Mr. Matman

I posted about this back in October. Lack of clubs affiliated with NUWAY in our state is what prevented KY teams from attending. This was a "state-based" National Dual Tournament. In order to compete, the entire team must be made up of wrestlers from that state. Maybe sometime later down the road when there is more interest. I believe the NUWAY directors thought this would spark more interest from the KY wrestling community and eventually bring more KY wrestlers to some of their events.

Are there any teams formed already for the NUWAY National Duals being held in Louisville, KY January 4-6, 2019? NUWAY National Duals *ALL Weights = +2 Pounds Allowance 15 & Under: 3 Periods ~ 1 ½ Minutes. (Must be 8th Grade or below) 80 & under, 85, 90, 95, 101, 108, 115, 122, 129, 136, 143, 150, 170, HWT. (260 max) 12 & Under: 3 Periods ~ 1 ½ Minutes. 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 107, 115, 125, 135, HWT (170 max) 10 & Under: 3 Periods ~ 1 Minute. 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 115, HWT (Max 160) 8 & Under: 3 Periods ~ 1 Minute. 43, 46, 49, 52, 55, 58, 61, 64, 67, 72, 82, 92, HWT (Max 130) Girls Division 15 & Under: 3 Periods ~ 1 ½ Minutes. (9th Grade Girls Permitted) 75, 85, 95, 105,115 125, 135,150, HWT (Max 175) Girls Division 12 & Under: 3 Periods ~ 1 ½ Minutes. 45 & Under, 50, 55, 65, 75, 85, 95, 105, HWT (Max 135) 2019 NUWAY National Duals.pdf

We need to get rid of the overlapping weights and have larger brackets where possible. This year we had 96 brackets! 2016 was 99! 2015 was 71 (the last year face-offs were done for youth). This means we had 71 State Champs in 2015, 99 State Champs in 2016, and 96 State Champs in 2017. There is plenty of room for improvement. Face-offs would be completely feasible if there weren't so many weight classes. Number of wrestlers that participated by year 2015- 942, 2016- 1169, 2017- 1131.

Thanks

What are the weights for Team KY?

I’m not here to argue my stance on the suggestion of participation awards. That can go on and on, I’d rather not waste the time. Here is a scenario for you: A third grader has friends that talk about wrestling at school. This kid gets excited and wants to join. His parents are reluctant, but decide to let him give it a try. He’s a first year kid and gets beat on at every tournament. This kid attends state and falls short of placing. The season is over. The parents, not fully understanding the benefits of wrestling in the first place allow the kid to give up the sport since he didn’t enjoy it anyway. Children cannot even begin to comprehend the concept that you feel a participation award represents anyway. Wrestling is a very demanding sport, yes, and if you stick with it you have the opportunity to gain a lot from the sport. So a kid that wrestles 4 full matches in the state tournament, which should be the toughest youth tournament at the state level, but doesn’t place is one that didn’t work hard? You say you’ve never wrestled, go wrestle live for 3 minutes and then come back and tell me how easy it was. Again, these are children at the youth level. What is keeping these kids excited to come back and continue with their participation? I offered up a suggestion, and it was just that. All I ever hear about is numbers “we don’t have the numbers”. What is something you feel could be a solution to this problem? I myself am more concerned with competition. Great competition comes through years of experience in any particular sport. Keeping kids involved is ultimately what will lead to high level competition. Keeping involvement up is the “numbers” that everyone preaches about.

I agree, but if it's going to be an event that needs to be qualified for the idea for the participation award then becomes an award that simply gives a kid the recognition of achieving that state qualifier status if they are unable to place. The USA weight classes, in my opinion, at the youth level are too spread out and encourage parents to force their kid to cut. An example would be a nine year old weighing 63 pounds and the options are 60 or 65.

No, not joking. I feel that if State were a tournament that a wrestler had to qualify for then participation awards would make more sense for the ones that don't place. Our awards are already unappealing.

I'd be okay with it, but I'm only one guy.. There are plenty of areas that costs could be lowered to save for others. Our entry fees for state are already low compared to other state tournaments anyway. A few dollars spent on something that will attract more in the end is only going to be beneficial.

While the thread is going, I know that top 6 medal in a 9-16 man bracket and top 4 medal in the 1-8 man brackets. Has the state ever done or will there ever be a consideration for participation awards of some sort? I've experienced kids work their butts off all year and then not want to go to state because "you only wrestle a few times and then go home".

Is there any more info on the State duals or teams committed yet?

Do you know of any teams needing wrestlers and what weights they need?

http://www.kentuckystatewrestling.com/home.html Contact KSWA for tournament sanction info.

Another reason why KY gets no respect from other states in regards to wrestling.

Has anyone shown any interest in this position?