2009-2010 NEWSLETTERS

Febraury 15, 2010
REMINDER - State tournament pairings – we will post on the KSHSAA wrestling home page under the heading “2008-09 State Tournament information” a link to the “state tournament brackets”.  This initial bracket will show the pairings by regional designation.  On Saturday, Feb. 21 the specific designation of each regional (as to which one is “A”, “B”, etc.) will be posted on our web site.  This will not be done until all regionals are completed.

On Sunday, Feb. 22, the actual brackets for each class will be posted on the KSHSAA wrestling page under the “2008-09 State Site Information”.

Thanks to the efforts of Doug Vander Linden (Burlington HS) and Brett Kramer (Ft. Scott) the KWCA web site (www.kansaswrestling.org) will have regional wrestling information/results.  Late last week, each regional host site manager was contacted re: the offer of the KWCA re: the posting of the regional results to the KWCA web site.  Thank you Doug and Brett for your efforts in spreading the word on wrestling in our state!  Most of you have probably already discovered this web site – if not, you need to check it out.

COACHES – State tournament information – Information “packets” were sent to each regional host site with a request that one of the packets be provided to the head coach of each school team assigned to their regional.  PLEASE REVIEW  THIS INFORMATION – contained in the packet is information that will be of benefit to you as you prepare for the state tournament.

WR – 5 – STATE WRESTLING TOURNAMENT ENTRY FORM – Coaches – fill this form out following the regional and FAX it to the KSHSAA on Monday morning (Feb. 23) – please fax to 785-271-0236.  The entry fee check ($5.00 per athlete) may be sent in later BUT the FORM NEEDS TO REACH THE KSHSAA ON MONDAY, FEB. 23.

WR – 6 – STATE WRESTLING TOURNAMENT PASS GATE LIST - Fill this form out following the regional and FAX it to the KSHSAA on Monday morning (Feb. 23) – please fax to 785-271-0236.  The form is to be signed by the High School PRINCIPAL.  The entry fee check ($5.00 per athlete) may be sent in later BUT the FORM NEEDS TO REACH THE KSHSAA ON MONDAY, FEB. 23.  Coaches should bring a copy of this form with them to the state tournament as a back-up in case the initial form does not reach the KSHSAA.

STATE TIME SCHEDULE – Please check the state time schedule POSTED ON DECEMBER 15, 2008.  A copy of the time schedule will be included in the copy of the “packet” referenced above. 

CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINALS – Please note the change in the structure of the championship semi-final round.  Only two of the four mats (for each class) will be used at a time in this round.  For example the 103# matches might be on mat 1 & 3.  As soon as the 103# matches in this round are concluded, the 112# matches will be held on mats 2 & 4.  This format will be followed for the semi-final round. 

CONSOLATION FINALS – The same format used for the championship semi-final round will be used for the consolation finals. 

Good luck to all wrestlers during the regional tournaments!

Febraury 8, 2010
REGIONAL MEETS – ENTRIES:
Coaches are reminded that they need to have their regional entries submitted no later than February 12, 2010.  Entries are to be done online by each school assigned to a regional.  Each of the regional managers has set up the tournament and sent passwords and ID’s to the schools so that they may be able to make their regional entries.  KSHSAA form WR-4 is also to be filled out by each school and then sent to the regional manager by February 12.

Coaches need to review Section 3 of the 2009-10 KSHSAA Wrestling Manual prior to the regional tournament.  Section 3 contains information re: the regional format and contains information that will assist both host site managers and coaches of teams assigned to the regionals in understanding the process for the regionals.  Check with the regional manager re: the final time schedule for the regional since the schedule provided in the wrestling manual serves only as a suggested time schedule. 

SOME COMMON QUESTIONS:
 Over the years there are some questions that almost always arise.  Many of the answers to those questions can be found in previous week’s announcements posted on our web site.  Common questions normally focus on wrestler’s who are entered in:  1) a weight class above their certified weight class, 2) wrestler’s records for seeding purposes, or 3) substitution for a wrestler entered previously.  Providing some information re: these most commonly asked questions might assist expedite the regional and reduce the number of questions.

