Im 50/50 on this but since the talent on the Middle School level is on the rise , should we eliminate middle school wrestlers from High School teams like other states?

Absolutely not. Reason #1, they help some high school teams fill their line ups. No matter the kids age, if he is the toughest kid in that room at that weight, he deserves the opportunity. Reason #2, Joe Carr Jr. Reason #3 Coty Lewis. Reason #4 Harrison Courtney. Etc,etc,etc. The list goes on and on. Kentucky has had many middle school guys do well at State. The only person that is at a disadvantage is the junior or senior that gets thumped by a middle school kid. I say if they choose to step up, let em.

I like how all your examples are Woodford County folks.

Some other examples: Nick Paden, Josh Johnson, Drew Newberry.

Johnson and Paden won five region titles.

Can't forget Brock Ervin and Mark Hall. See, I know others too! Lol!

Or all the Ervins ...

Touche!

This would hurt our growth. Ky has grown so much due to elementary and middle school programs . Keep it as it is quit messing. Things up

As the mother of a middle schooler participating in the State Tournament....I feel that he has worked just as hard and maybe harder than the older kids to earn his spot. He deserves to be there.

As the mother of a middle schooler participating in the State Tournament....I feel that he has worked just as hard and maybe harder than the older kids to earn his spot. He deserves to be there.

No one has said he doesn't.

Middle schoolers are not allowed to compete on the varsity level in football or soccer, and those are high-contact sports like wrestling. Those rules are in place for their safety. The same could be (notice I said "could") applied to wrestling, but it probably never will be because it would hurt the sport in the long run.

Leave it alone. In the long run, we'll continue to grow the wrestling, younger kids will gain experience and in a few more years both the Middle and High school level will increase with talent and numbers which means everyone gets better. THen we will see fewer middle school kids at the Varsity level. THose that are talented enough will be OK.

Then why does Indiana , Ohio, and other states not allow it or even Jefferson Co. in Ky

Then why does Indiana , Ohio, and other states not allow it or even Jefferson Co. in Ky

Bigger schools that can fill 14 weight classes....it's as simple as that. Kentucky schools cannot even do that now....

Then why does Indiana , Ohio, and other states not allow it or even Jefferson Co. in Ky

I know Ohio has three Div, I believe Indiana has three as well. Either state, any division has more wrestlers than all the KY teams put together....... Look at how many high schools DON't have wrestling in KY; they talk about splitting big and little school now. We'd be luck (I don't think we can) get 16 kids with winning records in every weigh class just for big and little school (Division). Heck currently most regions have 4th place kids with losing records going to state. How many do you see in Ohio or Indiana!!!

Kentucky only has 90-some schools that even offer wrestling. Ohio, like said above, is divided into three divisions. Indiana is classified as well, IIRC.

In my area alone, we have two schools -- Fort Knox and North Hardin -- that don't have a full lineup of 14 wrestlers. Coaches use the middle schoolers -- no matter how good -- to fill their lineups.

Indiana is 1 class in wrestling

Indiana is 1 class in wrestling

I stand corrected, I should have completed my home work before posting, I bet IN has more high school kids above or below Indianapolis interstate 70 than KY? I'll even bet, Indiana has more middle school teams above or below than KY has total middle school teams? I understand safety my son wrestled varsity as a 7th and 8th grade. What do you say when he beat the high school kids and your school doesn't have a middle school program? Sorry son, I'm not lucky enough to have employment in quality program like Union, LaRue, Woodford, Ryle, Cambell County, Wayne. I tried to identity the better programs in the state not to offend anyone.

If the middle school kid can handle it more power to him. Like Geordon Blanton this year won his region and Sam Griffith placed second for JC in region 8.

Indiana has more middle school programs than Kentucky has high school programs. It's a Big 10 state and in those states, wrestling is huge. Kentucky is growing just fine in terms of wrestling so I say leave it be for now. Also, age may play a part in concern for middle school wrestlers wrestling high school level, but unlike other sports, size does not. A 113 lber is still a 113 lber if he's an 8th grader or senior. Strength might be another story, but weight is not.

