From: eric akin [mailto:eakin@kc.rr.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 11:21 PM
To: William Cokeley
Subject: Re: Summer Wrestling - Southern Plains

Will,

I just got this email, and this is an issue that I have had a strong opinion about for a long time. I never have agreed with the state on this issue. I feel there are numerous ways it can violate people's personal issues/lives, financial situations, wrestling goals, etc. Here are a few of my points that I think are important.

1. What if a family simply can not afford the camp, or it's simply something they don't feel is a good investment?

2. Maybe a kid doesn't feel comfortable away from home or in this particular setting, but wants to compete at the tournament. Many of these kids go to this camp without knowing one other kid there. This can be a very uncomfortable for a kid preparing for a big tournament.

. .but these are the most important points in my mind:

3. The camp simply doesn't follow the blueprint of some kids goals and plans to be prepared to win. Some people prepare their wrestlers through out the spring and into the summer on a regular schedule, and prepare them for national events. It makes foolish sense to send them off all of a sudden to a 5 day boot camp that leaves them sore, tired, and homesick. This is not how top wrestlers train for all of the toughest events. So why change the plan in the middle of the course? Maybe some kids need the camp, but some kids are on course to reach their goals with the plan their parents and coaches have them on.

4. It's the investment into the sport by the wrestlers and the parents that is at stake. The parents and wrestlers make this their lives. These national events are monumental events and stepping stones in their careers. It's only right to leave the play calling in their hands and not in the hands of the state. The family and coach should be making the decision on where they train and how they prepare, so there is no one to blame.

Eric Akin