1.  Can a wrestler be entered in a weight class that is above their certified weight class?  Answer, yes they can.  In order to be eligible for ANY weight class, a wrestler must qualify for that weight class based on their stripped weight at the time of their weigh-in for that competition.  Coaches and regional managers would want to review NFHS rule 4-4-2 which requires that a wrestler must qualify for a weight class based on their stripped weigh-in weight.  Coaches often forget that when the growth allowance of 2# is in effect, that all weight classes are 2# higher and the minimum weight a wrestler must be also goes up by 2# - for example, wrestler A certified at 145#, for the regional Wrestler A is entered into the 152# weight class.  What is the MINIMUM weight that wrestler A must weigh in order to be eligible for the 152# weight class?  ANSWER – he must weigh something OVER 142#.  By the provisions of the NFHS rules, to be eligible for the 152# weight class, after the growth allowance goes in, a wrestler must weigh something over the top of the 140# weight class (which becomes 142#).  At 142.1# a wrestler is qualified for the 145# weight class which then by NFHS rule allows him to go to 152# weight class.
2. A related question becomes (using the same example information above), in order to wrestle in the 152# weight class, does Wrestler A have to have ½ of his weigh-ins in this weight class?  ANSWER – NO, the requirement that a wrestler must have a minimum of ½ of all his regularly scheduled school team competition weigh-ins at a certain weight class applies ONLY if the wrestler is going to wrestler in their certified weight class in the regional and state.  Remember the regional weigh-in does not count toward meeting that ½ requirement.
3.  A related question follows – if a wrestler is entered into a weight class that is above his certified weight what about his record for seeding in this weight class?  Prior to seeding the first weight class, the person conducting the seeding meeting and the coaches need to identify the criteria that will be used for seeding wrestlers.  The same criteria needs to be used then in all weight classes.  Having the criteria clearly identified and explained to the coaches prior to that first weight class will help in later weights when there may be more controversy might occur.  The criteria should include the wrestler’s record at the weight class entered and their overall record.  Whether a wrestler’s record at a different weight class than the one they are entered into should be factored in when determining seeding needs to be determined prior to seeding that first weight class of the seeding meeting.

Febraury 1, 2010
REGIONAL MEETS UPCOMING: 
With the arrival of February it is appropriate to focus on the regional wrestling tournaments to be held on Friday-Saturday, Feb.  19-20 for class 4A and 3-2-1A and on Saturday, Feb. 20 for class 5A and 6A.  Again this year school coaches will enter their athletes for the regional “online”.  This process has been the one we have used for the last few years and works well – minimizes the errors in the name spelling of the wrestlers, the wrestler’s grade and record PROVIDED coaches do not hurry in making their entries and will check them before submitting them.  Regional host managers will send to each school the information they will need in order to make their entries.  Below is the same information sent to our regional managers re: this process.

The Wrestling Tourney On-Line
School Coaches Instructions

In order to enter your roster, the first step is logging in to The Wrestling Tourney On-Line.

This can be accomplished by going to www.pes-sports.com, clicking on Wrestling Software and then The Wrestling Tourney On-Line.

You can also go there directly by entering the following address: http://student.cusd15.k12.il.us/wrestle/

You will be presented with an initial screen that is identified as The Wrestling Tourney On-Line – On-Line Roster Entry.

You will be asked under User Login to enter your LoginID in one box and your Password in another box.  USE THE LOGIN ID AND PASSWORD will be sent to you by the regional manager for these boxes.

DO NOT click the Register button in the center of the screen – this would let you register as a new tourney manager – WHICH YOU ARE NOT.

Entering Rosters

After a successful login, you will be presented with a screen for entering your roster.  The name of the tournament should be for your regional. 

You will then enter each wrestler you wish to enter in the regional tournament, giving the specific information requested as follows:

Name – Enter by typing First Name space then Last Name – DO NOT USE COMMAS

Wt – Weight class entered.

Yr – Two character field for year in school ie. FR SO JR SR or 09 10 11 12.  Please use grade level (i.e. 09, 10, 11, 12)

Comment – Informational field that can be used for seeding criteria.  Your tournament manager will recommend the type of criteria that is needed.  Example – ST Q (State Qualifer) or ST-2nd, etc.

Win – Numeric field indicating the number of wins for the wrestler this season

Lost – Numeric field indicating the number of losses for the wrestler this season

Deleting Wrestler

If you decide to delete a wrestler, click on the trash can icon to the left of the wrestler you want to remove.