I don't like it, probably because I grew up in a place where it's not a possibility.

Why the rush? Although there are countless kids who can handle it, that's a lot of pressure for a middle schooler. Also, I'm not sure the environment of a HS wrestling team is the best place for a 12-13 year old. You are talking about drastically different levels of maturity between 17-18 year olds and middle schoolers.

It's unfair too the middle school kids at other schools. If 8th graders at Campbell County are wrestling varsity but the kid at Ryle can't due to an 11th grader being at the weight the CC wrestler gets an unfair developmental advantage (stretching here a bit, I admit.)

I say eliminate 106 and one of the heavier weights anyway. 14 is too many classes. It's probably not going to change anytime soon though.

Your best middle school kids can compete with the majority of high school kids at same weight in lower classes , not sure above 113 .i think it gives middle school kids something to work for .

WOW! Take a state that has been working its tail off to promote a sport and has been doing a great job, then take away this youth option. Good luck bigedcoach.

There were a few years in KY when they did not allow middle school kids to wrestle varsity, up till 99 i believe.

They changed it because teams were really struggling to fill line ups.

As for the middle school kids in a high school environment. It doesn't matter if they are wrestling varsity or middle school they are probably in the same wrestling room at the same time in most schools.

Does anyone know why its not allowed in Jefferson Co.? Seems to put those kids at a disadvantage, they are not even allowed to scrimmage against the high schoolers during the regular season.

Okay, here is my take on this: Yes, there is a maturity gap between 7th-8th graders and high school seniors. There is also a maturity gap between freshmen and seniors. But I would argue that there is not a major gap between middle school kids and freshmen in high school. So if a 14-15 year old freshman can wrestle with an 18 year old senior, then why can't a 13-14 year old 8th grader? And in most cases, these middle school wrestlers are at weights that are predominantly occupied by freshmen and sophomores. My second argument is that most of the middle school kids who make varsity are superior wrestlers. Many others have named names like Mark Hall, Joe Carr jr., Josh Johnson, Brock Ervin, and I would add Josh Cooper to that list. These boys were all either state champs or state runners up at their respective weight classes. Furthermore, they all achieved this feat at no heavier than the 119lb. class. These aren't pre-teens going toe-to-toe with Richard Starks or Taylor Shearer. They are wrestling kids much closer to their age and physical development. And finally, most middle school kids won't make varsity, but the ones who do are talented and deserve the opportunity.

Man, you guys can find anything to whine about. Really, KY is lucky to have MS wrestlers being able to compete at the HS level. Trust me, when these MS kids go to OH and whip up on their HS kids, they complain just like everyone of you that have had your kid beat by a MS kid. Quit whinning and train your HS kids better. No one deserves anything...you have to work for it.

I'd say deserves is the wrong word choice . The few kids that are in middle school competing at the high school level work hard most of the yr and earn that right .

I'd say deserves is the wrong word choice . The few kids that are in middle school competing at the high school level work hard most of the yr and earn that right .

That was my point. It is the correct word if you read it in the context of what I said. I am for MS kids wrestling in HS.

I don't have a problem with 8th graders wrestling varsity, but should a middle school kid that's wrestling HS varsity also be allowed to wrestle in middle school matches? Or at middle school state?

Jefferson County has some sort of an agreement between the schools that they won't allow middle school kids to compete at any varsity level sport. It started a year or two ago and has been challenged in court, and I believe has been allowed in some cases. The Catholic high schools and duPont Manual don't allow it, period.

