DamonMBarnes

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Posts posted by DamonMBarnes

  3. Posted · Report reply

    No doubt the Myers addition will make a big impact, but by making that statement you are in fact discounting the rest of the team. I'm going to say here and now I believe the Myers will win it all this weekend. But what's the rest of the team going to do? I gaurentee they won't be sitting at home playing x box. The team as a whole will win the title, if they do in fact win it at all. Good luck Camels. I for one will be rootin for you guys. ALL of you.

    Not discounting them at all. They have a great group of wrestlers. I just happen to look at facts. At the end of the day subtract the points the Myers accrue and I bet their place is quite different....

    The late season transfers are what will have people cheering against CC, if they do in fact do so. That is all I'm saying. Anyone who thinks different needs to come look at this great deal I have on ocean-front property here in Louisville.

  4. Posted · Report reply

    You were the one who said this: "Let's be for real. It's not as much that they are favorites it's HOW they became favorites..." so my question to you is, HOW did they do it? Your comment did not sound indifferent to me, it sounds like you want to say something but just won't do it.

    How did they do it? Simple, they had two transfers come in at the end of the season. It's a fact. All I'm saying is I don't think this "Campbell vs The World" mentality came about because they ARE favorites but more so HOW they became favorites. Don't read anymore into it than that.

    Unlike most, I use my actual full name on here so that should show you that I'm not afraid to stand by my statements.

  5. Posted · Report reply

    Tilt: no they don't Tra Blackwell, wrestled varsity for UHA as an 8th grader & Union County as a 9th grader. Transfer rules do not apply to middle school wrestlers that are leaving MS & going to HS.

    Damon: not as many this year as in previous years. as far as I know. That's the point wrestling is growing in WKY, so the need to fill out your roster with MS is in decline. However, in 2006, my team had 4 wrestlers qualify for state that were in Middle School. We've had at least one MS in the Varsity line-up every year since they were allow to return to HS competition.

    Thanks for the info. That seems to be the norm at the smaller schools.

  9. Posted · Report reply

    Then why does Indiana , Ohio, and other states not allow it or even Jefferson Co. in Ky

    Indiana & Ohio have bigger programs and official middle school programs. Jefferson Co is just stupid. The last time a ban on middle school wrestling varsity happened, it almost killed wrestling in Western Kentucky. Since Middle School eligibility has returned, wrestling schools in Western Kentucky has grown from 6 teams to 14, with a possibility of 4 or 5 more in the next couple of years. Wrestling is not those other sports. Coaches are not sending 106 lb 7th grade wrestlers against 220 lb 12th graders. Both wrestlers weigh the same. Fort the most part the only ones complaining are those who are having trouble starting a MS program.

    If it almost killed wrestling in WKY I have to ask, how many middle schoolers on average started for the WKY teams this year?

  11. Posted · Report reply

    Maybe if the Coaches association could do this, Have a small school or "All A classic" and invite all 22 teams to the tournament. do this on a seperate weekend than state duals

    This is a pretty good compromise and an event that might actually promote some growth as it will be something else to give wrestling exposure. Is anyone familiar with how basketball decides which teams are invited to the "All A Classic"?

  12. Posted · Report reply

    A change I would like to see happen is to move it from Henry Clay. If you want to increase participation in the state a good option would be to have events in other areas of the state. Now that the individual state championship is in Lexington they have a monopoly on the wrestling state championships. I know last year when there were talks of where to move the state championship I researched the driving distances and Louisville was just as close if not closer on average than Lexington. But more importantly, the Louisville Metro Population dwarfs the Lexington Metro Population. More people = more attendance and more interest.

  14. Posted · Report reply

    Union won 160. Shawn and Bernard are the only two that owned anything in the upper weights.

    Probably splitting hairs, but I'd argue that BJ Carmen and Drew Newberry did as well. Either way, Union showed up and took care of business. Congrats to them.

  17. Posted · Report reply

    Match by match predictions

    106 larue by Dec 3-0

    113 union by fall 3-6

    120 union by fall 3-12

    126 union by fall 3-18

    132 union by fall 3-24

    138 union by major 3-28

    145union by Dec 3-31

    152 union by Dec 3-34.....that's the last points we will see from union

    160 larue by major 7-34

    170 larue by fall 13-34

    182 larue by fall 19-34

    195 larue by major 23-34

    220 larue by major 27-34

    285 larue by fall 33-34 union wins....