Saving

You can click Save at any time and come back to entering your roster at a later time.  You can also come back and make changes up until the specified time for entries.

ROSTERS MUST BE ENTERED BY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12TH!

Forgot password?

If you forget your password, contact your tournament manager.  Do NOT call Preferred Educational Software.  They cannot assist you with this type of issue.

REGIONAL SCHEDULE:  Check with the regional manager your school has been assigned to in order to verify the time schedule for your regional.  Given the number of athletes entered in each weight class and the number of mats being used to run off a regional wrestling meet, regional time schedules may vary from each other.

STATE PAIRINGS:  Posted on this KSHSAA web site is the “formula” for the pairings of qualifiers for the state wrestling tournament. The information posted references pairings by regional designation letter – for example, in the 103# class, the first place finisher from Regional C will meet the 4th place finisher from Regional A, and the 2nd place finisher from Regional D will meet the 3rd place finisher from Regional B in the first round.  The letter designation of which of regional host sites is Regional A, and which is Regional B, etc. will be posted on the KSHSAA web site Saturday evening once all regionals have been completed.  Veterans understand the history of this process and the reasons for waiting until all regional wrestling has concluded prior to releasing these designations. 

Janaury 25, 2010
SPORTSMANSHIP:  Very few sports fans (i.e. those people who watch and follow sports without bias, but rather watch for the satisfaction derived by seeing kids testing the limits of their own athletic talents and abilities) could disagree with the fact that wrestling probably places students in situations that “tests” the individual students “sportsmanship” abilities than does wrestling.  For six long minutes two students of equal size are pushing, shoving, twisting, turning on each other’s body, legs, arms, wrists, etc., etc.  And doing so with the objective to get the other student to their back and then hold them there. 

Yet with all the physical force involved in wrestling, there are relatively few situations when a student “losses it” and losses the ability to control themselves.  Albeit rare, there are those who may push their control of their actions to the point where they are bordering on unsportsmanlike actions. 

This year I’ve probably received more calls/emails from officials expressing concerns about the increase in the profanity on the mat and other unsportsmanlike acts than I have in many years.  While some might address this by saying “That’s just the way it is in all kids today.” Or “It’s just a reflection on what we see in all of society.”  Some might event point out that the advent of “ultimate fighting” – which is predicated on the philosophy that “anything goes when you’re fighting” - has somehow tragically been creeping  into the interscholastic wrestling setting.  While such “reasoning” may be voiced, that does not validate any such action by kids (or adults) whether it’s on a wrestling mat or in a gym or in a classroom.

Interscholastic wrestling is a wonderful sport for kids who are willing to participate in it!  Perhaps one of the greatest values kids participating in the sport gain is the ability to demonstrate sportsmanship prior to, during and after a match which incorporates the very physical activity involved in wrestling.  It is important that coaches and officials reinforce the appropriate ways that athletes should demonstrate and model good sportsmanship.

STARTING POSITIONS:  I recently attended a large wrestling tournament which included teams from a broad area of Kansas as well as some teams from outside the state of Kansas.  While the quality of wrestling was high, I was disappointed with some of the officials working the match.  It was not their “judgment” that was of concern to me – they are all officials who have worked at the highest levels of competition and who know the rules and have demonstrated in the past proper application of the rules in situations involving the awarding of points.  The one area of concern for me that I noted  in this meet  was that in a number of situations, wrestlers were permitted to assume starting positions NOT permitted by rule.  This was primarily in the down position by the top wrestler.  During one of the matches (involving a student from a Kansas school and a wrestler from another state) I was standing in an area of the stands where several of the spectators were from out of state.  The official consistently allowed the top wrestler to assume an illegal starting position (their hand was not placed over their opponent’s navel).   Rather their hand was on their opponent’s side fully “wrapping” their opponent.  The spectator’s clearly were upset by the official’s actions in allowing an illegal starting position to be assumed repeatedly – as they correctly pointed out “That’s illegal!”

So why would a quality official repeatedly allow this to occur?  Whatever the official’s explanation, it has no validity!!!  This was particularly troublesome to me since at this year’s rules meetings, we spent considerable time reinforcing the Offensive Starting Position.  Other officials at this meet were also negligent in that there was no “pause” provided by them – once the top wrestler’s hand touched the elbow, the official would sound their whistle (clearly not giving a verbal command of “set” indicating that the wrestler’s were in legal starting position).