This would be a personal decision between the kids, parents and coaches of the teams HS and MS since they two assoc's are not affiliated. If the kid is a major stud (ex. Mark Hall) and is good enough to win the state tourney...me personally, I think my decision would be to keep that kid from wrestling MS all together as did the Hall's when he wrestled in KY. The same is said for the youth kids...if you are good enough to win or place in the MS tourney, why wrestle youth? I don't think they have anything to prove at that point on the lower level. However, if your kid is not a Mark Hall, I am absolutely for kids wrestling as often as they can. Why limit the mat time of a kid just because he/she is in MS? I don't think I saw any middle school kid completely dominate their weight class this year at the MS State tourney.

And there is a big different between wrestling and other sports when it comes safety o the kids since there is weight classes.

We had a middle schooler wrestle heavyweight for us this year because he was by far the most talented heavyweight in the room. He made it through the year just fine. Most people from out of state you talk to consider it a plus of Kentucky wrestling that we allow middle schoolers to wrestle.

I know of at least one high school that does not have a middle school team feeding it. So middle school kids that want to wrestle work out with the high school. If they are good enough, or if a weight class is open, they get some varsity experience. If this school did not allow middle schoolers to wrestle, the team would dry up pretty quick. If allowing young guys in the room and on the mats keeps wrestling in a school, I am all for it.

They are trying to start a middle school sports program just as the high schools have. They have football, basketball track and field and a few others. so they are trying to expand them all now to make it a full competitive area. Of course the hard part right now is financial, as other programs and services are being cut because funding is being cut.I believe there are only 3 schools in Jeff Co that can because the middle school and the high school are in one school. Moore, Brown and one other, cant think of it right off.

Does anyone know why its not allowed in Jefferson Co.? Seems to put those kids at a disadvantage, they are not even allowed to scrimmage against the high schoolers during the regular season.

I think the Jefferson County rule was more geared at other sports where coaches were sitting HS aged kids to give up and coming MS kids more playing time to benefit the team down the road. The example I'm thinking of is girls softball, I know of one instance where SR's were made to sit to play MS kids to try and develop their talent, the team was terrible all year long.

I have never supported MS wrestling HS and I know some will scream about this comment but IMO it makes it to easy to give up on getting the HS kids to participate. The state needs more HS kids participating in sports to benefit from the acitivities. Its not just about how good the kids are but what the kids get out of the participation of the sport. Instead of allowing MS kids, recruit harder for HS kids. Give them reason to play such as academic credts the same as gym and instead of gym class, to participate in a sport.

I think it should be left up to each individual school system. They are the only one that knows the effect of stopping middle schoolers from wrestling on there high school team would have on there program.

The other factor that comes into play is the coaching staff. Do you have enough coaches to run both programs if they can't practice together and do you have to find a practice facility MS or would they have to practice after the high school team. Just a thought.

Dagger I think you hit the nail on the head. Many smaller wrestling schools that can't field a team relly on middle school. Not just because they want to field a varsity high school team but because they don't have the coaches and can't be in two places at once.

If you only have one coach and a handfull of kids on the wrestling team (both middle school and high school) you have to put them all on one team and try to compete somewhere.

There was a gentleman's agreement among the HS coaches that if a MS wrestler competed at the varsity level in high school, that wrestler would not wrestle at the MS state tournament. So much, for all the HS coaches being gentlemen.

I have never supported MS wrestling HS and I know some will scream about this comment but IMO it makes it to easy to give up on getting the HS kids to participate. The state needs more HS kids participating in sports to benefit from the acitivities. Its not just about how good the kids are but what the kids get out of the participation of the sport. Instead of allowing MS kids, recruit harder for HS kids. Give them reason to play such as academic credts the same as gym and instead of gym class, to participate in a sport.

I'll say from the perspective of working with a program where participation numbers are outstanding, I couldn't dissagree more. We typically have between 60-100 youth wrestlers, 30 MS, and 35-45 HS wrestlers. We always allow wrestlers to wrestle up if they earn the right. Filling lineups with the most competitive teams possible builds competitiveness within the program and elevates the level of the whole team. With more success comes more numbers. And guys typically stick it out even if they don't make the lineup because JV/ Backup wrestlers are given the opportunity to compete. I believe our HS JV guys averaged about 30 matches this year.