    Key points: 103 bonus opportunity for larue. 132 Carr must pin Perez. If uinions heavyweight can keep from getting pinned, that will be a big help for them.

    I see each team winning 7 matches, so this dual will be won on bonus points.

    I agree with your assessment that this dual will be close and most definitely won on bonus points. But, I'd be a little surprised if Newberry didn't pin at 220.

  18. Posted · Report reply

    Henderson County actually tried to rebuild their program a few years back. I was an assistant coach on that staff. Between no funding from the school, finding gyms to practice, doing a lot of fundraisers, etc., It was hard enough to keep the team going. The thing that killed us was the athletic director. He did not and will never allow a wrestling team at Henderson County. After a couple of decent seasons, we were told that we could operate as a club team. We could go to every tournament except regional and state. It always seemed like an uphill battle. The middle school programs were backed well, but they just don't want it in the high school.......Sad, very sad....One of our former wrestlers is wrestling in the National NAIA Wrestling tournament in a little over a week....

    What reasons did the AD give for not allowing a program? And another sad story to hear.

  19. Posted · Report reply

    Well Male has no desire to start a program, with the last 2 football coaches they have, they were both highly anti wrestling,,,(ex. they both caused the death of Waggener HS program) It will be interesting to see what happens over at Jeffersonville HS and what impact lord redmond has on their wrestling program. Butler wont start a program unless Male does. Ballard probably needs a qualified coach and a booster that loves wrestling close to the AD like Tom Jurich was when his son was there. Shelby Co. doesnt seem interested in a program but the new high school Martha Layne Collins might be a chance

    Any idea why the two coaches at Male were anti-wrestling? I have always heard that about Redman but never really knew why. Not being very familiar with Louisville athletics why do you say Butler won't start a program until Male does? If it's because of "rivalry reasons" the logical move seems to be to start one BEFORE your rival. Also, I would be very interested to hear how both coaches caused the deat of the Waggener program.

    I remember back in the late '90's and early '00's Ballard had a pretty decent team. Seems a shame a school like Ballard can't field a successful team year in and year out.

    Where exactly is the Martha Layne Collins school going to be located?

  23. Posted · Report reply

    Here is the list of 6A schools in the state without wrestling:

    Boone County

    Butler

    George Rogers Clark

    Graves County

    Greenwood

    Henderson County

    Male

    Marshall County

    Muhlenberg County

    Shelby County

    Ballard (listed but didn't have a SQ the last two years)

    I find it upsetting that there are 11 6A schools in this state (which is over a quarter) that do not have a wrestling program. Each school has over 600 boys enrolled. It seems that a pretty decent team could be formed with such a talent pool to choose from. Out of curiousity does anyone have any information on why these teams don't have wrestling or what the current status is on a wrestling team at the schools?

  25. Posted · Report reply

    Here are some randomn and unsolicited thoughts from one wrestling fan.

    As far as Louisville is concerned I do agree that Freedom Hall and Yum! Center are not good options. Both facilities are too big to host an event that draws roughly 5k spectators for the finals. But I think Broadbent should be considered. I truly wish that there was a newer facility that seated around 5-7k spectators in Louisville that could host the event...because logically I think that Louisville is the best spot to hold the finals.

    I also agree with the sentiments that the number of spectators would increase if held in Louisville. It's just common sense to think that if you hold an event in the state's largest population area that more people will show up.

    I'm not opposed to NKU---even when considering the extra burden you'd be putting on practically every team for driving time. The huge positive is NKY is probably the most passionate wrestling area in the entire state and I think you'd see a very cool atmosphere and a bump in attendance.

    One final idea that I don't think has been discussed anywhere. And this idea comes with just a rudimentary amount of thought right now...I wouldn't mind seeing some kind of rotation between the discussed sites and maybe even other places across the state. Some other sites to consider that haven't been mentioned are the Eastern Kentucky Exposition Center in Pikeville which seats roughly 7k people. How about The Arena in Corbin also? I believe it's similarly sized. And I'm sure there are several good spots in the western part of the state that are capable of hosting the event. If promoting the sport is the #1 concern then letting all areas of the state get a shot to host could really help to drive up the interest. Just a thought though and I will already acknowledge that this could be a logistics nightmare.