Assuming that the world does not end in December of this year.

Are you looking forward to another state tourney at the kentucky Horse Park? I don't mean the actual wrestling, I'm talking about the venue itself.

What improvements are you hoping for and what are you hoping they keep from last years extravaganza?

It's still early enough that some things could still be changed if need be.

I didnt see last years venue so i do not know but as far as the arena went i thought it was great i have seen a few big tournaments i thought it was roomy plenty big enough theIr concessions could be a little better maybe let more vendors come in ,And i would blow the finals ceremony up i would love to be in charge of something like that Fog ,lights ,backdrops ,music,it would be awesome ,flashpods for finals matches AND SINGLETS AND wARMUPS FOR FINALISTS OR MAYBE JUST wARMUPS I UNDERSTAND A SCHOOL WANTING ITS SINGLET worn i would make it a tournament unlike any other in the country ,I do like the crasy pre finals thing with the beach balls and all its a great touch KY has a great state tournament ,Lexington is a perfect spot middle of the state AND VERY ATTRACTIVE SITE.

I would have the floor raised for the finals matches .

And oh yeah some states let the parents of the finalists set on the floor its a very nice gesture .

i would also have some very nice young ladies carrying around cards before each Finals match with the weights listed on them LOL,

I hear Lexington has some establishments where such ladies can be procured

seriously cheer leaders for Wrestlers Y not,

the toughest sport deserves all the extras without a doubt ,sad seeing all these kids get sold short make it something to remember .

I am looking forward to another State Tourney this year at the Horsepark. I hope they change the floor situation. I know we are in KY and all, but the dirt that came through to the mats has got to go. Who puts down a perforated floor to cover the dirt and not expect that it won't come through to the mats? This isn't beach wrestling. Other than that, I think raising the mats for the finals is a great idea and continuing to make the finals a spectacle is a great thing for this sport in KY. -

I don't know about the rest of you but I think the scoreboards need to be a little larger. Being the 1st time i've been in the stands since 82, I could barely make out the scores on most of the matches.

You gotta give us old folks a break, we like to see the score and the time of matches going on.

Don't really care if the scoreboards are bigger, but they definitely need lowered to the mats in the inside corners like Ohio does. You couldn't see half the mat because they were up in the air. If I knew how to download a picture of the Ohio State Tournament from my phone, I'd post it.

Me too i have some nice footage LOL

I still hate the venue at the KHP. I know that there is alot of concrete but come on for a relatively new building (compared to Frankfort) the stands were nasty. Anything that got placed on the floor either by accident or on purpose were filthy with dust from the arena and whatever the concrete had soaked up from previous events. For those with respiratory and allergies it was miserable I have never heard so many people complaining about headaches. It is a Horse Park arena, stress the fact HORSE ARENA.

The only fruit you could find was a bizarre fruit salad were all the ingredients taste like outlet fruit. Where were plain old apples, oranges and bananas? This is a wrestling event not a brunch. There was no place that kids could go that was quiet so they could rest, but also close enough for coaches and parents to make sure they were ready for their next match.

The Horse Park also did not have that magical feeling before the finals. Anything that landed on the floor was supposed to stay there (BOO). The lighting also was ridiculous during both the pre-finals and during the actual matches, for the wrestlers and the fans (Tiny scoreboards + poor lighting = older people unable to enjoy the finals like they did in Frankfort. You asked for suggestions and I tried not to be to negative just putting my thoughts and those of other moms and grandmas.

One other thought, the semi final round should utilize more mats. I can't remember how long that round took, but it was way too looooong. Most people were gone by the time the awards were presented.

Yeah cmon people if your true fans you should stay till the end i hate when that happens it makes the most important part of the year seem less important.

I still hate the venue at the KHP. I know that there is alot of concrete but come on for a relatively new building (compared to Frankfort) the stands were nasty. Anything that got placed on the floor either by accident or on purpose were filthy with dust from the arena and whatever the concrete had soaked up from previous events. For those with respiratory and allergies it was miserable I have never heard so many people complaining about headaches. It is a Horse Park arena, stress the fact HORSE ARENA.

The only fruit you could find was a bizarre fruit salad were all the ingredients taste like outlet fruit. Where were plain old apples, oranges and bananas? This is a wrestling event not a brunch. There was no place that kids could go that was quiet so they could rest, but also close enough for coaches and parents to make sure they were ready for their next match.

The Horse Park also did not have that magical feeling before the finals. Anything that landed on the floor was supposed to stay there (BOO). The lighting also was ridiculous during both the pre-finals and during the actual matches, for the wrestlers and the fans (Tiny scoreboards + poor lighting = older people unable to enjoy the finals like they did in Frankfort. You asked for suggestions and I tried not to be to negative just putting my thoughts and those of other moms and grandmas.

I've got to agree on this one - the new venue lost the excitement of the Frankfort state tournaments. The almighty dollar was the sole reason for moving the tournament. I understand the need to have more than 4 mats, but Frankfort was a special place and the small venue made the finals a spectacle. The Horse Park finals (and the pre-finals celebration) were really a let down from prior years. I know we are stuck with the Horse Park now, but hopefully they can do something to remedy these problems. I like the idea of a raised mat for the finals and find a way to change the lighting during the finals. And if they could do something to keep the dirt floor from getting all over everything that would be cool too.

One other thought, the semi final round should utilize more mats. I can't remember how long that round took, but it was way too looooong. Most people were gone by the time the awards were presented.

I completely disagree that they should utilize more mats during the semi finals. Usually the semi finals are the most exciting round in the tourny full of exciting matches and tons of drama. A fan of wrestling should have the chance to watch these matches and thats impossible if you use all the mats, they will be coming and going to fast to keep up. These kids deserve to be on center stage as well...they made the state semi finals let them show off their talents.

Fans need to change the pre finals celebration. Why not have some kind of highlight video created on clips shot throughout the tournament, instead of running around like crazy people. The video could include big moves, coaches and wrestlers celebrations, and fan reactions. Kentucky could learn a lot by studying how other state tournaments like PA and OH excite the crowd.

Totally disagree about Ohio being more exciting. I've been to both several times, and KY is way more exciting even at the new arena. The atmosphere at Frankfort was even better. I find the atmosphere at the Shottenheim Center a little boring. Don't get me wrong the wrestling is great, but the atmosphere is a little dull including the videos. The pre-finals is unique and full of energy, don't change a thing except allowing things on the floor to be thrown back up into the crowd. I can't remember how the semi final round was ran, but I'm pretty sure that round is what pushed the time so late. If I remember correctly, the championship bracket was the only one going. I don't see why the conso's can't be running at the same time, two mats for championship and the rest conso's. It will still take as long for the championship side, but then the conso's would be ahead. So yeah, definitely need to utilize more mats during that round.

The Shott is boring? Yeah, ok. It seems to me that high school aged kids would feel a bit more grown up wrestling in a place like the Shott, than a horse barn. And I agree with doing away with all of the antics before finals. Running around like a bunch of little kids turned loose at Chuckie Cheese isn't befitting to creating an atmosphere of high level wrestling. I have barn, a bunch of silly string. That doesn't mean I can hold a State touney in my back field. Bigger more fan freindly facilities. More bathrooms, a good warm up/bull pen area for the wrestlers. That would improve the State event. I'm sorry, but on several topics in wrestling whenever someone brings up learning from Ohio or Indiana or Pa, someone else always says "we don't need anything from them, we'll do our own thing." That sort of attitude is exactly what will hold Ky wrestling back from the growth everyone wants. All the Northern Ky coaches talk about crossing the river to Ohio and Indiana to get the best compition they can, so something must working in Ohio. Quit trying to reinvent the wheel and treat Ky wrestling like its different than than any other wrestling community, be open enough to follow in the footsteps of States that already had growing pains and worked it out. It would save a lot of headaches and yrs in advancement in Ky wrestling.

Well if Ohio runs their state tourney like someone who has a stick up their rear end, then I'm glad we are in Ky. The state tourney is not a business meeting, its a time for kids, parents, grandparents, and fans to have a good time while watching some good wrestling.

Look at the extravaganza that will happen next week at the MLB All Star Game. It's a fun event for everyone. The competitoin would not change in Ky if they wrestled in Shott (Never been there or even know where it is) or at the Horse Park. The same kids step up and wrestle no matter where its being held.

I've been around long enough in that we use to wrestle our state tourney at a High School in Lou (Atherton) which in most years did not even have a wrestling team. Then we moved to Frankfort the excitement improved, now I believe we are taking a step backwards at the Horse Park. I like how the stands are up from the mats and only participants can get near the floor.

Yea lets continue fallowing Ohio wrestling and we will always be their little brother.

The KYWCA region representatives have discussed many issues concerning the State Tournament. This being the first year at the KHP there were some areas that needed to be addressed. Realize, though, that it took this first year to see what needed to be addressed.

Some of the things discussed off the top of my head:

-scoreboards moved to the inside corners of the mats to not obstruct viewing

-Semifinal round lost its luster this year because there were only 2 matches going on at a time

-Elevated finals mat(was told it was a liability issue this year)

-Lighting change(It was too dark for the finals, either turn all the lights on or get a spotlight)

-The floor was bought specifically for the State tournament (why it had holes would have to be answered by someone else.)

-Another stairway to the floor(I believe this has already been addressed

These are a few things talked about for upcoming years. Happy 4th!