The best recruiting that can be done in the hallways is done by the wrestlers themselves. And among the wrestlers, the standout wrestlers recruit the best. Giving younger kids the opportunity to wrestle up, brings more exposure for your team to his peers. And the younger you get kids out the better off you are.

Bottom line, If you want solid numbers, start a youth program and never place limitations on the level of success young kids can have.

There was a gentleman's agreement among the HS coaches that if a MS wrestler competed at the varsity level in high school, that wrestler would not wrestle at the MS state tournament. So much, for all the HS coaches being gentlemen.

I guess none of them are. The only team I can think of that doesn't allow this is Meade County. And that's just because none of their wrestlers compete at the MS level. I'm sure there are some but after coaching at the MS level for 7 years, I can't think of one off the top of my head.

I totally agree with you Radier, I hate the Jefferson Co way thought, When I was at Eastern, Its how we did build the program through our youth program, We were the first program in Jefferson County outside of KCD to use middle school kids in our lineups, I dont really have a problem with middle schoolers wrestling up, I know you have a couple of talented middle school kids in your line up. I just wonder why other states ban it. If I do come back to coaching, the first thing I will do is to start and recruit from the middle school that feeds what ever school I coach at. Its a sad thing that JCPS likes to hancuff the coaches in its county

I'll say from the perspective of working with a program where participation numbers are outstanding, I couldn't dissagree more. We typically have between 60-100 youth wrestlers, 30 MS, and 35-45 HS wrestlers. We always allow wrestlers to wrestle up if they earn the right. Filling lineups with the most competitive teams possible builds competitiveness within the program and elevates the level of the whole team. With more success comes more numbers. And guys typically stick it out even if they don't make the lineup because JV/ Backup wrestlers are given the opportunity to compete. I believe our HS JV guys averaged about 30 matches this year.

The best recruiting that can be done in the hallways is done by the wrestlers themselves. And among the wrestlers, the standout wrestlers recruit the best. Giving younger kids the opportunity to wrestle up, brings more exposure for your team to his peers. And the younger you get kids out the better off you are.

Bottom line, If you want solid numbers, start a youth program and never place limitations on the level of success young kids can have.

I will second that thought. Our program has a very similar approach, similar numbers, and is very successful.

I will second that thought. Our program has a very similar approach, similar numbers, and is very successful.

Remember I said some would scream.

You both make solid arguments and I believe in time MS wrestlers in your programs HS ranks will diminish and be eliminated by a solid group of HS kids who have risen through the ranks and wont be displaced by MS kids outwrestling them. Lets face it the only reason 95% of MS kids are wrestling in HS are because the HS ranks are missing a weight class or because the HS kid has little to no experience and the MS kid has learned to wrestle already. I say the HS kid needs to learn to wrestle in HS more than the MS needs to be wrestling in HS. It shouldnt always be about the putting the best team on the mat at all cost.

I agree 100% with raider

It's not at all about winning at all costs, or winning at all really. Its about improving participation. The more kids that we can get to participate, the more kids we can share the valuable life lessons that our sport uniquely teaches. Work ethic, dedication, perserverance, self worth, self motivation, goal setting, etc. To me this sport serves as a microcosm of real life. Kids can learn what works and what doesn't with low stakes. It deeply engrains a blue collar sensibility that is truely american.

It's easy to dismiss successful programs with claims that they are willing to sacrifice their ethics for their success. Or that they by chance are inherently more likely to succeed do to lucky coincidence. While certain socio-economic conditions do contribute, the programs at the top can generally thank a small group of dedicated leaders for their success.

All teams can be successful but it wont happen over night.

Ok, back off my soap box now.

