Having been to a few elections on this topic, I'll try to be brief and not too offending.

First off, as others have stated, this has been a dramatic push out of one of four districts and each time it has been brought up, as a voting body (ie the clubs) it has been voted down. It hasn't even been close. Costs, financial impact on families, wrestlers aptitude, etc., is immaterial. The brass tacks so to speak clearly illustrate that there isn't a wide spread interest.

Don't believe me? Case in point, this topic. Out of 1500+ participants, we have 26 posters. And let's just suppose for a minute that each poster was bent on getting this through. Reality check, the 26 would only amount to 2% of the eligible wrestlers. Never in the course of history has 2% been able to force anything into being.

I'm bad at research. Does anyone have the numbers of the 6 and under state tourney in Ottawa? How many attended? What percentage is that?

What bothers me about this dead horse is the fact that such a insignifant percentage is actually interested in the endeavor, ie, low percentages in posters, votes on the floor of the state body meeting, and I'm speculating here, but turnout in relation to eligible participants at Ottawa vs. the total numbers, consistently come on the message board right about the time late Jan, begin posting about how bad the Board is in not letting it fly.

What's the problem? First, as Mike pointed out, this is not the board's decision. This is an issue that has to be brought up and passed by the state body. The board only acts as the facilitator to enact what the body wants. The state body has clearly stated time and time again, through its vote, that it is not interested.

Second, if this was such a pressing issue, of vital importance to the well being and growth of the athlete, then why hasn't more been done to ensure such participation is included. Quite simply, "my kid's not six anymore." What irked us as parents with 6 year olds isn't that important to us when they are 8. That should attest greatly in to it's vital importance.

The argument of, "they deserve it," holds little water. I deserve a payraise as a teacher, I don't think our legislators are going to follow it through though.

The argument of "we're the largest group" is of little importance as well. It is the largest group, composing of 22% of the wrestlers. Not enough to overthrow much of anything. But lets take a closer look at the numbers, they slowly dwindle the older out kids get. Now this is because of a variety of issues, but I contend that most drop out because of burnout. Instead of barking about, "why not 6," we should be glad that there are voting members that realize we're losing numbers and this could be a contributing factor.

I have yet to hear of a kid quitting wrestling at 6 because of no state tourney. I have heard of kids quitting because they are burnt out.

Enough complaining about "think of the kids" or "what about the largest group" already. Could it be that most 6 year old parents are just out exposing their kids to the sport like my mom and dad did with me when I was young. They had no ambition of state champion at 6. Their ambition was to find something I was passionate about and enjoyed as a squirt and then feed that passion as I got more interested.

At six, though I was on the ball field every evening working on throws from centerfield to home with the team, I was more interested to see how much Big League Chew bubble gum I could get in my mouth.

Just some thoughts and I went longer than I wanted.