fourboyzdad44

Take your team out on the mat before the tourney begins and pull out your tape measure and measure the mats in front of them...then say, "I think you will find these are the same size as our mats back in Hickory" ( or Lawrenceburg/North Posey/Cass/Northview/Manchester/Praire Heights/Centervillw, etc.)
 
Seriously though. McGill is right...enjoy the festivities but dont forget why you are there and what got you there.

Pride in the fact that you get to be a part of a young man (or men) accomplishing something that only a select few in our state get to accomplish. To walk with him (or them) on Friday Night, and feel like you have had a hand in helping to achieve that moment for them, will be the best part. The rest is the excitement, the crowd, and all that Prodigy said also. Enjoy the moment!!! Share it with your guys that fell short of that moment and help to bring them the vision that next year that could be YOU.

The fact that the champion is the champion in our state means on that day at that tournament he was the best in the state. The argument for classes is akin to handouts in my opinion. There is everything right about a kid from any school being "the one", or "one of the few", that qualified for semi-state, or state. I personally was never a "State Champion", but that doesn't mean that I was a loser. Sport is all about striving to be the best, to better yourself, and to appreciate the opportunity to compete against the best. The fact that you lose in sports, allows kids to understand that you don't come out on top every time. My $.02 is no more important than anyone elses, but to class such an individual sport in my opinion cheats those kids that want to use the largest measuring stick available (an all in tourney like we have), and waters it down.
 
                                                                                        I would rather have qualified for semi- state and been beaten by the best, than to have stood on a podium for all of the rest!

The fact that the champion is the champion in our state means on that day at that tournament he was the best in the state. The argument for classes is akin to handouts in my opinion. There is everything right about a kid from any school being "the one", or "one of the few", that qualified for semi-state, or state. I personally was never a "State Champion", but that doesn't mean that I was a loser. Sport is all about striving to be the best, to better yourself, and to appreciate the opportunity to compete against the best. The fact that you lose in sports, allows kids to understand that you don't come out on top every time. My $.02 is no more important than anyone elses, but to class such an individual sport in my opinion cheats those kids that want to use the largest measuring stick available (an all in tourney like we have), and waters it down.
 
                                                                                        I would rather have qualified for semi- state and been beaten by the best, than to have stood on a podium for all of the rest!

The fact that the champion is the champion in our state means on that day at that tournament he was the best in the state. The argument for classes is akin to handouts in my opinion. There is everything right about a kid from any school being "the one", or "one of the few", that qualified for semi-state, or state. I personally was never a "State Champion", but that doesn't mean that I was a loser. Sport is all about striving to be the best, to better yourself, and to appreciate the opportunity to compete against the best. The fact that you lose in sports, allows kids to understand that you don't come out on top every time. My $.02 is no more important than anyone elses, but to class such an individual sport in my opinion cheats those kids that want to use the largest measuring stick available (an all in tourney like we have), and waters it down.
 
                                                                                        I would rather have qualified for semi- state and been beaten by the best, than to have stood on a podium for all of the rest!

Although Yorktown qualified 14, the Tigers will only be taking 13. The 160 pounder, Elvante Riddick suffered a bad compound fracture of his ankle in the 3-4 match-up and will be going to surgery today at 7:30am. Let's all pray for successful surgery and a quick, and thorough recovery, he is already signed up for our military and is a fine young man.

I agree with all of the above. you might also look at holding a wrestling camp at the end of the wrestling season. The best way to get more enthusiasm is to have your high schoolers help run the camp. You can run something like this right after school, and offer a T-shirt (this will let the kids be recognized as having been a part of this group). Show some technique, and have the high school guys demonstrate. Hold a little "meet" at weeks end, and have the parents that can come and root them on. If you carefully match up the participants everyone should get a good match, if there are odd numbers, or someone is ultra talented compared to the others have the high school guys wrestle them, at a level that makes the kid work hard but not frustrate them.
Good Luck