Tapout

Congrats to Austin! Kid is just a monster.... No other way to say it!!

I think it's a safety thing more than anything... Fingers and and thumbs being caught in the clothing being the issue. Any of you who've spent time on the practice mat know this is an issue.

Seeding regional champs is the most fair and practical way. It can be done and Ranger can prove it!!

Woodford parents "left in protest" after their match was already over and a parent had been kicked out. They also threw trash around all the way to and including the parking lot. What a message to send the kids....... What ever happened to being ashamed of bad behavior and setting an example for kids to follow! We regulate the wrestlers behavior on the mat by taking points away for bad behavior or sportsmanship and then accept this kind of behavior from a group of parents, really?

Random draw or seeding, some people are never going to be happy either way it's done. Seeding the regional winners certainly has to be more fair than a random draw. Is it really a legitimate complaint that one weight class is not a perfect bracket....... Perfect brackets are never going to happen in any way the brackets are drawn. The seeding meeting had coach input for all kids except two. I'd say that's as fair overall as it can be done! Now it's up to the kids to sort it out!!

Norsewrestling, I live just a few miles from Wilder, maybe I could meet with you to see if I can help out with Mats or other things. Email me at Kevin.Griffith@mail.com and give me some details of what you need to help with you're startup!

Norsewrestling this is great, great news. I've been waiting years to hear this news!!!!! This has to be the step in getting an NCAA wrestling team back at NKU!!!!!!!!! Please keep us informed of the progress and give us updates. I would love to get team in line to support your home events. Plus, there are a good number of Alum and local high schools that would be on board!

Congratulations to Austin! Can't wait to see him in action at the next level!!

RYP, that first team in Danville took a brutal beat down but I believe had quite a few tough kids. My memory is not the best but I think it had Coty Lewis, Matt Byrd, Harrison Courtney, Johnny Wolsifier, Jarron Singley, Brad Hitchings, Caleb Wood.... I can't recall if Travis Sullivan and Joey Sanders were on that team or not. Any more you can think of?

Congrats to all that represented KY! You should all be proud. It is amazing to see the progress we've made in the past few years. Special props to Austin, he is a special talent!

Any updates would be greatly appreciated!

You're talking about a school which had administrators that fired every coach in the school because they wanted to replace a baseball coach..... Administrators that act like a football team with a winning record, just won the Super Bowl...... Coach B is held in higher regard outside the school than inside. Wrestling will never be top dog at CC but I do believe it is respected by those who know even just a little about the history. Bottom line is that wrestling is not a sport for the glory seekers and it never will be, especially at CC.

Finals tonight at 8:00 pm on ESPN!! It's going to be a great one with a very tight team race!!!!! The expanded coverage was awesome...

Metcalf is a monster! Burroughs is some kind of freak!!! Jordan is extremely articulate about the sport and carries himself on a different level, seems to be very humble. What a great ambassador for our sport!!!!

I would not bet against ATM in any match.... Even against Snyder.

Tarzan. Could you keep us updated on results? Hoping you made it to the tournament!! Tarzan. Could you keep us updated on the results? Hoping you made it to the tournament!!

Goo, this is one time I would disagree with you. In your analogy, wouldn't changing school districts for academic reasons be the same "pimping your kids out", just for grades this time instead of wrestling....... Isn't the end goal the same anyway, trying for a scholarship of some sort and a free or partially free college education....... Why not give a kid any advantage possible either through sports or academia..... And all of those blasting on kids going to D2, D3, or NAIA schools, remember this one thing, they will have a COLLEGE DEGREE in four years, regardless of what division they wrestled !!!!!!!!

The change in the format without all the break time between rounds was wonderful as a fan. The only things missing were the proper face offs with music and a spotlight. Maybe they will get back to that level for the finals next year. If the KHSAA still has concerns, all they would have to do is make them known and I believe the fans would honor their requests. The extra mats could have easily been rolled up and I'm sure the fans would have still been respectful.

Looks like Ranger nailed it again!! Champions rankings as follows; 9- #1 seeds 3- #2 seeds 1- #3 seed 1- #4 seed Winning as a number #4 seed HWT was not a huge shock, heavies seemed to be very close this year. As always there are a few surprises both as wins and losses every year but Ranger is consistently spot on what he does! Great JOB ranger!!!! Even though job implies that you get paid for your services (which you don't), we appreciate your effort and hard that you do each season!

Wow!!! What a great tournament from top to bottom. We had great matches starting from the first round all the way through the finals. The skill level has never been higher from the bottom up! I'm left with the impression that besides the technical aspect improving the scrambling abilities across the board are just phenomenal. It's incredible to see the 220's scrambling and moving like lighter weights... well except for ATM's opponents.... Just kidding. Congrats to all the coaches and wrestlers, great job this year!!!!!

Wohoo!!! Finally some common sense from the KHSAA. Thanks to all those that worked to get the finals back in the spot light! I have to admit that I always felt like the toilet paper and spinning glow sticks were going to turn in to a problem. Regular toilet paper probably not a big deal but last year I saw industrial size rolls being thrown.... That's just not smart. I still believe the celebration can be wild, but common sense on out part would go a long way.....! Coach McCoy, I think it could be a good move to have repeated announcements made about safety concerns after the 3-8 placement matches. Alright everyone, it's up to us at this point!!! Have FUN and keep it SAFE!!!!!!!!!

Coach Teater, Could you please post a copy of the letter the coaches sent to KHSAA? I would like to use it in my reply to Mr. Barren. Thanks.

I understand your point, but no one has yet admitted it's about money. The blanket statements have been that this about about safety of the kids. Dog101 has a point, late travel is late travel regardless of the sport. Is there anyone on here willing to form a committee of our own and just see if ideas can be pulled together as well as work with the coaches to present options?

Safety concern for the kids... Really. They play football and soccer games in the rain and sometimes snow. I attended many cross country meets where the courses looked like mud pits.... None of their answers are anything less than B.S...... Keep piling on the emails and calls!

Keep up the pressure and at least require a non B.S. response from someone. Below is my message to Mr. Tackett. (I also copied Mr. Barren on this) On Feb 6, 2014, at 8:40 PM, "Kevin Griffith" <Griffith@roughbros.com> wrote: Mr. Tackett, Below is an email which I sent earlier to Mr. Barren concerning the KHSAA wrestling finals, I'm hoping you will read it in full. I'm copying you because I received no response from Mr. Barren. I've also read a response that you sent to another party stating your position on this issue. You stated that the decision was made with consultation of a committee and that it was in the best interest of the kids. I present to you that this change will actually hurt kids chances of recruitment and will be a step backwards for our sport. Many of the kids placing 3-8 are extremely capable of receiving college scholarships, this move will only take the recruiters focus off those kids. Rather than support a committee that made a grievous mistake, please consider the impact that your decisions have on the the kids and our sport. You will not find anyone in the wrestling community that is supportive of this format, not one coach, parent, wrestler, fan or college recruiter that agrees with this decision. Were there any wrestling coaches on your consulting committee? Was there any consideration given concerning college recruitment? It is not too late to correct the mistake that is scheduled to happen. I'm hopeful that you will give consideration to my message and respond with a thoughtful reply. Thank you, Kevin Griffith On Feb 6, 2014, at 10:04 AM, "Kevin Griffith" <Griffith@roughbros.com> wrote: 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