Bigger arena, more bathroom facilities, more concessions, more centrally located. Are there things to improve on? Sure. Is it a much better venue? No doubt about it. When the kinks are all worked out, we'll all be glad we moved. The arena in frankfort was old, run down and too crowded. I think instead of looking at the past, coming up with ideas on how to improve our current location would be more constructive.

Well if Ohio runs their state tourney like someone who has a stick up their rear end, then I'm glad we are in Ky. The state tourney is not a business meeting, its a time for kids, parents, grandparents, and fans to have a good time while watching some good wrestling.

Look at the extravaganza that will happen next week at the MLB All Star Game. It's a fun event for everyone. The competitoin would not change in Ky if they wrestled in Shott (Never been there or even know where it is) or at the Horse Park. The same kids step up and wrestle no matter where its being held.

I've been around long enough in that we use to wrestle our state tourney at a High School in Lou (Atherton) which in most years did not even have a wrestling team. Then we moved to Frankfort the excitement improved, now I believe we are taking a step backwards at the Horse Park. I like how the stands are up from the mats and only participants can get near the floor.

Yea lets continue fallowing Ohio wrestling and we will always be their little brother.

No one said Kentucky had to be Ohio's little brother but you must use the resources you have. Kentucky is lucky to have one of the top wrestling states in the nation next to them ( ask Northern Kentucky how interacting with Ohio has changed their wrestling atmosphere). My point being why don't we attempt to use this resource and create a top atmosphere here in Kentucky. I agree with stalling the running around before the finals seems a little silly if you ask me. I disagree that the the atmosphere at the Shott is boring. The Schott is very big (Ohio State Basketball Arena) 10 mats in all and is difficult for fans to understand because fans don't get to experience much of it. The long walk wrestlers take from the warm up area throughout the arena to enter the bullpen "tunnel of champions" to being escorted to their mat is often over whelming the first time you experience it. After warming up in darkness surrounded by pictures of former champions to walking out into the bright lights, this can make even the most experienced wrestler nervous. Ohio uses music, poems, lights, and highlight videos to get the fans ready for the finals. I think if Kentucky used this even a little it would increase the atmosphere because the fans are already into the event. Half of Kentucky wrestlers are still running around with their teammates playing games during the finals instead of watching the best their state has to offer. If you have never seen the parade of champions in Ohio watch these two videos and think of what Kentucky could use to make ours better.

http://www.flowrestling.org/coverage/236644-Ohio-State-Tournament-GOhioCasts/video/316571-OH-Parade-Of-Champions

http://www.flowrestling.org/coverage/236644-Ohio-State-Tournament-GOhioCasts/video/316326-Finals-Ceremony-Side-Shot

Stalling,

Yeah boring. The wrestling is top notch and exciting that's why we go, but the atmosphere is boring. There really isn't a high energy level in the crowd. I'll admit that the size of the arena might have something to do with it feeling that way. Just my observation, and who said we can't learn from the other states? That's why we wrestle all over the country to see the best kids, and to get better.

Bulldog, I didn't say follow Ohio. I said look to Ohio, Indiana and Pa for ideas and procedures and time tested ideas. If everyone wants Ky high school wrestling to "grow" and compete on a higher level, then stop treating the wrestlers like youth wrestlers and show them that they have earned respect and dignity. Think about it... a lot of those State wrestlers next step after State is college. So, let em run around like ill behaved children and lose all their focus and intensity right when they need it most. Or, allow them to take the next stept toward adulthood in their athletic career. You say you've never been to Shott? How do you know what its like? As I said, step out of the cacoon you're in, look around and then use what you see to improve Bluegrass wrestling. Or, just be content being Ohios little brother while they laugh at you with that stick up their butt. Northern Ky wrestling is arguably the toughest in the State due in a large part because those schools cross the river for competition. Yet, people like want to turn your nose up at Ohio like a bratty child when someone mentions doing anything remotely close to how they do it. Pay close attention, ladies and gentleman. Attitudes like that will keep Ky off the National level for yrs to come.

Wow, KY turns their noses up to Ohio? Pretty sure it's definitely the other way around. Everytime I take my son to an open mat/practice in Ohio, it's always the same. Oh, you're from KY. That is until he beats the snot out of most of them. Love that look on their face!

Freedom hall or broadbent! Indiana has theirs at Conseco Fieldhouse and that place is packed! Magical feeling and the parade of champions before the finals is something to see. Should be a magical moment for the kids who made it there! They deserve that!

Ccms, I was refering to Bulldogs comments.

OK SO WE ALL AGREE THE RAISED floor for finals is cool ,i do agree the warmup area for Ohio is better ,I like the parents of finalists seated on the floor very classy and a nice gesture to the parents who have gone through a lot to get their kids there .I personally liked the antics in ky before finals i also understand keeping it more profesional so to speak but if anyone knows me they know i am a big kid at heart i liked seeing the young kids eyes light up duiring all the antics they will remember it and it may be a very very useful tactic to keep the young ones interested in the sport by making them and showing them it is fun ,i also understand some people thinking it is childish .I think it may be good for KY maybe not Ohios cup of tea not a bad thing for either .

ohio does a good job with pics and stats of its wrestlers on the jumbo screens and such its cool , i cant remember how ky did it i think they did the same im not sure of some things i do not pay attention when i am focusing on my kids or the tournament and i had two in ky and only 1 in ohios

didnt notice the dirt as much as everyone else i would watch them wrestle o0utside if that were the case i survived a few dirty places in ohio duiring jr high states but i respect the OAC greatly they are very fair people for the most part despite that ref i wanted to choke to death after they lied to me saying my boys would not have to wrestle at the same time duiring finals of grade school state ,not cool having to miss your sons state finals match because your younger boy is going for third ,I went with who needed me most not with who i would look good standing nextto thats what dads do ,I went with austin he lost stephen won easily .Austins loss was bs too but they all always are LOLneat story Stephen wrestled in both the grade school state and jr high state tournament on the same weekend that year he is still the first and only kid to ever do it and place in both 1st in grade school and 3rd in jr high ,needless to say after his loss in jr high to the eventual champion he beat the crap out of his next opponent a grade school kid it was nasty as hell i thought he was going to kill that kid .double matches i will never be prouder of him than i was on that day four kids in the state tried it two dropped out and another bombed in jr high everyone in grade school was scared to death of him after they knew he already placed in jr high awesome stuff.

OAC is ran by great people

those gd OHSAA refs are northern OHIO butt kissers as well fleeing the matt my ass watch that match on flo bro Ohio has some issues as well .

very close to that bs call against Austin at schoolastic duals against the indy kid i was mad as heck but i liked the outcome there better You cant break austin with bs bad calls he learned from his brothers mistakes hes a gd iceberg man i love it .

LOl

trying to get him to drop about ten get back to 220 needs a 480 Deadlift and a 310 Bench to break the national record there in the 16 17 class he pulled 495 last week but hasnt benched over three ,so we will see, this year or next its his .

State champ national champ in wrestling and national powerlifting record holder he better drop ten or im gonna be ticked Hey OTTO MY Mpire rankings say Austin is the number 1 SOPH in the country so does his OW trophy from freshman nationals,And soon his Powerlifting trophy will say he is the strongest as well thats how we do it.

Hey Dutch i want you and your boy to come to his meet it will be awesome stuff .we have to get him fired up.

Stalling you n Joe better come as well Austin needs some support and maybe if you call em and tell him to drop ten and go for it he will .

When I commented about the concrete in the stands being dirty, I was trying to be tactful. I should have said that they were nasty. I saw a kid throw up twice all over the place. And when the custodians finally came to clean it up 45 minutes later, after they had been asked by the people sitting near the kid for cleaner and towels to clean it, all the liquid had been absored by the concrete only aftermath remained. They did not even clean it with any cleaner just removed the debris.

I also think that the limited access to the floor should definately allow trainers, coaches, teammates to run things to the wrestlers this would help the kids wrestling stay focused but not isolated. Having another access point would also allow for them to get that last hug from grandma or mom. if family is not allowed on the floor. I know that some will be moving on to collegiate settings but that number is very very small. Kentucky wrestling finals are unique and fun and to alot of kids witnissing the spectacle is one of the highlights of their wrestling careers and definately a memory maker. I just really do not care how Ohio or Indiana run theirs, nor do I voice my opinion on Their forums. It is none of my business how they do things because I do not have a dog in their fight or feel like I should intrude. Just my opinion. .

When I commented about the concrete in the stands being dirty, I was trying to be tactful. I should have said that they were nasty. I saw a kid throw up twice all over the place. And when the custodians finally came to clean it up 45 minutes later, after they had been asked by the people sitting near the kid for cleaner and towels to clean it, all the liquid had been absored by the concrete only aftermath remained. They did not even clean it with any cleaner just removed the debris.

I also think that the limited access to the floor should definately allow trainers, coaches, teammates to run things to the wrestlers this would help the kids wrestling stay focused but not isolated. Having another access point would also allow for them to get that last hug from grandma or mom. if family is not allowed on the floor. I know that some will be moving on to collegiate settings but that number is very very small. Kentucky wrestling finals are unique and fun and to alot of kids witnissing the spectacle is one of the highlights of their wrestling careers and definately a memory maker. I just really do not care how Ohio or Indiana run theirs, nor do I voice my opinion on Their forums. It is none of my business how they do things because I do not have a dog in their fight or feel like I should intrude. Just my opinion. .

Sorry to have intruded on your forum, and until you start caring about how other states do theirs, yours will stay the same. Being spiteful, closed minded and unwilling to learn is unwise in anything in life.

I sometimes although i should always try to see everyones point of view ,I think what momma was saying is that she doesnt care how anyone else does it regardless of wether their way was better or not and some peoples comments come off as knocks rather than helpful suggestions regardless of if they were meant to or not .kind of like how someone said kys would stay the same if you dont care about howe others do theirs ,you do not have to model KYs after any others to improve it ,that comment is the issue no ones is perfect and what others may feel is wrong or may be wrong for their state is not fo Ky and that is not a bad thing ,like the pre finals thing it works for ky and just because it would seem silly in other states doesnt make it so in ky nor should it cast a bad light on it ,and you never know if another state actually allowed it it might be better for them as well.

i also see the danger in being close minded but if someone went on an Ohio site or and indiana site and said you should do this like Ky does people would be even more close minded on those sites i guarantee it ,and their are things Ky does with their tournament that could be better than either of those states ,Ky has 1 true champ ,those do not a very debatable argument no ? as to who is best !

Both states had some reffing issues here and there and both could be improved ,states should bring refs in from states that havve no border or tie to that state keep the crap fair and worked well it would be a hassle but eliminate obvious bs calls ,reafs need to move a little faster as well but thats just a personal issue of mine i see pins that should be a few seconds faster now and again and it may not seem like much but a ten second pin compared to a 5 or 6 is a lot of time LOL or abourt a 2 second pin rather than a 40 ,i mean seriously if your stuck your stuck end of story .

nice having people from other states on the forum gives everyone different points of view and usually something to argue about which keeps everyone interested

Of course there are obvious haters not mentioning any names like OTTO who are just trying to start trouble and cant stand being told or shown they were wrong .

Ky is at a different point perhaps but it is also on its own path evolving into its own thing in the sport the kids are improving so there is no knocking anyone nor should it be tolerated by the ky fans , i think people should listen and look at what others do but not use it as a tool to knock what ky already does but to use it if it works better for ky and try not to become carbon copies as long as it is best for the tournament .

Honestly if Ky totally modeled itself after another state some a hole would come on here from that state and be saying you hillbillys couldnt run your own thing so you had to steal everything from us ,and thats the truth ,let evolution take its course and Maybe Ky tournament evolves into something more spectacular than anyone elses in the country it could happen in a year make a giant show and see what happens flashpods cheer leaders fog and lights ,It would become ridiculed by coaches and perents but be the envy of every wrestler in the country and thats what makes the tournament great wether the wrestlers like it or not determines the drive to be better and the drive to enter the sport ,big trophies nicer medals more hooplah warmup suits lights camera action .

i know its a topic for another thread but how many people have seen a kid bust his butt and parents travel a ways spend a ton of cabbage travelling going to practice then only to spend more on entering a tournament and see your kid about kill himself for a medal the sise of a quarter that is worth almost that .thats bs man seriously ,I see kids in usa wrestling at least in Ohio who win freestyle and greco state and get this stupid medal that looks like something you get out of one of those quarter vending machines its a shame these jerks are making big wads of cash and spending a couple bucks on awards nothing like seeing a kids hard work rewarded with nothing .On the other hand i saw a tournament they used to have in cincy called cincy nationals it was awesome they did all three styles nice medals for each style then huge medals for top three for the combined overall best medals ever the winning medal for the combined looked like a sewer lid flava flav type stuff massive bling apeal could you imagine how a kid would feel going to school in the third or fourth grade and saying hey check out my medal and it looks like hes carrying a gold sewer lid around his neck .i know Cooper and Chamberle did the tournys they did very well there and stephen snagged three overalls ,I saw some good kids starting to come from out of state and then the tournament folded ,it would be neat for KY to have something like that maybe slow to get going but in a year or three it could be huge .a little promo a little bling its all you need.

When I commented about the concrete in the stands being dirty, I was trying to be tactful. I should have said that they were nasty. I saw a kid throw up twice all over the place. And when the custodians finally came to clean it up 45 minutes later, after they had been asked by the people sitting near the kid for cleaner and towels to clean it, all the liquid had been absored by the concrete only aftermath remained. They did not even clean it with any cleaner just removed the debris.

I also think that the limited access to the floor should definately allow trainers, coaches, teammates to run things to the wrestlers this would help the kids wrestling stay focused but not isolated. Having another access point would also allow for them to get that last hug from grandma or mom. if family is not allowed on the floor. I know that some will be moving on to collegiate settings but that number is very very small. Kentucky wrestling finals are unique and fun and to alot of kids witnissing the spectacle is one of the highlights of their wrestling careers and definately a memory maker. I just really do not care how Ohio or Indiana run theirs, nor do I voice my opinion on Their forums. It is none of my business how they do things because I do not have a dog in their fight or feel like I should intrude. Just my opinion. .

Hoosier is absolutely right. A sharing of information and ideas is never a bad idea. For the record, if you read Ohio forums, there is zero discussion on how to do things. Right now on this Ky forum there are discussions about how to set up a youth State dual tourney, 10 percent rule versus set weight classes, and this one concerning changes to the high school State tourney. Go to Ohio Yappi. Nothing like that can be found anywhere, because all of the bugs in their systems have been worked out yrs ago. It is a fool of a person that refuses an extended hand of offered help. Did it ever occur to you that wrestlers are a family, no matter what state they live in? I freely admit I'm from Ohio. My son is an Ohio state champion. He has never lost a match in Ky or to someone from Ky. Other than Austin Myers, who happens to one of his closest freinds. Does that mean we think we are better than Ky? Nope. Because they're all wrestlers. Its us against the world. Ky is a huge basketball state, and I loath basketball. Nothing would make me happier than to see Ky wrestling explode in popularity and steal some b-ball guys. So, sorry to intrude on your forum, but I do have a dog in the fight... growth of the sport. Period. Or I could take your position as say Ky teams should stop coming to Sw Ohio tourneys and stay out of our business. But I won't because I'm happy to see them over here and I have some very good freinds down there. Ky cannot grow wrestling by staying their own little island like the land before time. And as far as the spectactle before finals at State, you said it... "spectacle".

I think what my philosophy is whether it be watching a show on Daystar or checking out a wrestling site is: I usually don't agree with everything, but most generally I can glean something to improve myself or the issue at hand. I would never recommend Kentucky follow Indiana, Ohio, or any other state for that matter, but I do believe that there are attributes of all states that are good and bad. If an open minded person looked at say 3 or 4 surrounding states, combined what they perceived as the best attributes of all those states into Kentucky's program, would you not see the logic and wisdom in that. Or you could completely ignore what other states have learned from trial and error, and forge ahead blindly just because, and you would inevitably fail to utilize the knowledge at hand! " "Those that fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it"

Also, alot of us have kids that wrestle Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and Iowa so even though we only live in 1 state our dogs hunt in more than 1! You refer to a Kentucky person commenting on another states forum and how they would be closed minded, possibly, doesn't make them right or very hospitable to the sport. Isn't the ultimate goal to improve the sport and the experience for our kids. That's mine anyway.

Also, I think Kentucky is in a very good position to do something incredible with their program! Indiana and Ohio, along with alot of states are very closed minded and stuck in their old ways. Kentucky on the other hand is evolving, discussing things and seems to have some very intelligent, sincerely caring people who only want the best for the Sport of Wrestling in Kentucky.

i know its a topic for another thread but how many people have seen a kid bust his butt and parents travel a ways spend a ton of cabbage travelling going to practice then only to spend more on entering a tournament and see your kid about kill himself for a medal the size of a quarter that is worth almost that .thats bs man seriously ,I see kids in usa wrestling at least in Ohio who win freestyle and greco state and get this stupid medal that looks like something you get out of one of those quarter vending machines its a shame these jerks are making big wads of cash and spending a couple bucks on awards nothing like seeing a kids hard work rewarded with nothing .On the other hand i saw a tournament they used to have in cincy called cincy nationals it was awesome they did all three styles nice medals for each style then huge medals for top three for the combined overall best medals ever the winning medal for the combined looked like a sewer lid flava flav type stuff massive bling apeal could you imagine how a kid would feel going to school in the third or fourth grade and saying hey check out my medal and it looks like hes carrying a gold sewer lid around his neck .i know Cooper and Chamberle did the tournys they did very well there and stephen snagged three overalls ,I saw some good kids starting to come from out of state and then the tournament folded ,it would be neat for KY to have something like that maybe slow to get going but in a year or three it could be huge .a little promo a little bling its all you need.

That is a pet peeve of mine also!Also, kids go to sectionals, regionals and semi-state in Indiana (High School - IHSAA) not ISWA or USA - and get a ribbon. Are you serious. even baseball teams all over the state give out trophies. Those little cheap medals are horrible also, a plaque, a trophy or a nice big medal should be given to at least the top 3 at most all events, at least at the state level!

Also, I thought the belt series was a great idea and something outside the box that worked well.

A ribbon are you serious ,that sucks , its funny how they try to hide their cheapness with well its not tthe medal that counts remarks its insane i could imagine a box of usa state medals setting somewhere getting rusty because they could only cost about 60 cents a piece not cool when you figure you have to buy a card then pay entry fees for each style ,i know its a pet peeve as you said and i would rather have ribbons than no wrestling but man it was always sad tosee really good kids battle all day to place and get something like that ,OAC in Ohio has finalist singlets warmups and awesome brackets for its champs its neat stuff .

A ribbon? Wow, man that's crazy. As empire said, in Ohio each finalist gets a singlet, shirt, and shorts that are color coordinated for the color ankle band they wore. Green or red. And they get medals about 2.5 inches in diameter. Granted, people do complain from time to time about OACs prices. But as long as they keep spending on the kids, I'm ok with it. I do like KYs Championship rings. I think it would be cool if each State champ received a ring. That's something a guy could wear like a class ring forever. Very cool.

Yes KY has rings for the championship team and i am not sure but it would be cool for all the individual state champs to get them or get the chance to get them anyway .Parents have to pay for a portion of the rings so i am not sure how it works it would not be that big a deal ,the rings are color coordinated with each school so i do not know how it would work with each individual the school and kids design the rings i think.

1. Amp up pre finals celebration and allow re entry of balls to the stands---it did lose a bit of its electricity.

2. Finals lighting---hopefully already being addressed.

3. Love raised stage idea for finals.

4. Tarp over flooring to reduce dust on mats. Every step on flooring actually squeezed dirt through!

5. REALLY miss hotel attached to venue! Maybe an adjacent building or room in barn could be used as hospitality, resting, etc. for wrestlers and coaches. As a fan, I felt kinda stuck....maybe because I missed the hotel so much, I don't know.

6. The floor size was a blessing and a curse. Matches on far end of arena were very difficult to watch Maybe a live feed to the jumbo screen of OT, close, or marquee matchups would be cool.

7. I'm all about it being a spectacle. Wrestling is too hard to not make it special and memorable for the boys who get that far. Taking things from other states and making it our own....there's no shame in that! Who cares where the idea came from as long as its an improvement on what we are doing and it adds to the weekend!

One hundred and eighty hours logged on Pokemon on the ds this summer .i see a great year ahead .

For the record, if you read Ohio forums, there is zero discussion on how to do things. Right now on this Ky forum there are discussions about how to set up a youth State dual tourney, 10 percent rule versus set weight classes, and this one concerning changes to the high school State tourney. Go to Ohio Yappi. Nothing like that can be found anywhere, because all of the bugs in their systems have been worked out yrs ago.

I think those discussions don't occur in Ohio becuase they don't have the passion that Ky has with their state tourneys. They are not looking to make it better, only keeping what they have. I think it is awsome that there are many Ky parents, coaches, fans that want to help improve Ky wrestling and the way it is handled. Like you said every state is unique, I don't mind taking some ideas from other states but I don't want to mimic them.

Or I could take your position as say Ky teams should stop coming to Sw Ohio tourneys and stay out of our business. But I won't because I'm happy to see them over here and I have some very good freinds down there. Ky cannot grow wrestling by staying their own little island like the land before time. And as far as the spectactle before finals at State, you said it... "spectacle".

Going to Ohio, Indiana, Illinios, Missourri,Tennesee, Virginia or West Verginia (KY borders 7 states only Tenn has more with 8) to wrestle is not the issue. Leaving the state and wretling only makes every team better no matter where they go. You see different competiton and different techniques. I think some teams however don't spend enough time in their own state and don't see their in state competition. As for the "Spectacle" we hillbillies in Ky like the spectacle and if we like it what does it matter if another state does not?

i really like the idea of parents being able to situp close and personal, i feel like that definitely would mean not only a lot to the parents but also the wrestlers to be able to have their biggest fans right there. And as a kid i saw the KY state tournament and all the antics before and it definitely made you feel the intensity, a definite boost to the state finals and a KY touch. raised finals would be awesome and the dirt definitely got in your lungs while wrestling it was one of my biggest complaiints about the state tournament.

Well once again I'm torn I liked the pre finals stuff the little kids liked it and They are most important to me . Ohio has had its debates I'm sure about their state tourny but it is settled in where it's at an has less issues dUe to thte fact it is stationary .

The passion for a state tournament comes from its kids I would never claim any state is more passionate bulldog pick your arguments I understand you defending tradition and I like the ball silly string crazy stuff Ohio I very passionate about sits wrestling if it were not it would not be considered one of the top two or three wrestling states in the nation , it's a different world there it's very deep in talent and produces legends in the sport every year , Taylor ,Steiber ,Palmer ,Steiber , Palmer ,Jordan,Heil ,walz ,Schafer ,Thomuseitt ,a great kid like Tomasello ,

Fahy learned the sport there as did my own boys only mine came up with the state their goal it is the definition of passion regardless of wether you disagree with statements Ohioans make , I would not doubt their passion as they should not doubt KYs it's a sport not an area there could be a kid in alaska that is more passionate than any in history about wrestling .

Let everyone learn from others the ky state tourny was fine I liked it it even had things I woul consider better than other states the setting was far more appealing than OHIOs or indianas my boys have wrestled in both I woul rather look at a beautiful horse park than a dirty smelly city filled with all that comes with a city any day I think a kid can focus better in a more serene setting ,

Those crooked northern Ohioans are quite possibly the most concentrated group of passionate wrestling fans on the planet that why they are good ,not as good as the little group in urbana but very good lol

Going to Ohio, Indiana, Illinios, Missourri,Tennesee, Virginia or West Verginia (KY borders 7 states only Tenn has more with 8) to wrestle is not the issue. Leaving the state and wretling only makes every team better no matter where they go. You see different competiton and different techniques. I think some teams however don't spend enough time in their own state and don't see their in state competition. As for the "Spectacle" we hillbillies in Ky like the spectacle and if we like it what does it matter if another state does not?

If you read my post, you should be able to see that I'm in full support of teams traveling to other states. I was pointing out that if Mamaswatching thought us outsiders should not intrude with our ideas, how would she feel if others thought Ky wrestlers can stay in Ky? I'm all for open discussion and seeing different competition. And truthfully, if you hillbillies (your word) like the spectactle more power to you. I thought this thread was about asking ideas to improve the State tourney? You want to give your high schoolers a recess so you can all act like kinny gardners, go ahead. But to say Ohio and others aren't as passionate about their tourney? Well, I've never seen anything like that at any high level event. National events, world series, superbowl, ect.... as someone pointed out, while the best Ky has to offer are wrestling, a lot of the other wrestlers are in play mode still. I don't know. Have all the fun you want, it was only my suggestion. I'm going to agree to disagree. Ky is on the upswing, and a lot of the old ways will have go and be restructured as the sport grows.

Come on Stalling the recess is a Ky tradition "When in Rome "if you could see the fun all the kids have duiring the big blow out you would probably change your attitude and as you know i was made the butt of jokes because some a holes thought it was funny i was getting bombarded by crap but my son laughed so i did as well and i know you were only quoting someone else but if the hillbilly capital of the world is not lower east side cincy then it is without question ........Portsmouth .....or is that redneck ....and i bet you have been through there so you know its true....lmao.

Preusse invited the Kentucky wrestlers to come to Ohio and finish what Robert E Lee started up at Iron Man ,I think number 28 will do just that before he is done.Preusse runs the best ,

well toughest tournament in the country many complain about it and it is no where near as classy as the Ohio state tournament or many others but it is the best so everyone talking about tournys should consider that ,its cramped small basically miserable but has that certain quality that makes none of it matter its tough ass wrestling that keeps everyone on the edge of their seat no jumbo trons no raised floors nothing at all to fancy ,

14 classes full of tough kids all training hard for a whole year or their whole life for one title thats what makes a good tournament .

I have seen strange duals and tournaments that seemed oddly unattended ,Moeller Graham Masillon Perry tri ,looked like a ghost town in the stands and here i was thinking holy #$*& this is Graham i think they were national champs at the time Masillon who was very impressive and Moeller the powerhouse in southern Ohio wrestling ,and no hooplah no wild crowd ...no passion so it happens even in Ohio .i thought it was awesome wrestling ,Stephen got to wrestle a Graham kid whom he pinned or teched i dont remember and he wrestled his friend Mitch Newhouse an Ohio state D1 champ now whom he beat in a less than great match .some kids just really do not want to wrestle each other i know its the sport but it was one of those i think not because they were afraid of each other they were actually friends who talked about the sport when around each other .

Either way ,If CC Union and Trinity had a tri i bet the intensity in the room would be waaaaay more intense ,Or CC RYLE and SK ,personally i want to see CC LArue and woodford but thats just me LMFAO...im just kidding i think i met larues coach he was a good guy and i forgave that woodford mom for cusssing me out at state long ago .

I think Ryle CC and SK should have a tournament against Moeller gcl champs ,Reading CHL champs and Oak hills because some F&^% B@#$$ from there

got me kicked out of Swowca because my son smashed hers and her girlfriend from moe didnt like me because the moelerites were mad Steph leftem and they couldnt beatem

and i would like to see her crying after i found out whose kid was hers and had one of my boys enter his class and belly to belly him driving his head into the matt so hard he would have to eat out his A$$ for the rest of his life ,except my boys wouldnt do anything like that i would have to ask Kevin Cooper to do it ,he understands how the world works my boys do not yet .

I also would like to see Thornberry and or Freahauf beat the crap out of Austin as some of those Ohio A holes claimed they did because no one in the country has done that since he was in the sixth grade and none ever will again ,He on the other hand may do just that to them ,hes younger stronger and has done more in the sport than either or both of them or anyone in their city ever has or may ever do ,A freshman state and national champ and ow winner who had the best ever jr high and freshman record in the

city EVER without question ,Not Ward not Gresham not Thornberry not Freuhauf and no not even willie yes i said willie

Reading should be there just to get to be a part of it rednecks or not they are chl champs for ever and reading is like sparta a tiny town where everyone has to do sports like spartans had to be warriors .

those wimps at SWOWCA dropped CC down on their list and we know who controls that tourny they are scared just being honest everyone knows what im talking about ,thats not being passionate thats being the dirty little we are great everyone else is beneath us and if we cant beatem all we will keep em out wannabees they really are .screw them and

their washed up hopes of a national team because their parents couldnt have their kids outdone by real freakin studs who are going to beat em all again any way

Wasn't implying anything bad towards you stalling I know you know the score I just

just get carried away about my boys and a getting trashed on by deuchebags and I'm sorry a private school with kids from all over the area entering a community division in a national tournament is bit really fair and does not show passion it shows they want to look good above all eds enters the all star div because they do want to go against the best .

I mean community by definition explains itself how many communities do the kids in Moeller come from ??

To clarify I am open minded enough to thank Mpire for his input on this thread. He understood what I was trying to convey, that no one likes to be called names and made to feel inferior by anyone. All I was trying to say is that I do not go onto other states sites and bash their tourny or call others names its kinda like voting I can not vote for the govenor of Indiana or Ohio so what good would it be for me to voice my opinion. A forum is for discussion but it does not need to be a mud slinging site. Open minded people will understand contructive suggestions but ask any one that is involved in Kentucky Wrestling or has a kid involved in it please do not talk down to us. We are not " kinny gardners" we are people that live in Kentucky and love our Kentucky wrestling. Thank you for your interest but lets follow the Golden Rule from now on Okay. And I am not trying to be smart or uppity, only offering an olive branch LOL

I know Stalling is a very good person he is proud of his state and loves the sport and he is only trying to help and I also understand your stance on the subject and knowing stalling meant no harm and seeing you were only being defensive I tried to show their was no harm in eithers post , nice of you to be open minded as well . I apologise for always rambling on and telling stories I'm sure I seem arrogant or whatever to many I am a bit when it comes to my kids I'm just an old guy living through them I guess lol and I never understood the harm in it only the harm in those who always seemed to attack people for doing it .

I also know my comments about personal issues with teams or past incidents probably confuse many people I just use what I have at hand to retaliate and often get clarified away at times . And no I do not get hammered at night and ramble on lol i do try to see others points of view and compromise if possible if not and they are so sneaky deceitful and openly hateful then screw em , and many people have been towards me and mine in this sport for no other reason than they are simply snobby wannabe arrogant jerks who do not like being out done . I hate seeing good people get suckered in to changing their own good way of honest thinking by being manipulated because the powers that be are sometimes crooked . Just because the most popular or largest groups take a stance on someone or something does not make it right proper Or even remotely good at times . Sometimes the evil in the world can be the man in the mirror if you do not watch it you become a part of it without knowing .stay open minded and true to yourself and sometimes your instincts , people know right from wrong ,period .

Ky I'm sure is grateful for any help and I'm sure most are only trying to help but at the same Time I'm sure it becomes easy to become condescending towards others and that's what people who are maybe on the defensive a bit quick are looking out for .

It's all good , sometimes the anarchists are really the righteous going against unfair powers that be , revolutionists and Rebels lol so yes cross the river and finish what Robert E Lee Started . Like Stonewall give it your all and if you go down go down fighting after losing a limb or two , that's passion .What a hero ,so many wins against the enemy after sacrificing more than anyone and in the end no one can take credit for your defeat because your own side took you out simply going till you had nothing left.

Sometimes the winners the powers that be who write the history books cannot diminish the greatest heroes the ones who are strapped to their horse after losing an arm and a leg and still keep fighting because of their belief that they are right you cannot hide or diminish some peoples acts of bravery against the odds and the masses their VALOR is to great .

All those jerks up North who took shots at a stonewall who went down this summer for doing what he loves and believes in despite his disadvantages at the time simply because he has beaten them for so long have no understanding of honor or words like Valor and do not recognise their own heroes ,i will enjoy seeing rebels cross the river and finish what was started there is a rebel coming no one can shoot down no egomaniacal sycophant brainwashed masses can stop and who is going to defeat all your Northern heroes and already has and you may have shot stonewall down but i got news for you you didnt finish him he has a few shots left LOL.

Wow; Two Robert E Lee references. You better explain that one, it could be taken in a very serious bad way.

As for the discussion; I've been involved for over 25 years and wrestled for 4 years in Ky and have seen great improvements in facilities and wrestling in KY.

Up untill about 1990 the state tourney was being held at a high school gym (that did not have a wrestling team). Moved to Frankfort, the capital and bigger arena, Now to an even bigger arena. We went from about 50 schools with wresting in Ky to about 90-100 today.

There was no middle school toutnament until 2000 and no middle school coaches assosiation until 2003. The 1st Youth state tourney was about 2004.

All of this was because of people getting together and finding new ways of doing things. Yes we borrowed, used and stole ideas from other places, but we also have put a Ky spin on things.

We Kentucky wrestlers have been looked down on by big brother Ohio for years, so we may have knee jerk reactions to those outside of Ky who critisize us. And MPire Moe has been doing those type of things for years. When we won a Tourney in Ohio my Jr. year at CC and beat Moe and others. We were not asked back, we were told by the hosting school that if we returned then Moe and others would not attend. Even this year at the GMV when Ky (SK, Ryle, and CC) was winning several light wt. classes the crowd was getting hostel against Ky wrestlers calling names and such.

Robert E Lee LOL ,a person plucked from history by an Ohio promoter to challenge KY wrestlers to enter his tourny ,A gesture some would look at as hostile but i think he meant come and get it if your not scared LOL i actually like his way of thinking so and i like history so i am stuck on using it .

surprised CC is not in Swowca hard to believe they were dropped down on the list rather than asked to enter this coming year hmmmm very fishy turn down the state champs yet still claim to be trying to have a tough tournament ,they have to protect their image and that of their stars.

I like the cavalry and was going to say Nathan Bedford Forest i liked his lightning quick and sneaky raids but he is to shady a figure in history and i didnt want his other less than notable exploits brought into the conversation.Stonewall is a much better analogy anyway.

I saw some good matchups at Lakota i know it ticked the ohio guys off losing to ky kids but i didnt hear them booing but it was a smaller venue,

No big deal my kid got booed very bad at a small tournament this year for beating a Ky placer from last yr because he came from Ohio it happens i like to think of it as applause if your side is cheering and theirs is booing its all cheers LOL I was happy that by the state tournament i think peoples opinions had changed a little you overcome you struggle and eventually you gain support because of your efforts.I doubt any Ohio fans will ever cheer for an outsider beating any of their kids though and i suspect no Ky fans would cheer outsiders beating their athletes .

Mpire,

I enjoy watching your boys wrestle regardless what state or school they are in. Your sons are great athletes and good people and will be successful anywhere. You seem to have negative feelings toward Moeller and other Ohio highschools. There are many great schools to attend in the Cincinnati/Dayton area (Reading, Colerain, Springboro, Elder, Lasalle, Sycamore, Taylor,Fenwick, Carroll) just to name a few. How did your boys end up at Moeller for only a short time, from what we all saw at the state tourny your boys seem to get along great with fellow teammates? Many people like to compare Moeller and Trinity because both schools get a lot of transfers and students from other communities.

A lot of discussion about Kentucky teams wrestling Ohio teams. The more teams that go into Ohio for mat time he better Kentucky gets. How many teams are scheduled to travel to Ohio this year for matches? I would assume CC, Ryle, SK are going to places like the GMVWA or SWOWCA, anyone else invited?

I have no real negative feelings towards any High school, far from it i loved the kids and a lot of people at Moeller its a great school

I liked most of the kids at all the schools and teams my kids wrestled for ,.i openly tried to help many and many parents simply turned their nose at me knowing being on the mat with my kids would help theirs anyway , as cocky as it sounds it is true .

I Am a kid at heart if you asked the majority of my kids teammates on any of their teams you would find that I liked them all and most liked me as well I hope ,my sons wrestled for Moeller of and on for many years and youth jr high as everyone knows are shady times at best I looked after my kids best interest at all times and tried to hold to my principals I'm not the type to go with the flow and not make waves when thing are obviously not kosher .

I did not take my sons out of Moeller , I had issues with slacking in the room by the sr group whom the staff wanted my boy/ boy to emulate I have to many bad stories about wrestling to go over my kids my wife and myself have all been ran down by people from there but I hate no school just ignorant envious people .

Hey did I tell you Austin was an undefeated freshman state and national champ who brought an OW back to ky from nationals .

And did I tell you some guy up in northern Ohio ranked him 28 in sophomore class lmao , you starting to get the picture the biggest freshman state champ ever in his state 28 whateeever .

It will not matter if he wins state 4 times or only one more he is top dog right now and no crybaby at moe up north or anywhere can rain on his parade .

with the added room a raised platform would be a nice touch....

To clarify I am open minded enough to thank Mpire for his input on this thread. He understood what I was trying to convey, that no one likes to be called names and made to feel inferior by anyone. All I was trying to say is that I do not go onto other states sites and bash their tourny or call others names its kinda like voting I can not vote for the govenor of Indiana or Ohio so what good would it be for me to voice my opinion. A forum is for discussion but it does not need to be a mud slinging site. Open minded people will understand contructive suggestions but ask any one that is involved in Kentucky Wrestling or has a kid involved in it please do not talk down to us. We are not " kinny gardners" we are people that live in Kentucky and love our Kentucky wrestling. Thank you for your interest but lets follow the Golden Rule from now on Okay. And I am not trying to be smart or uppity, only offering an olive branch LOL

I understood completely what you were saying. In no uncertain terms said that if you're not from Ky, then you don't have any business on this site. And that's not the first time you've told me that. For the record, there are many posters on Ohio Yappi that are from Ky. Why? Because a lot of Ky teams come up to Ohio for the competition. You can't have your cake and eat it too. And for the record, my entire family lives in Ky except for me. My grandfather and father were coalminers in Harlan County, and I have family from there to Florence. And by the way, Ohio had to boot two Ky youth wrestlers last yr that tried to sign up for the Ohio State tourney. Apperently you aren't aware as to just how entwined Ky and Ohio wrestling really is. Ever hear of SWOCA? Southwest OHIO coaches classic? Ky teams wresle in it. So, forgive me for intruding (your word). If Ky comes to my house, I'm coming to yours. As far as the "kinny gardners" remark, I guess its ok to say Ohio has a stick up their butt, and we're not passionate about our State tourney. Whatever. Ill accept your "olive branch", but please don't try to reprimand me like I'm a child. I never insulted anyone until I was insulted.

^{man i wish i had a nickel for every decendent of a coalminer,i mean seriously its the rage and every hillbilly sympathiser comes from Hazard sp or Harlan its insane i have relatives from Harlan and have some who lived in Hazzard ,Hazard had a tv show maybe Harlan needs one or is that Justified ....My familys from Corbin they need some love as well Pikeville is wild how about Jelicho .}

^{Cmon Stalling tell us the truth your dad and grandfather were Bartenders from Portsmouth ,which does qualify you as a redneck hillbilly decendant but not a coalminers decendent ,while both are dark and gloomy places there is a difference ,LMAO}

Mpire, my Dad wasn't a bartender. No he did drink enough PBR to open his own establishment lol. No, him and his Father and brother moved up here from Harlan in '56. They grew up in Brookside I believe. And I know your from Corbin... and please man... they invented they word "hillbilly" lol I still got nothin but love for ya man. Good luck in the tourney tomorrow. Jr can't go, he was tlbs over today at noon. But we would have loved to come.

That's cool it's fat time of the season and that's not my horrible spelling or typing no biggie yeah when I was little all my relatives in Nky let me know was a hillbilly redneck red hound and tey were not even from Ohio and all my relatives in Corbin called all my relatives in Nky buckeyes it seemed that if you were from Nky you were not from ky but from Ohio it was always strange to me because in Ohio if you were from Nky you were still a hillbilly lol who knows , I guess Nky was really the border state , just being silly anyway it's fat time of the season and I get bored . Tell jr to keep hitting it watch the low single hes got one move to stop to win his spot sprawl good hand position learn witch side it's hit from and circle away from it , I have seen it for years one good move is all some people have but years ifs till defend everything. You have the advantage they won't watch you a close as you will them because the ego of their age will makem overconfident so will the numbers in their clique history is a great thing someone always uses numbers to pull of an upset and it's not the superior numbers but the outgunned guys who always pull of the exciting win ,

You need a great escape like Von Manstein and then a great offensive move something they will not expect and have not seen or a total Chang of attitude that will throw them off balance come out and head butt em right in the mouth after bein so very polite , a move I have heard their own coaches teach lol

Freedom hall or broadbent! Indiana has theirs at Conseco Fieldhouse and that place is packed! Magical feeling and the parade of champions before the finals is something to see. Should be a magical moment for the kids who made it there! They deserve that!

The KHSAA has said Freedom Hall was too expensive and too big to rent for that weekend. At least that's what I've been told by Julian Tackett.

As far as Broadbent ... parents would have the same issue in that they wouldn't be allowed on the floor like at the Civic Center. Broadbent's bleachers, much like the Horse Park, are raised off the floor.

A ribbon? Wow, man that's crazy. As empire said, in Ohio each finalist gets a singlet, shirt, and shorts that are color coordinated for the color ankle band they wore. Green or red.

As a media member, this would make covering the finals so much easier.

Something I'd like to see changed as a fan and media member -- the flooring. The second I walked into the arena, the dust and everything in the air got to me. I barely could stand to be there because of it. The holey flooring they used last year wasn't very good. Hopefully they're going to fix that next year.

Mr Claywell ,Stalling is referring to OAC Jr High state when he is talking about the color coordinated warmups and singlets ,The OAC goes all out for its finalists awesome framed giant Brackets for winners warmups and singlets for finalists very classy parade of champions for all finalists ,Hats off to them the other organisation Ourway in Ohio does a nice job and has awesome Eagle trophies for all its finalists and singlets as well but they dont have the respect that OAC has earned and usually is considered a bit weaker than OAC ,but both are neat and help the sport in Ohio quite possibly a reason they are such a prominent wrestling state ,that and the close proximity all the Northern Ohio studs have to all the Pennsylvania studs

I dont think Highschools would appreciate their logos not being shown at a finals match it would defeat the purpose of a school sport could you imagine two state finalist teams in football not wearing their school colors ........wouldnt seem right .

I know, but I just think that's a neat idea. No way the KHSAA adopts it.

The kids really like it and in Ohio the OAC is not offiliated with the organisation that runs the jr high teams duiring the season so there is not really any way a school team can get ticked about the singlets .In Ky its a school organisation and i know you know i just thought i would explain why it works in ky i do know the High School finalists in Ohio have stated i wish we could get singlets like the Jr High kids.

It Could be done the Kids would love it ,Personally i would think it would be cool to give a championship singlet to the school they could put the school name on it and the kids name and class hang it on the wrestling room wall ,thats just stuff i think is awesome and i know it gives youth and other kids something to shoot for .

Its really not that hard to make a sport more attractive to athletes and even fans ,just give it the respect it deserves and add some flash for the kids.

Nice role models and studs also seem to go a long way in earning the sport some respect .

I also agree you shouldn't try to totally copy another states tournament take some stuff that might work for you throw the rest away ,and always keep the pre final stuff the kids love it .

Another thing i have seen at OSU duiring their dual one year against Michigan the Ourway regionals were right next to the OSU MICH duals and duiring a break They let some kids do an exhibition match it was awesome .Could you imagine some grade schoolers or jr high kids getting to wrestle an exhibition match duiring the state championship ,

It would be awesome ,Maybe some little guys say 9 and under the first day and some older kids the next day ,it would be neat .

The KHSAA has said Freedom Hall was too expensive and too big to rent for that weekend. At least that's what I've been told by Julian Tackett.

As far as Broadbent ... parents would have the same issue in that they wouldn't be allowed on the floor like at the Civic Center. Broadbent's bleachers, much like the Horse Park, are raised off the floor.

As a media member, this would make covering the finals so much easier.

Something I'd like to see changed as a fan and media member -- the flooring. The second I walked into the arena, the dust and everything in the air got to me. I barely could stand to be there because of it. The holey flooring they used last year wasn't very good. Hopefully they're going to fix that next year.

I know what your saying but someone told me the other day that unless ALL the filters are changed and the ventalation ducts are cleaned AFTER a non-holy flooring has been installed before the mats are put down it will not matter. Once it is in the system the dust just gets redistributed. This came from someone that deals with breathing problems on a daily basis. They were shocked that more people did not complain.

I like Horse park as a wrestler. The dirt was the only thing that really bothered me, outside of that it was a great experience. Wish State would have went a little better for me though lol

I guess that answers the main question .Did the wrestlers like it !

I thought Frankfort was a better state tournament a lot more intense

I thought All Tech was Waaay more intense, interesting ,exciting and had everyone on the edge of their seat of course i wasnt at Franfort but im telling you All Tech was better and next year will be even better than this year .pin to win baby i like it that would be an awesome user name ,Tenpin

Perhaps someday we will be popular enough to fill All Tech to create that atmosphere we had in Frankfort. If we are voting, Frankfort for sure gets mine.

The dungeon was too small. All Tech needs to be tweaked in some areas, but they main points were right on. It was big enough that we could find seating, but large enough to watch multiple matches .

If the state tourney was still a 3 day affair then All tech would be to big. The Dungeon did not have enough room for mats, but I thought it was large enough for fans. All Tech still had many seats open during the tourney.

the dungeon had just enough room for fans. there were still sections open for spectators. i do think that the increase to 6 mats is really very nice. But it was just something about the Dungeon that made ya fall in love with it

I thought All Tech was Waaay more intense, interesting ,exciting and had everyone on the edge of their seat of course i wasnt at Franfort but im telling you All Tech was better and next year will be even better than this year .pin to win baby i like it that would be an awesome user name ,Tenpin

Not ragging on you or anything, but: How can you say Altech Arena is better when you never experienced State in Frankfort?

Its Humor ,Most big tournments usually have plenty of empty seats in the big arenas If Alltech is bigger and has more mats then it is probably ran smoother and with less possibilities of foul ups The cramped quarters of some tournaments are fun and have a different atmosphere but a state tournament is probably better off in a large nice facility .3 days would be a drag and Lexington is pretty much dead center of the state .