Raider,

I agree with some of your points and your programs as well as Ranger's are good programs, but I still question how the numbers are affected adversely or favorably by allowing MS to wrestle HS. The MS kids can still wrestle at their own level, if anything I would argue that programs would lose more HS kids who get beat by a MS wrestler and give up the sport.

Microcosm of real life? Sounds good but cmon give me a break, this is high school wrestling, its a sport not a life struggle, dont take it so serious. Regardless of everyone's own personal stance, KY is one if of the few if not the only state allowing MS kids to participate at the HS levels.

I will respectfully continue to agree to disagree.

I grew up in Minnesota where you can wrestle up and as an 8^th Grader I wrestled varsity at 103 (I actually had to eat to make weight with an 88 pound minimum). My parents were worried at first but I had been wrestling since 1^st grade so I actually had a lot more experience than most of the kids I wrestled. I didn’t have a great record because of my size but was able to hold my own. Because of this experience I will always side on the Middle School kids being allowed to wrestle up. Most of the best programs don’t need MS kids because they are 3-4 deep at most weight classes and great wrestlers often have very good wrestlers pushing them at practice and will take their spot if they slack off. Mark Hall is of course the exception rather than the norm. Kentucky however is nowhere close to a top notch wrestling state and anything Kentucky can do to keep the sport growing should be done. As Givemethatdouble pointed out that unlike football and Soccer weight classes keep things fair between a 7^th grader and a senior. I will also throw out that my wife is a Certified Athletic Trainer and said a MS kid doesn’t have any greater chance to get injured wrestling at the HS level. In fact A study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine states:

The most commonly injured areas were the shoulder (24%) and knee (17%). Injured wrestlers were an average of 5 months older and had a 32% higher experience level than noninjured wrestlers. Wrestlers with ligamentous laxity suffered fewer shoulder injuries than the other wrestlers. The majority of injuries occurred in practice (63%), although the injury rate was higher in match competitions. Sixty-eight percent of practice injuries occurred during hard wrestling, 23% during drills, and 9% during conditioning. The most common wrestling situation resulting in injury was the takedown position (68%). Our results show that the older and more experienced wrestler may be at greater risk of injury. Hard wrestling during practice and the takedown position resulted in the highest occurrence of injury.

http://ajs.sagepub.com/content/28/4/509.abstract

If they can earn the spot let them wrestle. If you can’t beat them work harder.

Raider,

I agree with some of your points and your programs as well as Ranger's are good programs, but I still question how the numbers are affected adversely or favorably by allowing MS to wrestle HS. The MS kids can still wrestle at their own level, if anything I would argue that programs would lose more HS kids who get beat by a MS wrestler and give up the sport.

Microcosm of real life? Sounds good but cmonI give me a break, this is high school wrestling, its a sport not a life struggle, dont take it so serious. Regardless of everyone's own personal stance, KY is one if of the few if not the only state allowing MS kids to participate at the HS levels.

I will respectfully continue to agree to disagree.

You can disagree with my arguement regarding wrestling up but I'll anecdotally point to Ryle, Campbell County, Woodford Co., Larue, Union, Johnson Central, Ohldam, Simon Kenton who all allow MS kids to wrestle and all have great numbers.

As for wreatling being a microcosm of real life, you can scoff if you want. This sport teaches kids that you get out of life what you put into it. The fact that it's not a life struggle is exactly what I meant by low stakes. I don't know about you but the some of the lessons I learned in youth athletics are the ones I lean on as an adult. This is why I am so passionate about this sport.

Then why does Indiana , Ohio, and other states not allow it or even Jefferson Co. in Ky

Indiana & Ohio have bigger programs and official middle school programs. Jefferson Co is just stupid. The last time a ban on middle school wrestling varsity happened, it almost killed wrestling in Western Kentucky. Since Middle School eligibility has returned, wrestling schools in Western Kentucky has grown from 6 teams to 14, with a possibility of 4 or 5 more in the next couple of years. Wrestling is not those other sports. Coaches are not sending 106 lb 7th grade wrestlers against 220 lb 12th graders. Both wrestlers weigh the same. Fort the most part the only ones complaining are those who are having trouble starting a MS program.

