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How about a rotation? Get the State Universities to host. One year at Northern Kentucky, the next at Morehead State, the next at Murray State, then Western Kentucky and so on. This would allow the sport to be showcased around the state, & save on travel for those teams the years it's close to your school. Why should the centrally located schools never have to travel and spend the money those schools who are always traveling have to spend. It could be a 6 year rotation with Lexington & Louisville included. It would allow those universities to showcase themselves as well. Each of the Universities has a arena that is big enough to hold 6 mats. No more dirt and allergies, nor cold arena floors.

I just wanted to take a minute and congratulate the Cooper family on the end of a great run. With it all said and done, the Cooper family has produced 10 state champs (Brad 3, Kevin 3, Craig 1, Neil 1, Kyle 1, Austin 1) and 5 state runner-ups. That's 15 times that the Cooper family has wrestled under the lights. Not too shabby for a bunch of barefoot, bike-riding, river-swimming hillbillys. Not only are these young men great wrestlers, but they are also great fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons. Their hard work and faith have led them to be just all-around great people. Thank you to Mark and Jeanne and Dan and Lisa for being outstanding parents and for all they have done for Simon Kenton wrestling, NKY wrestling, KY wrestling, and Cincinnati wrestling. I guess for now we watch Kevin on the big stage while we wait for Russell cousins to come up and for baby Ryder to come up and do some damage. (I edited my post, for some reason I wrote Josh instead of Kyle initially)

No Ohio kids at ST X. last time I checked. Moral of the story... home grown Kentucky boys can get it done. GO TIGERS!!!

The lawson brothers were trained by Miron in Ohio when they were young. A few years ago they moved to Urbana Ohio to train with Jordan. Since I am confident this will be common knowledge soon enough I will stop the speculation. The Lawsons have decided to move back to Ohio. Their father was trying to open a flooring buissness in the Lexington area but it was hard to find people to employee that had the experience he was looking for. Also, Mr. Lawsons father got very ill during the season and it made it very hard for him to help take care of him. They will be deeply missed on and off the mat. I think the coaches were officially informed yesterday about the decision. I am very biased but these boys improved leaps and bounds from the time they came to their last match in Kentucky. I assure you this was not in their original plans as they were looking to purchase or build a new home a month ago. Nathan Boston was born in Central Baptist hospital in Lexington. I am a graduate of Woodford County High. A few years back I shut down a plant in Harrodsburg, Kentucky and was asked to move to Indianapolis. I accepted my new position and we moved. About 2 years ago we sold our company and many positive change were made. Anytime 2 or more companies come together we must look for synergies and cost savings. With that being said, we decided to move the location to the east cost. This opened up an opportunity for us to move back home and help our aging parents. We have been trying to get back for the last 3 years. Since Nathan was 8 years old Joe Carr sr. and Joe Carr jr has had their hands on Nathan. They would come and spend the summers with the grandparents and train with the Carr's. The Carrs actually started a very successful wresting academy in Indianapolis but over time it was hard for them to make the trip as often as the parents wanted. We turned the academy over to a very highlevel coach. Many Kentucky folks knew we were moving back before the Carrs knew. We told the Carr's we were moving back home the week before school started. We didnt want anyone to know until we were here. The Carrs probably had the biggest impact in Nathans wrestling career since he was 8 years old. Many people asked why we picked Woodford. It was simple, we moved to be close to parents not to win a team state title. As stated above, the Lawsons moved to Versailles because it was in the middle of Frankfort, Lexington, and Cincinnatti. Versailles was the perfect location. I appreciate the kind words about Nathan. I think Nathan is lucky to have Kentucky and he has embraced the opportunity. Everyone has a good day and a bad day. With a lot of luck Nathan was able to come out of the State event as a state champion. I appriciate everyone that has supported our return to a great state and home. Nathan is 150-1 for his high school career and his loss came from Micic from Indiana. At this time Nathan was ranked #2 in the country and Micic was ranked #4. It was a great match and we were lucky to make it to the State Finals match. Nathan beat him the first year in the semi's and he returned the favor in the finals last year. Micic defeated Nathan I think 6-4 or 6-5. It really doesnt matter Micic beat him and has our respect. Nathan was 2nd at Flonationals and he wrestled 120 at Super 32. He wrestled very well and it is hard to place at these events with the 1 day weigh in. He was defeated by JR Wert in the Semi finals 3-2. Wert went upto 132 and placed 5th or 6th at the iron man. He lost to another kid he beat the day before in OT. Kentucky has some studs and we are humbled that some of you have considered him to be one of the better kids in the state. He has a level head and knows that anyone can be beat. He will be at FloNationals and all the top kids will be there. We would be glad if he was able to place top 8 again. However, that is not his goal. His is not a wrestling god nor does he think that. Once again, thanks for being so kind and supportive of Nathan. Everyone I have talked to has been great. I assure you that Nathan is a Kentucky kid and we wont be moving out of state until he finishes school. Hopefully Nathan represents Kentucky in a positive way. Thanks again,

i think Thompson of X is one of the most improved. He went from being on JV for three years to being in the state finals and beating kids he wasnt suppost to beat.

That was my first experience and I was not impressed. The fact they cant keep dirt off of the floor and mats is absurd. Also I have heard at the youth level there were allergy issues, and the finals were not near as neat as they were in Frankfort. I would say take it back to Frankfort! Parking was fine, seating was fine, and the arena was darker then Lexington. Also can we please step the medals up?! Half dollars are larger then the medals! If the middle school can afford the medals provided the KHSAA sure better be able too.

Eku could.hold it.

Brock vs Boston would be absolutely amazing. This is a case where these two kids should be on seperate sides of the bracket. What a shame it would be if they met in the quarters.

