Just curious how many 6 year olds qualified in the 8 under brackets.

Just to start a few:


Nick Ornelas 46lbs Chanute

Noah Murray 43lbs Parsons

Way to go guys! Tear 'em up at state.

Boo Dryden 40lbs. WWC Conner Penka 43lbs. Derby

Great job boys!!! Good luck this weekend.

Tate Steele 5 yrs old - 8/40 lbs. 1st place District 1
Team Tigers

Good luck Tater!

Lonnie Finney from Clearwater but I can't remember his weight.

Levi Green 8/40 3rd District 1
Siam Boyd 8/43 3rd District 1

I noticed Boo and Tate placed 1st and 2nd at 6U State. Congratulations to those boys.

Noah Endreshak 8/40 3rd District 3

Nathan Endreshak 8/43 1st District 3

are they twins? We have 2 sets of twins going from our club, congrats and good luck this weekend

Conner Penka 8/43 Derby

One of the arguments against having a 6 and under division for state is that the kids can make it at 8 under. Take a look at the weights of the kids that make it. Most of the 40# kids are probably wrestling some 6 year olds to get there. The kids with very little chance are the 52+ kids. Almost all of them will be wrestling older more developed kids. 6 and under state at Ottawa was a great event, and I am glad it is offered, but it is not a substitute for State. The young kids work their butts off all year, and it is a shame that they aren't given the same opportunity as the older kids. How many older kids wrestle for a club for 2 or 3 weeks after the Jr High program is over and then have the opportunity to make it to state? In our club it was over half the kids that made state. Why is their 3 week involvement in the club rewarded more than the 6U kids work in the club for over 4 months? It is time to add 6U to the State tourney.

I echo your sentiments. I would love to know if any of the USA card money that 6 and under kids pay is used for the state tournament.

Go kylesdad. Alot of 6 and unders do make it at the 40 and 43 lbs weight groups because how many 40 and 43 lbs 8 years old out there. I know a few but not very many. I know that 2 people that wrestled 6u 52 all year are going to state. TJ from Salina 52lbs and at 49lbs Acaia from Rice County. They are both from D3. That goes to show that there is some good competition at the 6 and under division. Good Luck to all 6 and unders that are going to state. And I agree with kyles dad it is time to add 6u to the State tourney.

Lonnie Finney went 52lbs. Good luck Finney!!!

Congarats to all the little guys

Conagher Welch 8/55 Indy

Good Luck to Noah Murray and Nick Ornelas!

Wrestle Tough Boys!

Go 6 and Under!

I can tell you that some of the best wrestlers at 6&U 49, & 52 are not going to state. and when you talk about Acacia and TJ you are talking about two of the best at their weights. Acacia also dropped from 52 to 49 in order to qualify. They should be rewared for that, not throw into a bracket with kids much more experienced and developed. There is a huge difference between 6 & 8. It is sad that so many talented 6 year old miss out on the experience of state. I think if more of those kids could experience the thrill of just the walk-in "march" it would be enough to motivate more of these kids to stay in the sport. That is an amazing site. I want my 5 year old to end the year on a positive note not going to subs and getting thrown around by a kid 3 years older then him. How discouraging is that for these kids to end the year like that?

Dylan Bloom 46lbs 1st place district 3 Wamego Jr. Raiders Good Luck @ state

For all of you that continue to wish the 16u to be eliminated from the state tournament, remember, your children will be in that category some day and hopefully their participation will be abit more welcome than what some of us are currently going through. Why does it have to be an us vs. them deal - why not come up with alternate solutions rather than bashing the "big kids". They may only participate for a few weeks, but they also provide some guidance and support for the little ones.

"They may only participate for a few weeks", but they have participated for months each year, many of them from the time they were the age of your 6 & under. It may seem like the 6 & unders are being shut out, but as intense a sport as wrestling is, the 10 years they are eligible to compete at State is plenty, they're not being ripped off by missing out at 6 & under.

For those few that are ready, they can give it a go at 8 & under, just like those few freshman that can hang on varsity wrestling against seniors. The rest pay their dues and hope to get their glory in due time. I know our high school team has excellent, hard-working wrestlers on the freshman and jv teams. They are no less valuable than our varsity wrestlers, but the kids' parallel to this is that for many reasons, including pressure, mat space, time factor and past votes, the 6 & unders do not participate in state.

Many people have been on the forum complimenting Ottawa on their 6 & under State Championships. This is great! I heard they even had a parade this year. It's a one-day tournament, which is much better suited for 4, 5 and 6 year olds. They have 10 years at the big show, let them build up a little anticipation for it.