My team is in Jefferson Co. and I have a middle school program feeding into the high school. I understand the middle school rule as not being as black and white as it has been made out to be. Last year the word was no middle schoolars can compete for Jefferson Co. schools. This year, I believe the final decision is placed in the high school principle's hands. I didn't lobby for any of my middle school kids to participate on my high school team this year becasue their skill levels weren't up to the varsity standards, but I believe the option was available.

If a middle school wrestler can beat one of my high school wrestlers and that makes the high school wrestler want to quit the team...I don't want him on my team anyway. If it makes everyone work harder I am all for it.

Then why does Indiana , Ohio, and other states not allow it or even Jefferson Co. in Ky

Indiana & Ohio have bigger programs and official middle school programs. Jefferson Co is just stupid. The last time a ban on middle school wrestling varsity happened, it almost killed wrestling in Western Kentucky. Since Middle School eligibility has returned, wrestling schools in Western Kentucky has grown from 6 teams to 14, with a possibility of 4 or 5 more in the next couple of years. Wrestling is not those other sports. Coaches are not sending 106 lb 7th grade wrestlers against 220 lb 12th graders. Both wrestlers weigh the same. Fort the most part the only ones complaining are those who are having trouble starting a MS program.

If it almost killed wrestling in WKY I have to ask, how many middle schoolers on average started for the WKY teams this year?

Consider a situation where a MS wrestler fills a spot at 113 on a HS team as an 8th grader. He would really like to attend a private, magnet or soon to be charter HS school for reasons more important than sports. He will have to sit out at least one year or go the HS he wrestled for as a 12 year old. Does anyone else see something wrong this? Middle schoolers should wrestle middle school.

Tilt: no they don't Tra Blackwell, wrestled varsity for UHA as an 8th grader & Union County as a 9th grader. Transfer rules do not apply to middle school wrestlers that are leaving MS & going to HS.

Damon: not as many this year as in previous years. as far as I know. That's the point wrestling is growing in WKY, so the need to fill out your roster with MS is in decline. However, in 2006, my team had 4 wrestlers qualify for state that were in Middle School. We've had at least one MS in the Varsity line-up every year since they were allow to return to HS competition.

If a middle school wrestler can beat one of my high school wrestlers and that makes the high school wrestler want to quit the team...I don't want him on my team anyway. If it makes everyone work harder I am all for it.

Isn't this the most obvious reason not to allow MS in HS. I think the win at all cost has distorted some views about high school athletics. It shouldnt depend on who's better, it is a HS team to benefit the students of the HS. If there is a HS wrestler that is willing to participate there should be no question. This is not college nor professional its high school athletics to support the kids not the best at any cost.

How is allowing a middle school kid to wrestle varsity winning at all cost ? To me you get past the if you participate you play motto back in elementary school .

eville: What happens to the programs that can't split their teams? Either because of cost or participation or both.

I've had personal experience with this. When you have 6 high school kids and 4 middle school kids the school would not allow me transportation and money to field two teams each week at different events.

The middle schoolers usually didn't take a high school spot because whoever lost went up a weight class and filled a spot.

I would have lost all of the middle schoolers and had even less high schoolers each year.

I will concede that for some schools, allowing both programs to be as one is the only way to have a program, but IMO the 1st option to fill the HS spot is any HS wrestler willing to fill it.

Eville: Coaches have to walk a tight rope on this. Yes it's important to have HS kids participation, but as a coach you have to also try to be successful. Without success you loose interest. If your option is two fairly equal kids, one is a MS and one a HS then choose the HS, but if you have a MS who has wrestled 4-6 years and is hands and feet better than the 1st year HS kid then you have to choose the MS kid. As I said it's a balancing act coaches must face.

