KCWA

All indications are that we are going to be allowed to expand the tournament to 32 teams. We should have final word the 1st week of May but we are preceding on the assumption that we will be able to expand. I am currently preparing for the competition committee to meet and decide which teams to add to the tournament. I am expecting Bishop Lynch and Canyon Randall, Texas to be two of the teams. They finished this past year number one in Texas, Private and public respectively. The tournament will be held December 19 and 20, 2008 at the KCI Expo Center in Kansas City, Mo. The following teams have already been invited: 1. Blue Springs, Mo 2. Collins Hill, Ga 3. Creston, Ia 4. Del City, Ok 5. Farmington, Mo 6. Ft. Zumwalt West, Mo 7. Goddard, Ks 8. Granite City, Il 9. Hayfield Secondary, Va 10. Holt, Mo 11. Kearney, Mo 12. Keller, Tx 13. Norman North, Ok 14. Oak Grove, Mo 15. Oak Park, Mo 16. Oak Park - River Forrest, Il 17. Omaha Skutt Catholic, Ne 18. Park Hill, Mo 19. Park Hill South, Mo 20. Perry, Ok 21. Platte County, Mo 22. Ponca City, Ok 23. Rio Rancho, Nm All but Rio Rancho have already accepted the invitation. According the the 2008 final rankings by Amatuer Wrestling News they list 8. Oak Park, 13, Omaha Skutt Catholic, 24, Bishop Lynch, 31. Collins Hill, 35. Ponca City and 36. Goddard. We had an excellent lineup this past year. The tournament featured approximately 142 state qualifiers, 83 state medalists and 33 state champions. This also included 3 2007 Junior National All Americans and 6 Cadet National All Americans. The 145 pound class had 7 state champions and the 130 pound weight class had 3 three time state champs. Most classes had some nationally ranked individuals. I would like to see quality Kentucky teams in the tournament. If you are interested in consideration for a slot in the tournament or require additional information contact Tom Taulbee at 816-582-5417 or kansascitywrestlingassoc@yahoo.com. om.

The Kansas City Wrestling Assoc. in cooperation with the National Wrestling Coaches Association and Missouri USA Wrestling is working to organize a national wrestling tournament. The tournament will be a yearly event held during the Christmas season beginning Dec. 15 & 16, 2006. The tournament will be a 24 team individual tournament with approx 6-10 top Mo teams, 6-10 top Midwest out of state teams (Ne, Ia, Ok, Ks) and 6-10 top out of area teams. The tournament will be a combination of pool and bracket with every wrestler getting approx. 6-8 bouts over 2 days with 2 weigh-ins. The tournament will be held at the KCI Expo Center near Kansas City International Airport. This is the same venue that USA Wrestling recently held the Cadet National Duals. The location is perfect with the airport and countless hotel rooms within a few blocks. We are working to get discounted travel for participating teams to make this tournament as affordable as possible. As things stand right now Platte Co. Mo, Oak Park Mo, Park Hill South Mo and Park Hill Mo as well as Omaha Skutt, Omaha, Ne. and Millard So. Omaha, Ne. and Lewis Central, Council Bluffs, Ia have verbally indicated their interest in or an intention to compete in the tournament. Five of those teams were team state champs last year in their respective state and class. As of January 2004 both Oak Park and Omaha Skutt were ranked in the top 50 in the nation. If you think that your team may have an interest in competing in this tournament or you would just like to be kept informed of the details as decisions are made, please contact me and I will keep you informed of the progress. I can be reached at kansascitywrestlingassoc@yahoo.com or 816-582-5417. Thanks for your attention. Tom Taulbee Platte City, MO