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Just wondering why you are constantly going on and on about the boys wrestling "UP". Why the need to pretend that they are overcoming some major disadvantage because they aren't cutting down to whatever weight the fat test said they might be eligible for? I would guess that 70-80% of the kids wresling in the state competed at some weight class above what the fat test said they were eligible for. Ervin was eligible for 120, is he wrestling "UP"? Fahey was eligible for 132 and I am told walking aroung at 143. Is he wrestling "UP" at 138? Same for Cooper. He was eligible for 138. I guess he deserves more credit for dismantaling everybody at 145 since he was also wrestling "UP". Jude fat tested for 152!!! He's wrestling "UP" 2 classed as well! Stephen was at Reading a month and a half ago weighing 156. And don't give me the BS about not being in wrestling shape. When you train 12 months out of the year since 1st or 2nd grade your never that far removed from being in wrestling shape. I am sure they both weighed about the same as everyone else in there weight class. Normally wreslting "UP" means that you weigh in at a lower weight class as in a dual meet and the coach bumps you up to wrestle a higher weight class for team points. So give it a rest about how remarkable their performance was considering they were wrestling "UUUUUUUUPPPPPPPPPP"!!!!! By the way, they both wrestled great .... just not "UUUUUUUUUPPPPPPP" Same thing with the constant comment about Austin being an amazing "FRESHMAN". For pete sake he's as old as some kids that are juniors and probably has twice as many years on the mat. Amazing "FRESHMAN" wrestling "UP"!! You don't need to pretend that they are anything more or less than what they really are. Both kids are tremendous wrestlers but are not at any disadvantage! Both have been held back. Which is fine by me, a lot of the top kids are holdbacks ie Jude, Carr, Brock, etc. I have no problem with it. I think it is more impressive when kids accomplish the same without being held back like TJ, Cooper, Fahey, etc but it's OK either way. Just don't go off ACTING like he's some young baby FRESHMAN competing against older upper classmen. That's not the reality of it.

All I can say is you guys obviously did not hear a fraction of the crap I did on trackwrestling. The board spent hours on the phone and working emails to get this done. That doesn't even take into account the issues with getting league USA cards. And believe me (or check with Keith Smith), there are issues here as well. I'm not saying it is a nightmare for me personally, but many around the state would say it is. And I personally do not believe this will do much to impact weight cutting. JW - it is being done at the high school level where coaches and programs are much more structured, have more help, and managed by administrations. While we all expect that to happen everywhere even at the middle school level, the reality is that many programs are not run at the same efficiency level. There may only be one coach involved who is not a teacher and tries to juggle everything. The job should get done, but the bottm line is that it doesn't. As far as what the kids want, my son may love candy bars and ice cream, but that doesn't mean it is the best thing in the world for him and everyone else. Kids generally only consider what is affecting them and maybe a couple of their buddies in the last week. Again, I'm for making smart, logical change for the better, not change for the sake of change.

Bigedcoach: Sir you are correct. Can't be a paperwork nightmare when it is already being done. We already weigh in with an official. The official is already writing weights down. The tournament director is already making copies for each coach at the tournament. So what, he has to make 1 copy for the league / or representative that would compile the weighins. He could either mail it (costing a whopping $2.00) or give it to the league prior to 01 January at any tournament (free). All of these weigh-ins could be compiled on one spreadsheet, sorted and determined who is eligible for the 2 lb allowance or certain weight class. If the issue is having someone compile the weights all year - I will do it and it looks like there are more volunteers that would to see this through.

As a guy who has coached Middle and High School Wrestling, Having certified referees and an opposing coach to sign weigh in sheets at meets and 1 form turned in with the date of certification and a copy of that weigh in sheet attached to that roster and turned in to the district seed meeting is not a paperwork nightmare. Making scratch before Jan 1 then 2lbs after is an easy policy to enforce with little paperwork. I really believe that you need to go to the 50% rule in MS since there is no fat testing or decent plan

Okay, I agree with some of what you have said here. Stephen did look big, imagine how he would have looked had he been able to drop down a class. He was very dominant at 52 without cutting. I can only imagine what he would have done to the field down a weight. Same for Austin. As for holding kids back. Like it or not, it was done within the rules. I never held any of my kids back. My son did not turn 21 until after his junior year of college! I looked beyond wrestling though and saw the big picture called life. He was/is mature and I saw no reason to hold him back. My belief is that holding a kid back should be done ONLY for social/educational purposes. Perhaps this was why Austin was held back.

I was a 16 year old senior when I wrestled

Depends if he bumps up to the big boys next year. He can't beat Cooper or meyers as long as he stays in the Lil weights he will win it no problem.

113 Blackwell throwing the crunch at just the right time- 126 Brock going from being In a takedown position for most then turning it into a doubleleg for a takedown and 132 what an improvement Justin Lampe made since they wrestled at the holiday tourney at Mater Dei! I would also like to add and mind u I'm not a fan of Campbell county the Myers boys were lots of fun to watch! Definitely what i had expected! Talented young men and i also thought Paul Hamilton had really turned it up! In one season he went from good wrestler to the next level- that's my take on the state tourney anyhow!

Face off's need to continue. It is a huge tournament for those kids. Not to mention how many matches most of them had to win in order to be in the face off. I think parents need to remember it is all about the kids. For the parents that can't handle the extra 30-45 I'm sorry but it's not about you. If it is a problem now may I suggest basketball because middle school tournaments are even longer. They also do face off's. I hate to be so short but it blows me away thinking about someone complaining about staying a little longer to make some kids feel special.