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Kansas completes successful folkstyle state series and gives $3,000 to help Keep Olympic Wrestling


By Meagan Templeton-Lynch USA Wrestling
04/25/2013

One of the largest state tournaments in the nation, the Kansas State Wrestling Folkstyle Championships, took place March 29-30 in Topeka, Kan. with nearly 1,500 wrestlers in five age divisions: 8 and under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14 and high school.

“For over 35 years this has been the premier event in Kansas youth wrestling,” said USA Wrestling-Kansas State Chairman Mike Juby. “We are very proud of how it has grown and improved over the years, developing into a truly family-friendly experience. None of this would be possible without the tireless efforts of our volunteers and strong club structure throughout the state. I’m proud of the organization and the opportunity it has created for wrestlers in Kansas.”

USA Wrestling-Kansas also made a tremendous $3,000 donation to the Committee for the Preservation of Olympic Wrestling (CPOW) to support the effort to Keep Olympic Wrestling, joining other state associations within USA Wrestling working daily to help preserve the sport on the Olympic level.

This year’s folkstyle state tournament was the culmination of the wrestling season for over 9,400 wrestlers and 12 qualifying events. Winning the team title was Kansas Young Guns, based in Garden Plain, Kan.

Champions from this tournament will have the chance to also win titles in freestyle and Greco-Roman to earn the coveted Kansas Triple Crown. The Kansas Freestyle/Greco-Roman State Championships will take place May 4-5, 2013 in Hutchinson, Kan.

Last year, 12 wrestlers in the Schoolboy/girl, Cadet and Junior divisions earned Kansas Triple Crowns. Folkstyle champions Anthony Capul of Brawlers Wrestling Club at 175 lbs. and Jason Zook of Chapman at 265 lbs., both in the age 13-14 division, have the chance to repeat as Triple Crown winners if they can pull off victories in freestyle and Greco-Roman.

With the future of wrestling as an Olympic sport in question after the International Olympic Committee Executive Board recommendation to remove wrestling as a core sport in the Olympics, support for Olympic Wrestling is being demonstrated at events across the country.

USA Wrestling-Kansas and wrestling clubs from around the state truly showcased their love of wrestling at this year’s event, gathering athletes, coaches, friends and family together in show of support of 2020 Vision: Keep the Dream Alive, a campaign run by CPOW.

It is the effort of those wrestling supporters in Kansas and all over the nation which will make a difference in this cause.

... We, Kansas, are a USA Wrestling State! I think this is a great expenditure of funds! If we value our place, as one of the leading States is the US, then I feel we are obligated to support the committee's efforts!

If the effort ultimately fails at least we were in support of it. If it garners a positive outcome (which I think it will) then we can be part of the victory!

I note several states' legislatures passed resolutions supporting saving Olympic wrestling. Does anybody know if our legislature acted on our phone calls or letters requesting such a resolution? I have not seen one introduced.

It passed out of Committee www.kslegislature.org/li/b2013_14/measures/hr6020. The legislature will be back May 8 for a short (a few days to a week or so) wrap up session. It would help if everyone would contact the Speaker (Rep Ray Merrick ray.merrick@house.ks.gov) and Majority Leader (Rep Jene Vickrey jene.vickrey@house.ks.gov) and politely ask them to allow a floor vote during that time.