So why should this be of concern!!!  The answer is obvious – in virtually every other sport, there are strict rules applicable to participants and “starting positions”.  In football, offensive players must be “SET” a minimum amount of time before the ball is snapped.  In track and field, runners must come to a “SET” position before a start occurs.  In the shot and discus events in field events, the contestant after entering the ring/circle must “pause” before they can begin their throwing action!  In baseball and softball, there are rules regarding the pitcher’s action so that they cannot start their motion until they have assumed a legal position.  These rules are required so that one person or one team does not have an advantage at the start of play or action. 

Janaury 18, 2010
AN UNUSUAL TOPIC – As we approached the final weeks of the 2009-2010 wrestling season, I wanted to mention a topic that some might consider “unusual” for me to discuss – the topic is H1N1.  There has been a decrease in the number of reported cases here in Kansas the last few weeks but that does not decrease the chances that one or more members of your wrestling team or students in your school may come down with it.  And once in a “community” – especially a school community, it can spread very quickly.  An outbreak in a school or on the school’s wrestling team this late in the season could obviously change dramatically the regional results/qualifiers and thus state qualifiers.

While there are a number of ways to help reduce the potential that members of your wrestling team could come down with this disease, one of the most effective is for you, and members of your coaching staff and your athletes get the vaccinations for H1N1.  There now appears to be sufficient vaccine available now so that all who want to get the vaccinations can get one.

A vaccination would help reduce the potential for the virus spreading within your team.  I’ve had one and suffered no ill effects at all.

PLEASE REVIEW PREVIOUS ITEMS – If you have not been a regular to this site/to these weekly announcements, I would encourage you to review previous items posted here.  I must have answered the same question re: “recertification” about 50 times so far since the Holiday break.  While I don’t mind it so much, it does take some time to do this.  And I would like to get out to a few more wrestling competitions.

PREPARING FOR REGIONALS:  Just a reminder, if you have a wrestler that is going to be wrestling in the regional tournament at his/her certified weight, they must have a minimum of ½ of their regular season (which does not include the regional and/or state weigh-ins) at their minimum or certified weight. 

Scenario A:  Wrestler A certified at 145#.  Prior to certification, he/she had 3 (three) regularly scheduled school team competition weigh-ins at 152# and 1 (one) regularly scheduled school team competition at 160#.  After certification, the wrestler had 5 (five) regularly scheduled school team competitions at 145#.  Has this wrestler fulfilled the requirement to wrestle at 145# in the regional tournament?  ANSWER – YES. 

Scenario B: Wrestler A certified at 145#.  Prior to certification, he/she had 3 (three) regularly scheduled school team competition weigh-ins at 152# and 1 (one) regularly scheduled school team competition at 160#.  After certification, the wrestler had 4 (four) regularly scheduled school team competitions at 145#.  Has this wrestler fulfilled the requirement to wrestle at 145# in the regional tournament?  ANSWER – YES – he/she has had a total of 8 (eight) regularly scheduled school team competition weigh-in’s prior to the regional weigh-in.  Since 4 (four) is ½ of 8 (eight) the wrestler has met the requirement that a minimum of ½ of their regularly scheduled school team competition weigh-ins at their certified weight, they can wrestle in the regional at their certified weight.

REMINDERS:  It might be helpful to do a quick review of other relevant facts concerning regional weigh-in rules:

1.  The weigh-in for regional DOES NOT count toward the requirement that the wrestler has a minimum of ½ of their regular season weigh-ins at their certified weight.
2. If a wrestler is in a two-day tournament, while there are indeed two competition weigh-ins for that tournament, for application of the provision that the wrestler must have ½ of their regularly scheduled school team competition weigh-ins at their certified weight, the interpretation has been that this is to be considered only as 1 (one) weigh-in. 
3. If a wrestler is going to wrestle in the regional tournament in a weight class that is HIGHER than their certified weight, there is no requirement that they have a specific number of weigh-ins at that weight.
4. Finally, to be eligible for a weight class at any competition, a wrestler must be eligible for that weight class based on their stripped weight at the time of the weigh-in for that competition.  While everyone understands this for the “maximum” side, they sometimes forget about it on the “minimum” side.  I still remember the situation several years ago at a weigh-in I was observing – wrestler stepped on the scales at 131# (after the growth allowance) and the coach wanted the wrestler to be entered in the 140# weight class.  We had to tell the coach, “This wrestler needs to add over 1# to be eligible for 140#”!  Reason, most of you understand this – once the growth allowance goes into effect, every weight class goes up 2# and by NFHS rule in order to be eligible to participate in a weight class the wrestler must at the minimum qualify by stripped weight for the next lower weight class or that weight class.  Since 130# weight class became the 132# weight class after the growth allowance went into effect, to be eligible for 140# class, a wrestler must weigh something over 132#.

REGIONAL ENTRY INFORMATION – Over the next few weeks, I’ll be posting on this site information coaches will want to review as they prepare for and make their regional entries.  Again this year regional wrestling tournament entries will be done by the coaches online using the software program that the KSHSAA has purchased for each regional manager to use.  The software program is also the same program used by the regional managers to run off the regional tournament.

Janaury 11, 2010
REGIONAL WRESTLING ASSIGNMENTS FINALIZED – Thanks to the administrative and coaching staff at Overland Park – Blue Valley Northwest the regional assignments for each of the four wrestling classes has been finalized.  The Class 6A assignments are below and all of the regional assignments can be found on the KSHSAA Wrestling page under the “2009-2010 Regional Assignment and Information” box.  That will take you to a page where all the regionals are listed and the teams assigned to each regional.

Class 6A – Saturday, February 20, 2010

Manhattan High School – Mike Marsh, Regional Manager
Derby, Junction City, Manhattan, Topeka, Topeka-Washburn Rural, Wichita-East, Wichita-Heights, Wichita-Southeast

Overland Park-Blue Valley Northwest High School – Steve Harms & Brad Wilson, Regional Managers
Olathe-East, Olathe-North, Olathe-Northwest, Olathe-South, Overland Park-Blue Valley North, Overland Park-Blue Valley Northwest,  Overland Park-Blue Valley West, Stilwell-Blue Valley

Shawnee Mission West High School – Harvey Shepard & Jeff Adams, Regional Managers
Lawrence, Lawrence-Free State, Leavenworth, Shawnee Mission-East, Shawnee Mission-North, Shawnee Mission-Northwest, Shawnee Mission-South, Shawnee Mission-West

Wichita Northwest High School – J. Means, Regional Manager
Dodge City, Garden City, Goddard, Maize, Wichita-Haysville-Campus, Wichita-North, Wichita-Northwest, Wichita-South

WEATHER CHALLENGES – For many schools the first week back from the winter break meant a lot of snow and days of missed school/cancelled school.  Some of you remember that the NFHS changed the rules last year to permit schools who have been cancelled or competitions postponed for  shall be treated the same as competitions when there are consecutive days of competition in terms of the 1-pound allowance, with the exception that the rule does not require a 48-hour prior to the start of competition notice to other schools.  In last year’s weekly announcements I included more information on this rule (4-5-5).  That information was placed into the archive interpretations section on the KSHSAA wrestling home page under the announcements.  That information is posted below to assist you in understanding the NFHS rule.

Cancellation of school and wrestling: Here’s the scenario – School A is scheduled to participate in a dual on Tuesday against School B.  Sunday night a heavy snow storm comes in and Monday classes for school A are cancelled.  Does school A and B both get an one-pound additional weight allowance for the competition on Tuesday?  RULING:  YES - There will be an additional one-pound allowance for both schools scheduled for the dual.  The 48-hour advance notice in this scenario is waived.  School A needs to contact School B and inform them of the cancellation on Monday.

REGIONAL ENTRY INFORMATION – Over the next few weeks, I’ll be posting on this site information coaches will want to review as they prepare for and make their regional entries.  Again this year regional wrestling tournament entries will be done by the coaches online using the software program that the KSHSAA has purchased for each regional manager to use.  The software program is also the same program used by the regional managers to run off the regional tournament.

Janaury 4, 2010
REGIONAL WRESTLING ASSIGNMENTS UPDATE – We are still looking for the final  regional wrestling sites .  Posted below are the 5A regional assignments.  As soon as we get the final 6A site identified, we will finalize the regional assignments in that classs.

Class 5A – Saturday, February 20, 2010

Kansas City-Turner High School – Garold Baker & Peter Sierant, Regional Managers
Kansas City-FL Schlagle,  Kansas City-Harmon,  Kansas City-Turner, Kansas City-Washington, Kansas City-Wyandotte, Lansing, Overland Park-St. Thomas Aquinas, Shawnee Mission-Bishop Miege

Newton High School – Brian Engelken, Regional Manager
Andover, Great Bend, Hays, Hutchinson, McPherson, Newton, Salina-Central, Salina-South

Tecumseh-Shawnee Heights High School – Warren Watson & Rob Dennison, Regional Managers
Bonner Springs, Emporia, Gardner--Gardner-Edgerton, Shawnee-Mill Valley,  Tecumseh-Shawnee Heights, Topeka-Highland Park, Topeka-Seaman, Topeka-West

Wichita-Bishop Carroll High School – Slade La Munyon, Regional Manager
Andover-Central, Arkansas City, Liberal, Pittsburg, Wichita-Bishop Carroll, Wichita-Kapaun Mt. Carmel, Wichita-West, Winfield

December 21, 2009
REGIONAL WRESTLING ASSIGNMENTS – We are still looking for the final two regional wrestling sites – one each in class 5A and 6A.  Once we get those final two sites, I’ll post the information re: regional assignments on this weekly announcements and also on the link from the KSHSAA wrestling home page.
With financial challenges of the size we are experiencing in schools I really appreciate the schools and their wrestling fan support base that have stepped forward to serve as a host site for this year’s regional events.

ONE MORE ITEM ON CERTIFICATION – Some have asked this question “Given the fact that kids can “re-certify” after the initial December 22, 2009 date for certification, what advantage is there to certify by this initial certification date?”  One of the main reasons for having set this initial certification date and FOR WRESTLERS TO HAVE CERTIFIED BY THIS DATE is that over the winter break, those kids that have certified by Dec. 22 will be given the 2# allowance beginning with their competitions after the break.   Kids that have not certified by Dec. 22 must make scratch weight at their certification weigh-in for matches conducted after Dec. 22 – they will not get the 2# allowance until AFTER they certify.
 
The earlier (pre winter break) date for initial certification puts more of a challenge on kids to get to their certification weight in a shorter period of competition dates but the wrestling weight management committee (as mentioned in an earlier weekly announcement) felt the benefit of the 2# over the break was worth the shorter/earlier certification date.

STATE SITE INFORMATION – As final plans are made for the state wrestling tournaments, make sure you check this site out for information re: those events.  Tournament management for the state Class 5A and Class 6A site have spent many hours looking at the new INTRUST BANK Arena that will be the host site for this year’s state tournaments for those two classes.  It is a new venue for us and because it is new and different from what these two classes have traditionally used there will be NEW and DIFFERENT things for officials, coaches, athletes and spectators.  Taking everything into account, even the new and different, this venue will be one that offers many advantages over the previous venue.  So be flexible and understanding in that while change may be a struggle initially, this venue has some real benefits to it.

December 14, 2009
REGIONAL WRESTLING ASSIGNMENTS – Invitations were extended to potential regional wrestling host sites early in December.  To date we have received positive responses from 12 (twelve) of the invitations.  Some schools had to decline because of construction challenges at the school or because of ongoing financial issues created by the cut-backs in state funding allocations.  I am in the process of trying to finalize sites for the remaining 4 (four) regional host sites.  As you can imagine I can only release regional assignments for a class that has all four of the regional host sites identified.  Depending upon the final location of the regional hosts, I may have to change which host site a school would be assigned to.  However, since class 4A and class 3-2-1A have all four of the regional hosts identified I can give make the final regional assignments for these two classes.
Once the remaining regional sites are identified and the schools assigned, we will be able to post them on the KSHSAA wrestling home page.
Check the KSHSAA Wrestling page “2009-2010 Announcements” page next week for more updates and announcements.

Class 4A REGIONAL ASSIGNMENTS – Friday and Saturday, February 19-20, 2010
Chanute High School – Eric Methvin, Regional Manager -  Altamont-Labette County, Augusta, Chanute, Coffeyville-Field Kindley, Columbus, El Dorado, Fort Scott, Garnett-Anderson County, Independence, Iola, LaCygne-Prairie View, Mulvane, Parsons, Rose Hill, Towanda-Circle

De Soto High School – Dave Morford & Steve Deghand, Regional Managers  - Baldwin, Basehor-Basehor-Linwood, Carbondale-Santa Fe Trail, De Soto, Eudora, Kansas City-Bishop Ward, Kansas City-Piper, Kansas City-Sumner Academy, Lenexa-Saint James Academy, Louisburg, Osawatomie, Ottawa, Paola, Spring Hill, Tonganoxie

Holton High School – Mitch Beims, Regional Manager - Abilene, Atchison, Chapman, Clay Center-Clay Center Comm., Concordia, Easton-Pleasant Ridge, Hiawatha, Holton, Hoyt-Royal Valley, Lindsborg-Smoky Valley, Meriden-Jefferson West, Perry--Perry-Lecompton, Silver Lake, Topeka-Hayden, Wamego

Pratt High School – Curtis Nightingale, Regional Manager - Andale, Buhler, Cheney, Clearwater, Colby, Hesston, Hugoton, Maize-South, Nickerson, Pratt, Russell, Scott City-Scott Community, Ulysses, Valley Center, Wellington

Class 3-2-1A REGIONAL ASSIGNMENTS – Friday and Saturday, February 19-20, 2010
Hoisington High School – Lonnie Irvin & Dan Schmidt, Regional Managers - Anthony—Anthony-Harper-Chaparral, Brookville-El-Saline, Cimarron, Elkhart, Ellsworth, Garden Plain, Gypsum-SE of Saline, Hoisington, Holcomb, Lakin, Larned, Leoti-Wichita County, Lincoln, Little River, Lyons, Meade, Montezuma-South Gray, Moundridge, Salina-St. Johns Military, Stafford, Sterling, Sublette

Marion High School – Tod Gordon & Chad Adkins, Regional Managers - Burden-Central, Burlington, Caney-Caney Valley, Cherryvale, Cottonwood Falls-Chase County, Douglass, Erie, Eureka, Fredonia, Halstead, Herington, Hillsboro, Howard-West Elk, Leon-Bluestem, Marion, Neodesha, Peabody-Burns, Rosalia-Flint Hills, Sedgwick, St. Paul, Whitewater-Remington, Wichita-The Independent

Norton-Norton Community High School – Jeff Wallingford & Greg Mann, Regional Managers - Atwood-Rawlins County, Belleville-Republic Co., Beloit, Bird City-Cheylin, Ellis, Goodland, Hays-Thomas More Prep-Marian, Hill City, Hoxie, Mankato-Rock Hills, Norton-Norton Comm., Oakley, Oberlin-Decatur Comm., Osborne, Phillipsburg, Plainville, Scandia-Pike Valley, Smith Center, St. Francis, Stockton, Wakeeney-Trego Community

December 7, 2009
REGIONAL WRESTLING ASSIGNMENTS – With the conclusion of the football season I’ve finally been able to focus upon wrestling matters.  The long football playoff system of 153 football games played over a four week period requiring the selection and assignment of officials at least a week before the first playoff game makes for an extremely long November.  It seems that everything else has to take a back seat to football for that entire month. 
I’ve contacted potential regional host sites but am encountering challenges – ranging from financial challenges for some schools who can no longer host events due to the added cost of such events to scheduling conflicts has meant that I need to re-examine all of the regional assignments.  While I’ve been able to finalize host sites in a number of classes, there are still a number of classes that I’ve not yet been able to identify a host site.  Until I’ve been able to identify the four (4) regional host sites for a class, I am unable to provide the regional assignments.
Given the very difficult financial situations schools are meeting this year I’ve given high priority to trying to identify host sites that are more geographically centered within a configuration of schools that would be attending the regional.  Until the four host sites in a class are identified and agree to serve as a host site, I cannot finalize the assignment of schools.  While I don’t have a specific deadline for identifying the regional host sites I am giving this the highest priority at this time.
Once the regional sites are identified and the schools assigned, we will post them on the KSHSAA wrestling home page.

November 30, 2009
Welcome to the first of the 2009-2010 KSHSAA weekly wrestling announcements/newsletters.  Again this year we will use this forum as a vehicle to provide coaches and officials with information that should prove to be of assistance to them as they progress through the 2009-2010 Season.

WRESTLING CERTIFICATION – Let’s quickly review the certification process and particularly the issue of the initial certification date (Dec. 22, 2009) and the option of “re-certification” for a wrestler after December 22.

As I mentioned at the face-to-face rules meeting and as presented in the online wrestling rules meeting, after reviewing data for several KSHSAA member schools at their last meeting, the KSHSAA Wrestling weight management committee recommended to the KSHSAA Executive Board that the initial certification date for this wrestling season be set before the KSHSAA non-practice period in December.  The members of the wrestling weight management committee felt and the KSHSAA Executive Board agreed that there were advantages to having the initial certification date prior to the Winter non-practice period.  The date of December 22 is the “initial” certification date – this means that it is hoped that most of the students participating in wrestling will have reached their minimum competition/wrestling weight by the winter break period.  Up until a few years ago, wrestlers would have had to have established their minimum wrestling weight by the certification date and a wrestler would not have been able to certify after that date (with the exception of injury, illness or emergency).  However based on analysis and review of many factors including the requirement that wrestlers provide a urine sample showing that they are hydrated and a change in the level at which a wrestler has to secure medical approval prior to losing a minimum amount of weight, the wrestling weight management committee proposed a change which basically permits a wrestler to “re-certify” during the wrestling season after an initial certification date.  Coupled with the KSHSAA requirement that if a wrestler wants to wrestle at their minimum/certified weight in the state tournament series (Regional and State) they have to have a MINIMUM OF ½ OF THEIR SCHOOL TEAM COMPETITION WEIGH-INS AT THEIR MINIMUM OR CERTIFIED WEIGHT.  This requirement along with the hydration requirement provides what the committee members felt was an effective “check and balance” system to the certification process.

So let’s take a look at this process and how it would work in a variety of examples:

Wrestler A was on the school’s football team – that team was in the football playoffs and this student was unable to start wrestling practice with the school wrestling team because of his membership on the school’s football team.  He therefore does not have the same amount of practice time with the school’s wrestling team as other members of the team prior to December 22.  Does he have to “certify” by December 22 or can he certify after this date?  ANSWER – NO to the Dec. 22 date and YES for the second part of the question.  For those students, the Athletic Director or Principal of the school should contact the KSHSAA and provide a list of those students.  The KSHSAA will use that list when we receive the school’s certification forms so that we will know which wrestler’s on the list have not yet certified.  For these students they would be able to certify after the December 22 date.
Wrestler B started the season overweight and out-of-shape.  Participating in wrestling is this student’s first experience in a competitive sports environment and exercise program.  Exercising and good nutrition habits results in the student losing weight in a healthy and safe way.  He set’s his certification weight at a school team competition weigh-in at 160#.  But he continues to lose weight through wrestling.  After the initial certification date, he gets down to 152# for a school team competition weigh-in and presents a urine sample for that weigh-in that shows he is hydrated at the KSHSAA standard.  Can he now “re-certify” at this new weight even though it is after the December 22nd date?  ANSWER – YES – when this student “re-certifies” the school coach would need to send an updated or revised certification list/form to the KSHSAA.

SO WHAT IS TO KEEP A STUDENT FROM CERTIFYING AT THE REGIONAL WEIGH-IN AT A WEIGHT THAT THEY NEVER COMPETED AT ALL SEASON LONG?  The answer is the requirement that the wrestler has to have a MINIMUM OF ½ OF THEIR TOTAL SCHOOL TEAM COMPETITION WEIGH-INS AT THEIR MINIMUM/CERTIFIED WEIGHT PRIOR TO THE REGIONAL WEIGH-IN IF THEY ARE GOING TO WRESTLE AT THEIR CERTIFIED/MINIMUM WEIGHT IN THE REGIONAL.  This is that “check and balance” referred to above.  If a student participate in 12 regularly scheduled school team competition weigh-ins PRIOR to the regional tournament weigh-in, then at least 6 of those weigh-ins would have to be at that student’s minimum/certified weight if that is the weight class he wants to compete in at the regional.  Thus, all wrestlers have a point in their competitive season that is their effective LAST DATE after which they could not “re-certify”.  But that date is driven by the number of regularly scheduled school team competitions for that wrestler’s school.  It is also driven by the fact that a wrestler must be “HYDRATED” if he/she wants to use that regularly scheduled school team competition weigh-in as a certification weigh-in.  Again, this requirement helps provide an additional “check and balance” on the re-certification process.