Can I get an Amen?! Exxxxxxxxcellent pointS!

Coach Neil, Also, exxxxcellent pointS!

How about a T-shirt awarded to ALL WHO FINISH the season at an awards banquest at the END of the season, or whatever, that reads something like: "Think you got what it takes? 2005-06 Wrestling Team!"

Exactly right!

From Webster's Dictionary, wrestler's edition:

ex.cuse

Pronunciation: ik-skyus
Function: noun

The skin of a reason, stuffed with a lie.

I'm quite certain that if you look in the dictionary of all the others sports, this definition is the same!

GREAT POSTS IN A GREAT THREAD!!

The moment we completely remove the element of shame from quitting we start raising a generation of quitters. That being said, there are extremes that I think should be avoided, and posting names on a shirt or poster is probably not the best idea (although it sure is fun to talk about doing it). I think it's o.k. to an extent to shame a kid for giving up as long as you are careful not to cross the line to the point that is becomes ridicule. You also need to consider how well that individual is able to deal with it. In other words; use your head, but that's probably a topic for another discussion, as comman sense seems to have vanished from our society at about the same time as accountability.

I've caught a little criticism for the wall of shame and t-shirt thoughts, and justifiably so. Still, it IS interesting to talk about. Newdog brings up a very good point with his opening statement. I hope that no one here will publicly ridicule a wrestler, although I am sure that it does happen. Wrestlers, by the nature of the sport more than any other in high school, has a tendency to attract a few more at risk kids than other sports. Because of that, we will probably lose a few more.

I agree as with all the coaches below that academics come first, but when they say that once they are done in high school they will be done with wrestling.

Just as a Reminder... Dean Sheets from Desoto Kids is in his 43rd year of coaching kids. That is longer than a lot of us have been alive.

Yes there is life after wrestling but wrestling can be apart of your life.

Coach Sheets is a man that I respect, and I have never heard of him before the previous post. I am sure that he has made a tremendous impact on the lives of countless kids. No high school team can have success without a strong kids program. Great job, Coach Sheets!

Honestly I do not know how any one can comfront a coach and say "I quit."... could have been many times i wanted to this season, but i just CAN'T say those words... 12hours before i first tourny, i was over 10lbs... ya i could of said no screw it. nope i ran it off like any wrestler would... after coming back from christmas break i was 16lbs over, had only a couple days to make weight, still made it. basically im just saying, i agree with everyone who says Quitters are PATHETIC... simple as that.

Jeff Frank HWT Tonganoxie

Sixteen pounds over heavyweight?!?

Here is what I heard this year:
1. My grades
2. The tournaments are too long (this is a big one)
3. I just want to go to the practices...not compete
4. My parents think I will get hurt

Maybe this is why I started this thread. Coaches make a commitment to their athletes, but it seems like commitment works only when it is a convenience for many kids and parents. Not all, and certainly not the good ones.....A day or so before the Goodland dual tournament this year, I got a call from my brother that my dad was in intensive care. He was stable, but I wondered whether to go down or not. Thursday night, he was doing better. I chose to head to Goodland before driving down to see my Dad early Sunday morning. On the way to Goodland, I got a call that Dad had crashed and been placed on life support....a few minutes later we made the decision to pull him off of life support. I stayed at the tournament because I had a commitment to my team. I was committed to them. I felt some guilt about not being with my dad and my brothers, but my first priority at that point was to the 13 kids that I had at Goodland. My administration offered me a ride back, but at that point I was where I needed to be. My daughter was with me as a manager, and it was a tough weekend. My team was well aware of what was going on, we grew up a bit that weekend. It is really frustrating, and yes, PATHETIC, that kids so easily forget the commitment that many of their coaches and teammates give to our teams. Their weak A$$ excuses get old. They are lesser people because of their lack of commitment, and always will be. Their reputation is made. I may like them, but I will probably never respect them. I am very proud of the kids that have stayed with our program. They battle. They wrestle hurt. We will be better next year because of what we have been through this year. Wrestling is a very demanding sport. It's not for everyone, but our society at large embraces mediocrity.

On the opposite end of this I had a kid (Chad Shore) very average wrestler but never missed a practice in the 4 years I had him. Did it pay off yes it did he qualified for state a goal he had set for himself. He was not he greatest wrestler I have ever coached but as far as honesty and integerity he had alot of both of them. He will be a success in verything he does because of the work ethic that his parents installed in him.

yes 16, keep in mind im original a football player. and in football my frame is around 300-315... so i cut quite abit to reach 275

As a former football player, I would recommend getting down to a natural 275. Unless you are 7'5", 315 isn't a very good natural weight for a high school kid.
Just some advice from a fellow fatty.

thank you for your advice... but im pretty much comfortable at this weight... im a pretty athetlic 'fatty' if i can be that big and still be more athletic than 1/2 of my school or 3/4 than im alright

Well, as long as your boob doesn't fall out of your singlet on a regular basis, then you are in good shape for a heavyweight. Good luck at regionals, big'n.