

The rankings have no impact on the state tournament placings. What does impact the placements is the wrestler's finish in their respective district qualifying tournament.

I will not offer my opinion on the value of the rankings!

Kansas does not have a OW for it's State competition nor do they have a dual team competition either but we still dual. Anything that helps are sport be more exciting to the so so fan is good.

dweish,

No! We do not have a ow at state. I have never been a big fan of ow's at invitational tournaments. They never seem to be fairly implemented. Has there ever been a heavyweight final wrestled before all the votes were in and counted?

Someone mentioned the classification's "Senior Wrestler of the Year Award". This is a great award given to a deserving senior through a vote of the coaches and presented at a nice banquet.

The rankings carry no weight what-so-ever. They are just fun. Yes! They contain wrestlers who should not be ranked and omit others that should be, but most everyone understands that and take the rankings in stride.

The ranking's history is simple. It is a function of the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association. It originated there about 15-20 years ago and is a product of a few brave soles who volunteer to do it. It was thought that it would add interest to the sport. The submitting of this topic is testimony to the success of that thought.

Gary Ulmer

These rankings would be a lot easier if you kids would just train hard and beat everybody! Geez!


(P.S. Coaches keep sending me info! I love it!)

Now don't in some cases the rankings help to seed individuals at say Regionals or something if neither have wrestled each other or a common opponent?

No Sweazy, the rankings have nothing to do with the seed at any Regional tournaments. Bring up a ranking in a seeding meeting and watch the laughter begin. Bring up the possible reason why a wrestler is ranked at said weight and you are probably talking about criteria which we both use to seed the wrestler and try, albeit not always successful, to rank our wrestlers. Somebody tell me that all the hours that I put in for rankings is fun and well worth it. Please! And coaches, thanks for your help, it has been wonderful so far, keep it up.

P.S. 5A rankings were updated on the KWCA page last Friday and will be again sometime next week.

I concur with with Mr. Ulmer' s statements.

At two tournaments this year the Outstanding Wrestler award was announced PRIOR to conclusion of the heavyweight match.

The coaches who volunteer their time and effort compiling this snapshot in time referred to as rankings are to be COMMENDED for their dedication.

The only rankings of any significance are at year end on the stand at the conclusion of the respective KSHSAA State Tournaments.

I would have to agree with coach ulmer also because he was my high school coach. I believe for finals they should have a drawing for what weights wrestle maybe start at 130 then if hwt got drawn second then they wrestle and so-on thats the way I think it should happen. Because the 189,215,hwt people leave before they wrestle thats not fair to them after all that they have done to get a chance to wrestle in the finals