2016KWCA Statement and Alternative .pdf

Wrestling Participation numbers under NEW KSHSAA Reclassification Proposal
(Based on 2016 Regional Rosters analyzed by school)
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6A - 425 Wrestlers/36 Schools at Regionals/224 State Qualifiers = 51.4%*
5A - 402 Wrestlers/36 Schools at Regionals/224 State Qualifiers = 55.7%
4A - 347 Wrestlers/36 Schools at Regionals/224 State Qualifiers = 64.5%
321A - 822 Wrestlers/108 Schools at Regionals/224 State Qualifiers = 26.7%

* Percent of Wrestlers qualifying for State out of total Regional Entries
Bill Johnson of Norton High School a Veteran Wrestling Coach comments:
I don’t believe the current proposal by KSHSAA has been thought out with Sports that combine 3-2-1A for the
Post-Season. By adding 20 Schools to the 3-2-1A Class, it would overwhelm these Regional Tournaments.
Take an example, outside of wrestling, of the 2016 3-2-1A Regional Tennis Tournaments. The Wakeeney
Regional had 11 schools, and each school can enter 2 singles players and 2 doubles teams. There were 21 singles
players (only one of the schools did not enter 2 players), and 22 doubles teams. If this proposal were to go into
effect the 20 new schools would add 5 teams to the 4 regional Tournaments just like it would in wrestling. So
now this Wakeeney Regional Tournament could possibly have 32 Singles players and 32 Doubles teams. But
only 6 get to qualify for state for just under 19%.
Doug Vander Linden of Burlington HS a Veteran Wrestling Coach comments:
As coaches we have worked to grow the sport of wrestling at the local, regional and state level for many years.
We are concerned that this proposal would serve as a setback for many of the smaller schools in our state that
have worked hard to build participation and bring the benefits of wrestling to their student-athletes and their
school’s athletic programs.

KWCA RECOMMENDED ALTERNATIVE TO RECLASSIFICATION PROPOSAL
Reclassification Proposal
● 6A- 36 schools
● 5A- 36
● 4A- 36
● 3A- 64
● 2A- 64
● 1A- 117
● Total = 353 schools

KWCA Alternative Idea
* 6A - 36 schools (same)
* 5A - 36 (same)
* 4A - 48 (proposed by KWCA)
* 3A - 48 (proposed by KWCA)
* 2A - 64 (same)
* 1A- 121 (basically the same)
* Total = 353 schools (same)

Only 8 schools would move down from the current 2016-17 Class 4A group to Class 3A under our Alternative
Idea/Proposed Amendment. This is in comparison to the 20 schools that would move down under the All
Interscholastic Activities reclassification proposal. This alternative would go a long way towards balancing the
inequity that was presented above between Class 4A state qualifiers and Class 321A state qualifiers.