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Re: Moving the state tournement
by Mike Allibone (no login)
There are a couple of situations that could be addressed with Nebraska schedules that would provide more opportunity for our kids, and moving the Huskerland tournament is probably not the fix that's needed. Looking at our neighbors to the east for one comparison, the first Iowa kids (folkstyle) tournament of the year is the first weekend in November and their season concludes with a state tournament at the end of March. This last year that gave them about 15 tournament weekends. Obviously, their clubs start practicing early October to be ready for November tournaments. In Nebraska, most clubs don't get started until near or even after the state hs tournament at the end of February with tournaments beginning in earnest the following weekend, and concluding with Huskerland the first weekend or two in April (they would prefer the first weekend where facility schedules can accomodate). This past year that gave Huskerland clubs 7 tournament weekends and next year there will possibly be one less Huskerland weekend as the state hs tournament is moving out a week. On the freestyle side, Iowa kids freestyle concludes with their state tournament the second weekend in May so they have 5 weekends between state folkstyle and state freestyle. This year Nebraska had 2 weekends with one of them being the district qualifiers. Again, if Nebraska USA could move the state tournament out as late as possible before the NPR we could have opprotunity for a similar number of tournament weekends between state folkstyle and state freestyle. On the other end of the curve, if we want our kids to have folkstyle opportunities similar to our eastern neighbors, we will have to move back into January and December. Of course there is the threat for burn out on one side of the coin vs. greater development opportunity on the other side. Individuals, parents and wrestlers, need to personally manage the burn out threat, the wrestling associations shouldn't attempt this management task. We should ask our associations to manage their schedules and resources to maximize the development opportunities for our wrestlers. Huskerland does not dictate the beginning of the season schedule, clubs do that. It will be up to the clubs to take the lead if we are to expand the folkstyle season. Serious wrestlers will seek out these opportunities even if they have to go elsewhere to get them. Shouldn't we provide them here at home?