Tvc at waterford

[get serious]

Its about so much more than just wrestling. Some people just dont get that. Some of these kids wouldnt be as successful in life in general if they had stayed at their "home" school. The disctrict change for some of these kids "wrestlers" was not about the sport at all. Parents do what they have to do for their children to make their lives better and to be more productive and have more opportunities. If wrestling or any sport for that matter helps them along the way then thats great. People can say what they want but when it comes to someones kids, you do what you think is best for them, regardless of how much flack you take for it. Because in the end all that matters is that your child live a happy, healthy, productive life beyond high school.

[Ny92]

AMEN!

[Cougar Lover]

Its about so much more than just wrestling. Some people just dont get that. Some of these kids wouldnt be as successful in life in general if they had stayed at their "home" school. The disctrict change for some of these kids "wrestlers" was not about the sport at all. Parents do what they have to do for their children to make their lives better and to be more productive and have more opportunities. If wrestling or any sport for that matter helps them along the way then thats great. People can say what they want but when it comes to someones kids, you do what you think is best for them, regardless of how much flack you take for it. Because in the end all that matters is that your child live a happy, healthy, productive life beyond high school.

I have no dog in this fight, but I have talked to the parents of a few of those boys who changed schools and each of those told me point blank that they were unhappy with the wrestling program at the school. Two of them claimed that if something did not change soon they would be moving their boys to Nelsonville. They may not admit that now, but that is what 2 dads said shortly before the move was made. One of the other dads said he was unhappy with how his son was treated in youth wreslting and therefore took his son to Nelsonville. So to make it out to be any more deep than that is foolish. Again, I don't care, as I am not from any of those schools, but just wanted to clarify this.

[Dresh]

Cougar lover you must have a good memory that conversation would have taken place over 6 years ago. Heavy D I am glad that you dont seem to know alot about wrestling otherwise I would have to advise Nelsonville to keep there kids at home. There would be no sense in competing at the state tourny since you already know we will not win it at any weight class. I have never been a person to write on here but this thread has got me a bit upset! People who know nothing seem to talk the most. I will set a few things straight. In order to be really good in the sport of wrestling there is alot of tiny pieces that have to be in place. Support from home, desire from the wrestler, a coach who cares, a school who supports, practices partners with the same dream and a little luck. Now being in southeast Ohio it is alittle harder. Most schools dont or cant support the wrestling programs, distance to travel to get good practice partners (summer practice) and the general lack of respect for wrestlers or lack of community support. If you take the southeastern Ohio group of wrestlers move them to say cleveland when they are in the 5,6,7 grade and brought them back they would be animals same kids just received better partners better support from community and alot of kids with the dream of being a state champ. So why do kids go to Nelsonville to wrestle. School support good partners coach who cares. