Looking for feedback on this touney. My son wants to go, just wondering about how well ran it is, talent level and overall is it a good expreience.

It's just a step below Tulsa, but super tough. Pretty well ran.

24/7

Yes the tournament is well ran but as far as the venue goes, that leaves a lot to be desired. Last year we had to set up our own tables and chairs not to mention the fact that there are so many poles in the way you have to move a lot to see some matches. That being said, I know they hold matches in another arena or on another floor at the same venue and was told that each year they switch who is in the big arena and who is in the small arena. I only hope that if we decide to go back we are in the big one. This tournament does have a lot of the same kids that go to Tulsa Nationals and USJOC as well, so there should be some tough competition.

The tournament flyers states that due to popular demand all matches will be held in the large arena this year. It also appears to be going to a two-day format instead of a single day.

We have always had a good time at Liberty and would recommend it.

What ares the dates for this tourny?

ya

try this link http://www.libertynationalswrestling.com

This tournament is held the same weekend as Kansas High School State which is unfortunate...many good Kansas kids are watching their older brothers wrestle at State. We will return to this tournament once we don't have this conflict.

we went last year and had a great time! yes, our son wrestled in the basement room, and there were alot of issues with seating- only about 5 rows of chairs around the sides of the matts. when you have people coming from 40+ states, that's just not enough! I think it would be great to break it down into two days of wrestling so everyone can compete in the big arena! I will say that seeing that 68 man bracket for the first time was a bit overwhelming too, but what else could you expect from a national tournament! I'll deffinently be more prepared for the day this year!

Never been to a national tourney and noticed that this particular tourney's weight classes are in 5 pound increments. What do you do when your kid for instance weights 51.5 and wrestles 52 in Kansas - but for this tourney has to decide between 50 and 55? Totally against making kids drop weight, but is this an exception? Does he have a chance when giving up possibly 4 pounds? Any input is greatly appreciated!

Personally I say drop the pound and a half. Jake weighs 50.5 on a normal day. He will wrestle 49 at Tulsa, 50 at Liberty and 52 for state. This is totally his choice. He went to the Kickoff at 52 and got 6th, being beat by a kid that had cut down from 56. Jake told me for the big tournaments he wanted to wrestle 49 and 50 but would wrestle 52 the rest of the time. Before anybody gets too upset he got to 49 by only skipping lunch the day of weigh in.

Thanks for the input. Unfortunately, not the answer I wanted, but very truthful and I respect that. I am disappointed that most parents will not just wrestle up to the next weight, these are kids for goodness sake.

If I am understanding correctly, it is natural for a kid in the next weight class up to be stronger, maybe taller so this is the reason why a wrestler should consider dropping a pound or two if closer to the lower weight? That and the probability of wrestlers cutting weight at a national tournament are more, putting your kid at a larger disadvantage than normal? Okay, I asked my son and is actually, all for making the lower weight for this one tournament.. and even said, "I do not want to go and be 2 and out because I wrestled up." So, there you go the excuses are already happening!

If your kid has wrestled 3-4 pounds under their weight class for a national tournament -- I'd love to hear your opinion on whether it made a big difference or not.

Not that simple, IMO. Your lower weight class may have studs in it. Example, at JOC we went a certain class to hopefully catch a couple of kids we'd been wanting to wrestle (luckily, got to go with both of them). Had a much better chance of winning either of the 2 classes above us. All things equal, the extra size probably matters, but all things are NOT equal. My theory with youth wrestling is you have to keep them challenged--if they aren't losing, they probably aren't improving like they could. And you are creating a monster for when those days come--how many HS studs have you seen fizzle in college? Having said this, going 2 and out is no fun for sure. But I have seen this be a catalyst for rappid improvement as recently as this year's CK Kickoff, when we took a kid who'd been having local success, he went 0-3, and got noticeably better within the next few weeks. I like a quote I read recently from Yves Choinard, the founder of Patagonia, who said "Adversity is the catalyst for evolution. Without adversity, you have the opposite--devolution." Put them in positions to experience adversity--yeah, they may not get the shiney medal (right now) but they are being equipped for greater success in the future. We've only been in the sport for a short time, but we've already seen a number of high fliers who, when the medals start to become harder to come by, decide that they don't want to wrestle anymore. If they're wrestling for the bling, their careers will be short. But, back to your question--we wrestled one pound below natural weight at JOC (73), and 7 pounds below the class he normally goes (80), and had a harder bracket than either 76 or 80. One other thing to consider is that you want to be exposed to a variety of competition; if there's a kid who's having a lot of success at a weight class near yours, try to wrestle him.

The thing is at National Tourn. most kids are dropping weight... If you are not the others are.

I say leave that choice up to your child. If they want to drop that 1 or 2 pounds for a national tourny and can do it relatively easy then let them do it. I however am 100% against letting your child drop that 1 or 2 every week. If they continue on to High School wrestling they will more than likely experience cutting weight but now is the time, they should be just developing their love for the sport and you cant do that if you have to worry about making weight every week