Well, I am doing what I thought I would never do. Posting on a chat board. I am an Indianamat junky. I read it every day and find it very informative and, in situations like this, very frustrating. I have watched this topic with great interest because I am very close friends with the Vanhorn's and very involved in the Franklin wrestling program. I love the Vanhorn's and I love Franklin wrestling. I thought I might offer a perspective from someone who knows the facts as well as anyone outside of the family. I don't claim to know everything and I also don't claim to agree with all of the decisions made by the Vanhorn's. Chuck and I have discussed this and he knows how I feel BUT they are my friends and always will be. What I would like to let all of you who hide behind screen names and take shots is that you are picking on very nice people who, right or wrong, made what they think is the best decision for their family and their son. Wrestling is a very small part of the equation ACCEPT for the fact that they are a wrestling family (and have done more for wrestling in this state than most) and wanted Cole to be able to finish his senior year of wrestling. Some facts, so that no one needs to spend more time talking about "word on the street" or any of the other idiotic assumptions that are being made:
Cole screwed up this summer. His parents know this, aren't claiming anything different and have dealt with it in the private manner that any of us would when dealing with a childs behavior issue
The relationship between the Vanhorn's and the administration at the school is broken. Some think it is the fault of the school, some think it is the fault of the Van Horns, at the end of the day it doesn't matter. Acomplete lack of trust exists and again, that is between the two parties involved.
The Vanhorn's love franklin wrestling more than anyone. Is Coach Hasseman happy to lose a state ranked senior who he had coached for his whole life? Of course not , but again, that is between he and the Vanhorn's and Bob knows that this has nothing to with him or the wrestling program.
The suspension that Franklin gave to Cole was honored by Yorktown. In the drama that ensued after the original and secondary suspension, a review board chose to reduce the original punishment and the athletic director, understanding that the issue was far bigger than athletics, opted to release him from Franklin.
The situation with Keith Knura and Cole was completely separate from the situation with Dusty Kief. Dusty's dad simply got a job out of state and Dusty chose to go ahead and move and finish his season there. He had a choice and made it.
These are all facts. In the end, the Vanhorn's, who love their son like any of us do, decided to make the move. I am sure they spent many sleepless nights thinking about it and unless they are different than me, they probably haven't made a decision yet that they are 100% sure was the right one. They have been very negatively affected by all of this (which they will readily admit started when Cole screwed up).
My issue is this, it is easy to come on here and hide behind a screen name and criticize anyone that you want. I can promise you that the Vanhorn's didn't, in a million years, think that they would be at Yorktown right now. This is not the perfect scenario that they, like all of us who are parents, had hoped for. It is easy to think that you could have done better but until you have walked in the shoes, don't even pretend that you know. And as long as we are all spreading our wisdom, I have told my kids that they shouldn't ever say anything that they aren't willing to take ownership of. For those of you who like to take anonymous shots at peple, you may want to think about it.
As for the venom that is being directed at Yorktown, I am guessing that most of you are involved with a team that may have to face them and if that is the case, I wouldn't be happy about it either. The bottom line is that the rules have been followed. You heard from the mom of the kid who was knocked out of the line-up (if you believe that it was her and I do) and that doesn't seem to be an issue. Do I like that it is ok to do this? No, actually I don't, but the IHSAA is ok with it and I think in the past they have always been on the side of being overly sensitive about these situations. Wow, I was way too wordy......Sorry!
