lrosbottom

The ISWA changed the policy concerning qualification for Freestyle due to a number of reasons. Athletes were not competing in the locals and just wrestling the state tournament. Clubs had quit hosting Freestyle and Greco tournaments because numbers were down. We made the change because the ISWA’s mission is to provide our athletes with opportunities to compete. We made that change at our Annual meeting in September of 2014. We posted it on our website, on our Face Book page and in our newsletters. This was successful to some extent. I have been told that over 500 more athletes competed in the locals than last season. Three new tournaments were placed on the schedule to help the athletes to be able to qualify for the state tournament. These are all positive things that have come out of this policy change. Now let’s talk about the petition or wavier process. The wavier or petition process has been around for as long as I have belonged on the ISWA board. This process was used all those years but not greatly because the kids were wrestling in local the tournaments. We always have taken the kids side and tried to help everyone. We look at the reasons and make decisions on whether or not to allow that person to compete. Each person who called and contacted us was told to email the request for a waiver. Unfortunately there have been miscommunications and some people did not get a response. I will take full responsibility on that one. We failed and I do apologize. Better planning on our part will correct that issue. This year it became apparent that all the clubs were not aware of the process. To make sure that all the clubs knew of the process we sent out the letter. Was that wrong to make sure everyone was aware of the process. No. Our goal is not to hand out waivers to everyone, just the few that legitimately could not make the locals. But like anything there are people who will not be totally truthful and will abuse what is meant to be good and make it bad. Did those that went to the local tournaments make sacrifices? I am sure they did. Did all the local clubs and officials who volunteered their time make sacrifices? Sure they did. Why? Because they believe in the sport of wrestling! Can the ISWA do a better job? Yes we can! Do all decisions make everyone happy? NO. But one thing you can be certain of, we are here volunteering for your kids. Respectfully yours Louis Rosbottom ISWA State Chairman