What will Wrestling look like with 4 classes?

[wrestling fan]

I have read lots of ideas and tried to absorb some of the reasoning. However, I don’t want to lose site of the main reasons for high school sports. 1) “participation” to keep kids off the street 2) help build self- esteem and teach those things that can’t be taught in a classroom. I like the fact that a lot of kids get to participate at regionals and state. Participation is more important than limiting competition to the best of the best. In my opinion, I am not as concerned about how many classes we have, as I am keeping “all” the kids participating. I see nothing wrong with spreading the wealth of success to many kids versus just a few.

With this new proposal every kid would get to compete at state. EVERY KID, how is this taking opportunity away from kids. This adds opportunity. The few kids that lost out at regionals and get ZERO opportunity to compete at state will now get to compete at the classification state tournaments.

Regionals is nothing more then a waste of time, a budget breaker for schools, and a joke.

[wrestling fan]

Message to WHSAA:

"If it aint broke, don't fix it."

We do not need a change in the number of classifications in wrestling. What we have now is providing a great experience for students and fans. Leave things alone.

[wrestling fan]

You must have been watching a different sport of wrestling in Wyoming then I have. Wrestling has been broken in Wyoming for many years, and needs to be fixed. Everyone has been complaining about the format since I was in school 20 plus years ago and nothing has ever changed. Ignoring the problem doesn't mean nothing is wrong

[Shelstad]

Ryan (Wrestling fan), The last thing our state needs is for its own coaches to put its current system down. If you think things need changed put a proposal together and ask for logical change. If you are not part of the solution then you are part of the problem.

[number34]

Ok, I don't post much at all and I'm gonna date myself a bit here but-

I wrestled back in the day when you actually had to qualify for state. I believe the last year was 1985 and the state tournament was held at Casper College. 8 man bracket, top 4 from both sides of the state. I was a freshman that year and had to work my tail off to qualify for state - and you know what - the competition was great! There was a sense that you belonged in the tournament, that you were actually competing against the best of the best in your classification, and that you obtained something special by qualifying for it.

Then, the following year it was decided to allow every varsity wrestler to compete in the state tournament (in 3A) and the regional tournament was for seeding of the top 4 on each side of the state only. What did that do? Well, it allowed more wrestling at state but the competition was watered down a bit. It also meant that you really didn't need to wrestle well at 2 consecutive tournaments - you were already going to state for just making weight at the regional tournament.

After my time in high school was done they changed the format again and allowed for some junior variety wrestlers to compete - essentially unattached. Are you kidding me? Great for those who were not the best in their weight class at their school - nice experience for them.

So, in my time wrestling and following wrestling in Wyoming I watched the Regional tournaments go from a qualifying tournament, to a seeding tournament, to just another tournament. AND the State tournament has went from a tournament of the best of the best in your classification, to a right to wrestle in if you made the varsity at your school, to a right if you decided to go out for wrestling at all.

I agree, 2 classes would be nice, one would be better. I remember my freshman year at state watching the likes of David Zuniga and Lanny Schneider thinking "yep that's where I want to be." Then my senior year standing on the podium looking at the champ from 4A, who I never did wrestle - thinking "I want to wrestle him, let's see who's the best in Wyoming."

Make regionals meaningful, make it an honor to wrestle at state. If at all possible, establish a true state champ.

Less is more

[wrestling fan]

Ryan (Wrestling fan), The last thing our state needs is for its own coaches to put its current system down. If you think things need changed put a proposal together and ask for logical change. If you are not part of the solution then you are part of the problem.

First why would you make things personal and call me out?

Second, read my posts, I clearly stated that the Wright coaches have wrote up a proposal to try and get this changed. I am trying to be proactive and I am trying to improve Wyoming wrestling.

So before you get on here to start trouble please read all the posts, because your comment was not necessary.

I love Wyoming wrestling would love to see it be improved, I am one of the few coaches in Wyoming who root for all wrestlers not just the wrestlers on my team as I know that wrestlers are a dying breed and all wrestlers are one family.

[Shelstad]

Settle down. I never called you out. If you want to hide behind an alias and not use your name then make sure you are hiding. I didnt make anything personal. You were the one that said the current system is a joke. I take exception to that. We should all try to be constructive with what we post and try to make a good solutioin if something needs fixed.

[Lat Drop]

I have read lots of ideas and tried to absorb some of the reasoning. However, I don’t want to lose site of the main reasons for high school sports. 1) “participation” to keep kids off the street 2) help build self- esteem and teach those things that can’t be taught in a classroom. I like the fact that a lot of kids get to participate at regionals and state. Participation is more important than limiting competition to the best of the best. In my opinion, I am not as concerned about how many classes we have, as I am keeping “all” the kids participating. I see nothing wrong with spreading the wealth of success to many kids versus just a few.

I don't think proposing to lower classifications would be hurting "participation" by any means. Unfortunately society as a whole is scared of competition these days, Wyoming in particular, it seems. I'm sorry, but not everybody should need to get a medal, an award, or a piece of the pie to justify participating in something. That view point, is what is killing today's generation. (Not just in the athletics sense either) My top argument would be to lower classification numbers or attempt a new way of improving at least our end-of-the-year model and this sport will begin to grow in the eyes of fans, spectators, and youth because a better product will be performed in front of our eyes. That will in turn, improve our participation numbers at the high school level.

[martfinn]

my 2 cents worth..the Ron Thon takes care of who is the best in the state..2 classes are the best for Wyoiming at this point..Lets get it to this first and see how we like it and then maybe 1 class.

[tony knezovich]

There are some good thoughts being put down here... Hopefully something good will come of them.

I would like to say something about those that say the Thon takes care of the "best of the best" topic. That is WAY off imo. That means that you were the best on that day at a good to great tournament! (depending on the weight you wrestled) A state champ trumps that! Let me ask you that think the Thon is king this... If the Thon champ gets beat at state then what? Is he still "king" of the weight class? NO WAY!!!