Actually, somewhere in Marion County is the geographic center of the state.

I'm stlll not sold on the idea of State being at the new arena, but it'll grow on me. I just miss the amazing atmosphere that was Frankfort. Things were just a little too quiet for my tastes last year in Lexington.

That happens when JAWS are DROPPED LMAO

Someone told me the gym in Frankfort only held three mats if that was the case lets be honest All Tech is hands down a better facility a state tournament should be in a place deserving of what it represents to a state and the sport and first and foremost in being respectable would be sise ,having only three mats kind of says it all and none of it is good.

no frankfort had 4 and at all tech we didnt get back to our hotel the last day until almost 1, the hotel at frankfort was awesome. It was right next door, could fit pretty much every team in it and you could simply walk back after your part of the day was pver and or had a long break and needed to rest. With the all tech the closest hotel is i think 12 minutes away and in order to go back to the hotel we needed a coach to go with us. I just found that the Dungeon was an overall better lpace to have the state tournament. At least from a wrestlers perspective

I guess 4 mats is better than three but still an embarrassment when dealing with a STATE tournament .Logistically as far as hotels perhaps it was quicker and perhaps some kids feel more comfortable in a small wrestling facility but hey its the STATE tournament step up to the big time its supposed to be larger than life larger than the average tournament "and most i have seen can hold at least six or eight mats "

12 whole minutes WOW

Not so much the time, but the convenience. In Frankfort the hotel was essentially "attached" to the facility. Wrestlers were not stuck at the arena; they had the flexibility to go back to their room and rest or manage weight or eat or whatever. Same for fans. It was an easy walk when you needed a break. In time i believe they will work out the issues at the horse park and it will be better, but will never beat that convenience factor.

I guess 4 mats is better than three but still an embarrassment when dealing with a STATE tournament .Logistically as far as hotels perhaps it was quicker and perhaps some kids feel more comfortable in a small wrestling facility but hey its the STATE tournament step up to the big time its supposed to be larger than life larger than the average tournament "and most i have seen can hold at least six or eight mats "

12 whole minutes WOW

You really aren't understanding where folks are coming from on this. Twelve minutes may not seem like a big deal to you, but that 12 minutes spent on the road is time kids could be spending resting in their rooms or doing whatever instead of being on the road.

And if I were a wrestling parent, no way would I be doing that much driving during the state tournament with gas the way it is these days.

I understand the convenience factor Im sure it makes it easier ,I have taken my kids all across the country to wrestle and sometimes the way it was set up it was very convenient and others it was a nightmare.

I do understand but the argument to have a legit facility that can hold everything and appear modern when the state starts getting the coverage it deserves "like on Flo "or even matches on this very site and be ran smoothly is probably a better argument for all tech than for a much less worthy facility even with easier accomodations .

suffer and win its not always the easiest way that is the best i saw kids crashed out on mattresses and they looked fine ,i really do not think they cared as much as people are letting on they probably enjoyed a more modern larger facility the awe factor had to make it a bit better than a smaller arena or gym.

disagree ^ being a wrestler....

I guess i shouldnt be commenting since i did not see last years event ,but i have never never never been to a tournament that had any decent amount of respect that could only hold 4 mats ,not saying anything bad just saying .

Kids used to get hurt all the time over the years it was at Frankfort simply because it was so cramped. They would run into railings, stairs, score tables, other mats... People had to walk on the corners of the mats to get to their seat most of the time. Come on peeps....

The dungeon is outdated and outgrown.

The intensity of the dungeon can not and will not be able to be matched by the all tech center. I do however think that the All tech was a good advancement in space because honestly the Dungeon was a little cramped on the lower level i think that seating was fine however. The All Tech needs to have a spot light for the finals (heck maybe even a stage), allow for beach balls and all forms of balls to be thrown back up into the stands, keep the party alive. I fell in love with the State tournament my freshman year do to all the antics that are performed during the finals and worked my butt of to get there. If we want the sport of wrestling to grow the young have to be inspired and the All tech did not impress me this year intensity wise and thats what young wrestlers want. intensity

Don't you think the young wrestlers would be more impressed and want to wrestle on a bigger stage that appeared to be a bigger stage and is rather than go to a state tournament and it remind them of a small middle scchool gym with people running into each other .I thought the celebration was more than adequate for the young kids to cut loose as i said i did not see it before but i have not seen anything like it elsewhere so it seemed ok to me as far as something a little extra .Perhaps you hold its old location dear because of your memories and not what is best for the sport and its athletes .Having a state tournament in an Arena smaller than the regional tournaments is a bit ridiculous no matter what the history involved .

As a fan who has been to a lot of tournaments in numerous states i liked AllTech it was very roomy not greatly comfortable but ok there was a lot of extra room for vendors fans and whatever else and it was the type of place a wrestler could get in the zone without a bunch of distractions it was a great setting a place you would expect KY to have its state tournament ,I did not notice the dirt but i was not on the floor .

Yes a spotlight would be nice and a raised floor for Finals would be awesome and those are the types of things that would look out of place in a little gym .

I understand the intensity thing a little bit but its just smoke and mirrors that comes from cramped quarters its not real and i think the adrenaline rush a kid would get from wrestling in a much bigger arena would be better than that closed quarters feeling and all the distractions that come with it ,in a big arena no one will be looking five feet away at half your teammates or opponents or some kid blowing his nose you will be focused on what is in front of you .

The Dungeon was way bigger than any regional gym.... It wasnt as small as you think.

10,000 square feet

• 5,000+ seat arena

• Nearly 17,000 square feet of total exhibit space

• 189 unit Capital Plaza Hotel & Conference Center

• Fountain Place Shoppes

• Frankfort YMCA

• Kentucky River View Park

• 2,000 parking spaces

• Pedestrian walkway to Historic Downtown Frankfort

And who wants to be wrestling in an arena where the dirt is constantly an issue, i am allergic to dust and it was actually a little more irritating than you would think. I do however realize that this is where the state tournament is going to be held, at least for this year and im not complaining because it is a very nice facility i just think that the dungeon had something that no other gym i have been too has... But improvements would be nice; more staircases, cover up the floor better, lighting, a stage possibly?? any news on that?? I know we werent allowed last year but any talk of getting one? we also need some cheaper food, it was crazy how expensive the concessions were.

I really like the warm up area however MUCH better than the convention center. 6 mats running was also a good bonus but i still think it should be a 3 day event instead of only 2. I dont like having the wrestling going so late into the night, not good for last minute weight cutting.

Dirt issue can be addressed easily with tarps or plastic before laying down the perforated floor. Im guessing those who have issue with the dust never played any outdoor sports (baseball, football). The new location has some kinks that need addressed for sure. I think its going to be a great venue for years to come. Kentucky wrestling is growing and progressing. Frankfort was nice for a time and the memories that go with it. It's time to move on to bigger and better things.

I really like the warm up area however MUCH better than the convention center. 6 mats running was also a good bonus but i still think it should be a 3 day event instead of only 2. I dont like having the wrestling going so late into the night, not good for last minute weight cutting.

And we're back to what I believe was really the driving force behind the move to Lexington. The KHSAA doesn't want wrestlers -- and those students who attend the tournament -- to miss more school than they have to. Hence, the shortened tourney.

I'd like to see the 6 mats being used during the semifinals with two mats of semifinals and the other 4 being wrestle backs. That would cut down the time of being at the arena until 10pm.

As I said I did not go so there is no way I could know the specifics of the other tournaments all I k SW was everyone said it was crowded and only had 3/4 mats and that doesn't sound like a state tournament to me , to bad about being allergic to dust SARS Mersa ringworm mat herpes and all that other funk Are usually the fear of most wrestlers and more mats probably cuts down on that "I don't know I'm just fishing " I actually liked All tech coming for

Another state after seeing a lot of sate tournys I was pleased and happy for the state no one can down that facility it is something to be proud of I didn't see any dust storms my own sons didn't complain , they won jr high state in a horse arena up in oh and it was waaaaaayyyy dirtier and much more beat down and we loved it but it's memories that make some things better than they are we just never complained it cared they would wrestle outside but I'm sure they expect HS state to live up to their and everyone's expectations and All Tech for the most part was flawless maybe not as convenient and maybe a little dust but we liked it and had my own sons not been in the tourny and perhaps we had only been spectators I would still compliment the arena ,

When going to a tournament you go to wrestle and expect to do that in a proper setting if one of my kids said gosh we have to go 12 minutes away Or shucks there isn't a McDs close by or one of em said ooooohhh this place is dusty one or all of us would say quit being a pussy and making excuse are you a wrestler or a ballerina .now if your allergic that's one thing or if the mats are slick or dirt interferes with performance That's not good but I have seen worse places ,

Just saying I was impressed with it it was classy ,

Doesn't matter one way I the other just trying to be positive and help they could wrestle in the middle of a Metallica concert or in pig pen it doesn't matter Champions adapt and overcome to surroundings settings and any obstacle , hell yeah that's what wrestling is about .

Mpire: your confusing me. Your talking in circles. In one sentance your saying the arena should be of championship quality then in the next you say it could be done in a pig pen. Dang dude it's like you have a second personality showing up. (Just bustin your chops).

Seriously. Both arena's have their positives and negatives, both for wrestlers and spectators. The convenience of the hotel room near by was great for those wrestlers that had no way to travel but with the team, but the 6+ mats that can be used at the Horse Park and making it a 2 day tourney is great. I would like to see them use the time more efficiently, and not have to wrestle till midnight either night. (But it was the 1st year and they will experiment with the scedule) They had to do the same thing at the Dungeon.

