We know how lucky we were to even get to wrestle during the pandemic. BUT THOSE DAYS ARE OVER. And so SHOULD the days of KHSAA’s Semi State format in a High School Arena. All states surrounding us, provide their high school wrestlers and spectators an Arena style event with ample room for seating and the electrifying experience that we all know the High School State Tournament to be. KHSAA has more than taken that from our student athletes. At the risk of wrestlers and spectators safety, they have developed what is essentially an “East vs West” State Tournament, stuffing it into a High School gym, far exceeding capacity. These situations discriminate against handicapped or elderly individuals as well as expelling facility fire codes. Everyone desires a fair shot to support their wrestler and every wrestler deserves to feel that support. Our wrestlers are built to overcome obstacles and KHSAA has single handily used that to their advantage, designing the state tournament to be more challenging to win or place, with an increased amount of matches in a shorter span of time, amongst two back to back weekends and voiding any chance for rest and recovery. And at this level… matches are rarely easy. Our wrestlers are tenacious, both Mentally and Physically. Their broken down bodies by the end of season are nearing their max. The risk for injury is high enough. All of this paired with the often unbalanced brackets, is hard to ignore the evidence that our wrestlers are merely THEIR CASH COWS. KHSAA is reaping the benefits of charging ticket sales for two separate state events as well as the additional two day ticket price of the state finals, essentially padding their pockets with their failure to provide adequate and safe space. The writing is on the wall, their priority is certainly themselves, over the health and hardwork of our wrestlers. 

Silence is acceptance and we cannot accept it anymore. Please sign the petition to show… Wrestling may not mean much to them… but it does to us… And we will fight until we get our State Tournament back.