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email sent: Hello Mr. Barren, I am writing you today after seeing the state wrestling finals flyer. It would appear from the flyer that 1st through 8th place matches will be wrestled simultaneously Typically there has been a single mat finals for the state championship. My son is a wrestler in KY although I live in Michigan. I look forward to my wrestling weekends as much as any other parent and indeed I enthusiastically make the 1000 mile round trip from my home religiously to watch this great sport. I know these young men and women work very hard at their craft and should be rewarded accordingly. Coming from a state where wrestling is a very strong sport from the youth level all the way through division one, I can objectively say that the sport is growing quickly in KY and I loved the spotlight format for the state championship match. I don’t know if you are aware but Kentucky has nationally ranked athletes with national championship credentials competing. I’m not sure you can say that about many, if any other sports in the state. I don’t know the reasoning behind running the championship match simultaneously with the consolation match finals, but I can say it does detract from the state championship match. All of the fans, competitors included, look forward to watching the championship match and the build-up leading to it. If the reason for the move is a time constraint I can say with certainty that the time constraint can be managed to allow for the spotlight on the state championship matches. I am sure all followers of this sport would agree. I am sincerely hoping you will change the format to allow for the opportunity. Thank you for your support,

Apparently Mr. Barren and the others forget that Ky taxpayers pay their salary!!!!!!!!!!! They work for us instead of the opposite. I think it is time that they understand this is the order!!!!!!!!!!! We need to find a way to communicate with them that we are not happy about this and they have to be accountable for their decisions, especially decisions that set our sport back. No responding to emails is an insult!!

A lot of the kids haven't had practice due to the weather. Good decision KSWA. Mother Nature hasn't been very nice to the wrestling world this year.

I think that Gene Wolf has done a great job for a long while now. He has been very instrumental in the development of the youth wrestling here in KY. He is a true ambassador of the sport.

All, This a big deal! A raw one!!! For what it's worth, below is the email I sent to Mr. Barren. Please urge everyone to comment to him. Mr Barren, It has come to our attention in the wrestling community that the schedule has been set to run the matches for places 1st through 8th place simultaneously, on the final day of the championships. This is a huge disservice to the wrestlers that spend many years in training, make it through a grueling season, and reach the finals. It is a disservice to the true fan of the sport sitting in the stands being forced to choose which match they watch. It is equally a disservice to the college recruiters sitting in the stands trying to make the same choice. Many of these kids that place in the state tournament are looking for and are good enough to receive wrestling scholarships. Taking the opportunity away from focusing on placers 3-8 will only diminish possible opportunities for those kids. For what reason, all in the name of saving an hour and a half or two? I'm hopeful that enough people will point out the mistake that is about to be made and the KHSAA will reconsider it's decision. Please give our sport and these athletes the deserved recognition that goes along with the State Championships. Hold up the State Wrestling Finals (1-2 place) on the pedestal it deserves and give it the solo spotlight! Thank you, Kevin Griffith

Email sent. Mike Barron is the person you want to contact. Just remember, be polite in these emails. You know, the whole honey and vinegar thing...

I would have to agree with coach Q also. I also think Jason Moore (campbell),John Roth (walton),Kyle Goldsmith (North Oldham), Jory Whorton (John Hardin). These are all top notch programs that have produced some unbelievable wrestlers.

When your kid comes home from school and the first thing you ask him is, "What did you eat today at lunch?"

All of the above... Post of the year. Makes me laugh to know that it's not just me.

I'm impressed with ATM. He's got plenty of upside with his skill set. Has he wrestled any of the higher ranked kids? Jordan Wood who is number five from Pa is only a sophomore. I've seen Wood wrestle and he's amazing. ATM will be 1 or 2 next year, which is superb.

He'd be one lower if Kyle Snyder was competing his senior year though. And the second ranked kid, Dobzanski, is headed to UoL to play baseball. That's the greatest part of this sport--ATM will have plenty of chances to show he's the best.

Saw a #1 220 from ok lose a match earlier this yr and drop out of top ten saw a #5 from Ohio lose to an unranked and drop to only 10 , it all depends on who does the rankings and whatever they choose to make important for their rankings at that time or what area the ranker is partial to . Not many HS jrs in the country are undefeated with national titles I would bet , but should he lose i suspect he would fall much further down than say an Ohio wrestler with much less cred or off season nat tourny success , best to stay undefeated . Without an ounce of bias I think ATM could beat the #1 220 Nash , Also think Brock should be a few higher as high as 2 top 4 for sure . No reason Boston could not be 1 . Once again the prestige of the state comes into play or the proximity of the ranker perhaps . Either way good showings by the Ky kids , being on intermat and not from a more "popular " wrestling state like Ohio Pa Cal is a great accomplishment , Time to go hunting for the 1 spot .