Give it some time the arena will develope it's own personality and excitement. It won't be the same as the Dongeon but it can still be a great experience. Just give it time.

I know what your saying but someone told me the other day that unless ALL the filters are changed and the ventalation ducts are cleaned AFTER a non-holy flooring has been installed before the mats are put down it will not matter. Once it is in the system the dust just gets redistributed. This came from someone that deals with breathing problems on a daily basis. They were shocked that more people did not complain.

There is a differnce in OUTDOOR sports like baseball and footbal there is some grass. They typically are not played on surfaces that animals have defecated on and the dirt is stirred up and recirculated in the air.

Dirt issue can be addressed easily with tarps or plastic before laying down the perforated floor. Im guessing those who have issue with the dust never played any outdoor sports (baseball, football). The new location has some kinks that need addressed for sure. I think its going to be a great venue for years to come. Kentucky wrestling is growing and progressing. Frankfort was nice for a time and the memories that go with it. It's time to move on to bigger and better things.

good idea about sealing in the dirt with tarps. Need to lower the lights pre-finals to allow for the little guys to have glo-stick they really complained last year.

Mommaswatching...I guess you were never a proponant of the ol saying "rub some dirt on it"? How about at the gates they hand out paper dust masks for those with alergies. I'm just kiddin:) I just dont think any of the negatives mentioned are a huge problem and I believe those in charge will work through these issues.

I know i feel like Elmer Fud i get tricked into saying opposite stuff this is all so confusing LMAO ,just passing time but i already said i never saw the tournament in Frankfort just going from what i was told and what i saw .

AllTech was awesome i got to see some very good wrestling there and it felt like it was the right setting and the right surroundings and as for intensity on our side it was there not sure what everyone else felt you create your own intensity you cannot rely on a crowd or surroundings for yourself to get fired up its something that you learn to do or want it doesnt matter if a kid is cutting up in the stands laughing or setting calmly by themselves meditating on what they have to do it matters what goes on in your head when you walk on the mat and its go time.

I noticed a lot of people asking if my boys were ready at state because they seemed so calm and not high strung its just the way you become after years of competing it takes a lot to shake you up if it can even be done you show up you wrestle your best and what happens happens all the window dressing doesn't really matter i understand atmosphere but as a wrestler you shouldnt worry about such things its The State tournament it should have the same atmosphere every year no matter where it is .As for me /us i will always remember seeing both my boys win High School State titles together along with their team winning the Team title makes AllTech the all time best Arena ever .Ridemout doesnt those rings make it your favorite and as of this moment you should have it in your mind that AllTech is the absolute best place in the world for a tournament because its where you will have your last and only chance to win that state title it will be the place your last memories of trying to get that High School title take place win or lose make it the Meccah of wrestling the place where the world learns you are a state champ there is no former state tournament that matters and there never will be again .BE POSITIVE or whine about dust 12, minute trips,no spotlights,and whatever else that comes to mind,me i will remeber it differently its the place where i learned KY had studs to match anywhere else and the place where my sons stepped up did their best and earned their spot amongst the best again,never forget that place and i suppose there are plenty who have the same memories in the former site it doesnt matter where they have it its the wrestling that counts .

Now i say they have some exhibition matches there between some youth wrestlers a couple on day 1 and a couple on day 2 that will get the youth kids involved maybe let each region pick a couple of kids from it to wrestle that would be awesome and start to give all Tech that place that kids start to respect and shoot to get to every year .

And i want to see a Caatan and Austin Rematch that was the best match i have seen in KY

Mpire, you can find old matches in the dungeon on youtube. I've watched a couple of older finals matches there.

yea you will understand what i meant as the intensity its just different. Of course i love the All Tech, who doesnt love their first finals match? And then to hopefully win their first state title there it will always be a great place to me

Remembering the place and remembering the wrestling are two totally different things.

I will always hate the place I had to wrestle my state tourneys. We wrestled at Atherton High school all four years. Not a great place to wrestle a state tourney.

However I still saw some of the best matches I have ever seen their in the 80's and 90s.

what do you lok under on You tube it will be cool to see the matches

i think the brock and yenter state finals match his freshman and garths sophmore year is on there

What is the most State titles any region has ever won I can see 6 with a very good shot at 7 maybe even 8 if most everyone goes as predicted with a couple big shifts,45-82 would all have favorites or top three and i see a win possible at 195 or 220 actually both because Thompson will go where Austin is not and either can make either weight and a very big Darkhorse to most but not any shock to me Hvy win thats half the classes .of course thats a guess and a couple big iffs ,a pretty good shot at a light weight champ as well just dont know what weight 120 -138 .wherever Brock and Jayce are not .5 would be a safe guess but more are very possible and likely .

After looking at it very very realistically 45 being a good matchup between Polly and Hamilton who will improve greatly this year 45 up could all go to region 6 Hamilton,Cooper 52,Stephen 60, 70 n 82 a few options,Austin wherever Bryant is,and Thompson wherever Austin is not 195 and 220.

And Cody is going to be top three no way he ends up out of top five and something is wrong if he doesnt win .I know its sounds crasy going from DNP to Champ but i see it happening Grant is a young Team and i see Cody Wrestling in college .Look out for the all American Mathews from CC to do well at 182 and i expect Terner at 170 and Keeton most likely at 195 to join him on the podium at state .

I think CC room will be a bit different Frank and Yenter are gone but Stephen and Austin are there and the rest of the team is intact older and will learn and improve a lot this year there will be a battle for the 52 or 60 spot and whoever comes out with it will have the tools to place at state as well .

having a great incoming class is good but there is not much space for a place on CC team even for those coming from the jr high state championship team . this team is stacked and from mid weights up i see a lot of placers no bs .I find it hard to believe they are not picked 1st .as for the lighter weights i know some but not where they are going so im not short changing any of you i simply have more focus and insight on the bigger kids,Faus is an AA and that says it all and Maggard and the rest are solid .you wont see to many new faces and i think they go back to back ,and most of these guys are not slacking as reported i see em on the football field and they are not playing Xbox .

I know i hype my Younger boy up a lot but this year they will not be setting out most of the year and Stephen will get out of first gear and at least into fourth or fifth and he had about 1 min and 37 seconds of matt time his first three matches at state last yr after about four weeks of wrestling i think he shows a little more of what he can do if thats possible as for his doubters it will hit him he is a SR has a whole yr isnt moving and is leaving soon but to a D1 school of his choosing to Wrestle,and Austin is what he is and is going to be Kys biggest ever freshman and four x Champ a National champ and the kid who made that dufus who said his class was weak last year trying to diminish his win look like an idiot with his off season accomplishments and wins over a Sr champ and srs in general last yr .

Union and SK are great teams with some super stars but CC is loaded and had kids last year who were on the cutting edge who will improve with CCs great coaches and no one there has really gotten to take full advantage of just what is there not by a long shot they havent scratched the Surface In all honesty the stink and drama of the transfer made things awkward there for the final few weeks and Stephen and Austin were withdrawn and trying simply to quickly get ready for state ,Everyone will be surprised what they can actually bring to a team if they let them and lose the tension and get in their heads to make them work hard and help ,not going to keep bragging but they have been trained for years by some pretty decent coaches numerous NCAA champs and even past and present olympians,and a coach that was even better than all of them who will be helping them out a lot this year as well .Im psyched im one of those dads and im going to watch my sons team win state again his sr yr while he wins another state title along with his brother .

sorry Ranger just like i told you last year Austin should be Number 1 CC should be Number 1 this year you have misjudged their depth their coaches and particularly the effect one of the nations most underated wrestlers is going to have on his team his sr year ,looking at all the nations top rankings i doubt you could find many kids in the nation who have beaten as many kids ranked ahead of him in as many classes as Stephen a 2x undefeated state champ and multiple x AA 3 in Fargo alone.

Campbell county has a new Captain and leader on their team if they can get him to lead and work they and him cannot loose He is a Phenom a Legend and he is the best wrestler to ever put on that purple and gold ,i dont really care who likes it they paid the price last year with setting out then attitudes over people not liking it or perceived thoughts of some of what i have just written i dont care who likes it who thinks its cocky or who wants to talk smack about it they paid the price they did the work their whole life and they and we took the crap ,Glad we came back to Ky it started out rough but its constantly getting better great people even those who can deal and somewhat understand me who despite my reputation sets back takes in what is happening and actually reads it all rather well .

Looking forward to my little one hitting the mat some this year 13 more years of wrestling this is awesome .

Mpire - I will have to say that I have read your posts from the first one and I see that you are still very passionate about you're kids, but you have evolved your posts to be more contructive and positve over that time and I for one, like it. Keep them coming because I know you will.

After posting all the CC stuff then hearing all the kids plans, who knows i think they are all nuts they are planning on wrestling as many classes as they can and dropping extremely low at the end i think they will be in for a rude awakening when the season starts i doubt a coach wants kids wrestling all across the board it would make getting a lineup set impossible .At least one of them said where he was going and even he argued with me i think the 220 is going 220 straight through ,hopefully the coaches take control these kids are hyper and thinking way outside the box ,to much video games not enough discipline .I guess the coaches know how to control the insanity i am hearing ,i am just glad they are all fired up thanks Ranger .