Judging by the probable weight changes, Boston is likely to encounter either Brock or Blackwell next year. I'd put him as a slight favorite over Blackwell and a slight underdog against Brock. Just my observations from watching the 3 of them wrestle. Wouldn't that be something you got Brock going for 5 next year and Boston standing in his way. Talk about electricity in a building. Wow!

Now with it only being 2 days, you can't go back to Frankfort. With only having space for 4 mats, it would have to go back to 3 days. Personally I would hate that. It's much better being 2 days.

Really? Wow. OK not sure what to say to that. I can only assume that we must have grown up differently. I grew up climing trees and playing in dirt and creeks as the things kids normally do here in Kentucky. Maybe It really is a problem for some. I just cant understand why none of our 75-80 people in our section struggled with allergies or headaches. This will be my last reply in regards to this issue but to say the place smelled like horses and cows is just flat out an exaggeration! Each to their own. We will just have to agree to disagree.

I have only heard one complaint that has anything to do with Alltech erana. The dust.. Dust and dirt? Really? I dont know what area you were sitting Mam, but I think someone had done a bit of vandelism if your seats were filthy and you saw kids playing playing in dirt. The area where our school sat was clean both days. Our little ones were also playing on the floor and were no more dirty than if they were playing on the floor anywhere else. Also as far as the scorboards are concerned, I sat in the section by mat 6 all the way in the corner and I was able to see the score of the matches on mats 3 and 4 in the other end of the arena. No matter where the tournament is held the concession prices are going to be rediculous just like at a ball game or a concert. The awards being a joke and brackets not being posted had nothing to do with the arena. These are all KHSAA issues. As far as having the opinion of holding the event at a place "classier than a Horespark", all I can say is that it seems we have a different view of what is and is not classy! Everone that has came from another state as a guest of our family the last two years to watch have all commeneted how great the location is or how great the venue and arena is for our State Tournament. Comments like "wow, this is really cool" or "wow, this is really big time here" This is Kentucky. We are known to the rest of the country as the Bluegrass State which is defined by the thourghbread industry. I for one am proud of that. Our dual teams singlets last year had a horse on it. Did this project the image of our team being unclassy? I dont understand the comment about headaches or people having problems from the dust. Our school had about 75 to 80 people there for two days and not one complaint about a headache or allergies or anything involving dust. Everyone from our school likes the Alltech Arena and we all hope the tournament stays there. I have a few complaints from the tournament this year such as the awards, brackets not being posted or sold but these are all KHSAA issues. The only thing I would like to see improved on that is directly an issue with the arena is that would be really cool if the finals matches could be wrestled under a spot light like they were at Frankfort.

I couldn't agree more. The men's restroom only had two stalls and most of the sinks didn't work and the one that did was cold water. Also $14.50 for 2 pcs. of pizza 1 bottled water & 1 Power Aid is robbery. I say move it to Freedom Hall or Rupp or WKU.

I would have to nominate my son, Tighe Harrod 160 Franklin County. He had never won more than 12 matches in a season. This year, his senior season, he went 30-9, finished ranked 20th by Ranger, beat some ranked wrestlers, won some big duals matches for his team (mostly at 170), qualified for state, almost knocked off a #1 seed (lost 10-9 last second) and won a match by pin at state. We are very proud of him.

You're absolutely right the title/memories are what's important, but that still doesn't make it right. I suspect that for a voluntary nonprofit 501©3 organization the KHSAA staff is doing quite well instead of giving back to the athletes and schools that they're supposed to be serving.

That's a great idea pioneer. I think there is man who runs a porta-potty business who might be willing to support the tournament. On a separate note, the first time i wrestled was 8th grade and i got 6th at state and got a huge medal and couldnt wait for state, thinking they would give huge medals in high school needless to say i was disappointed but at least they still had the plaque and framed bracket

Seriously I mean just getting 6th at state in middle school gets you a medal bigger than a softball and weigh about a pound or two

Everything about state sucks now. Not what I worked my ass off for. A medal the size of a penny. Come on. Look at the greater wrestling states like OH. Parents get to sit right in front of the mat. They get much better awards, they don't have to wrestle in horse poop all day and I'm sure there warm up area isn't 32 degrees. Come on KY, how did they think this would boost wrestling in Kentucky?

They should take take notice of the middle school state awards Medals as big around as softballs , finalist singlets,1/8 thick brackets.

Everything about state sucks now, (except the kids wrestling their hearts out). I hate the dusty Horse Park. Most kids spend the day fighting allergies and slippery mats. The guy running it is a clown and its all about the money. I sure miss Frankfort. It was a much better atmosphere. These kids wrestle all year for this, it should be a festival... That's my rant... My kids laying in bed eating ice cream. Best reward ever for a senior wrestler!!! Lol

Out of the 77 schools that participated in the tournament, medals were awarded to wrestlers from only 15 schools that were ranked 4A and below. Those schools accounted for only 19% of the medals. If you did not attend a 6A or 5A school, there was an 81% chance that you would not medal at all. This sport will never grow in the state if you don't have more opportunities for kids to be successful. Small schools simply don't have the resources to compete like big schools. Does Bourbon County have the athletes to compete with Campbell County, or the financial resources? I can assure you that we don't. We also don't have endless teaching positions to hire coaches. Make an argument for Bath County or Paris or Powell County to start a program. My argument goes something like this, "you should really start a program so you can go to the state and watch Campbell County and St. X collect medals. Woodford County, Larue and Union will get a few also." That is not compelling. You can sign all the petitions to save wrestling all you want, but in the end, the ability to save the sport rests with simple decisions like this. If you want people to care about wrestling, why don't you give them something they can achieve.