As an old famous coach said if it doesn't matter if you win or lose then why keep score?

Let the best wrestler wrestle. One of my teammates, who was a Frosh first year wrestler, got beat by a 7th grader (2 yrs exp) for the starting spot. I believe he eventually one the spot back, I'm not for sure. He worked his butt of everyday of practice and eventually cracked the starting line up and was very successful for our team. If this scenario had not played out he may not have worked as hard and not achieved as much. You need people to push you no matter the age of the wrestler. Plus think what type of leader the MS can become by the time he is a Frosh or Soph with as much varsity experience or more than some of the upper classman. It is hard for me to visualize a situation where having MS wrestle up doesn't improve your wrestling room.

Grappler, I hear what your saying and I applaud you for coaching and doing all you do.

But I still have a hard time being complacent about the HS numbers being insufficient. If theres no one to fill a spot I can see a MS wrestler filling a spot but I still feel if theres a HS kids willing, he should get the nod after all it is a HS team. I also think the same rules, all rules should apply to a MS wrestler as the HS wrestler, grades, boudaries, transfer rules, etc.....

Thanks but I haven't coached in a while. The old team has a fairly decent MS program but still has trouble with the high school team. School now supprts both teams and has coaches for both.

I agree that the same rules should apply to HS and MS wrestlers especially when it comes to grades and boundries. As for the transfer rules, I still think they should not be locked in until they are in high school.

Like you said we all have an opinion on it. I respect yours even if its wrong. (ha ha just kidding)

The answer is usually somewhere in the middle of everyones argument and its good to get all the theories and ideas out so everyone can see them and make their own decisions.

I agree with the grades standards too. I do believe if you play a high school varsity sport as a middle school kid the transfer rule does come into play , making them ineligible for the new high school

Tilt: no they don't Tra Blackwell, wrestled varsity for UHA as an 8th grader & Union County as a 9th grader. Transfer rules do not apply to middle school wrestlers that are leaving MS & going to HS.

Damon: not as many this year as in previous years. as far as I know. That's the point wrestling is growing in WKY, so the need to fill out your roster with MS is in decline. However, in 2006, my team had 4 wrestlers qualify for state that were in Middle School. We've had at least one MS in the Varsity line-up every year since they were allow to return to HS competition.

Thanks for the info. That seems to be the norm at the smaller schools.

I agree in theory with MS kids wrestling at the HS level. If they beat a HS kid then so be it. Jefferson County has fallen to the whining rule..."my kid was put on the bench because they wanted to "develop" a middle school kid". That's BS!!! Most of the time the MS kid was better. What coach is looking 4 years down the road? If they are, they're nuts. Win today or lose your job! Unfortunately, that rule has crossed over to sports that don't need it, like wrestling and XC. It's a shame because it really hampers the public schools in Jefferson County where their talent pools are smaller than the Catholic schools or county schools. And I know that Manual doesn't allow MS kids in any spot, primarily because they're not sure if they'll get in to Manual. That's their call, and it's valid.

I agree with the grades standards too. I do believe if you play a high school varsity sport as a middle school kid the transfer rule does come into play , making them ineligible for the new high school

Wky, I stand corrected. I was told today that the transfer rule/penalty will not apply to a middle school wrestler.

Wky, I stand corrected. I was told today that the transfer rule/penalty will not apply to a middle school wrestler.

With the recent precedent that has been set, apparently most transfer rule/penalties don't apply to high school athletes either.

If it almost killed wrestling in WKY I have to ask, how many middle schoolers on average started for the WKY teams this year?

I had a 106, 120 and heavyweight that wrestled

Varsity as middle schoolers this season.

My heavyweight was a 7th grader who finished 11-10 on the season. Barring PCSing and retirements I should see my middle school program come to my high school in two seasons.

Oh and my 120 had to beat out a senior, junior, sophomore and freshman in wrestle offs to wrestle in regions.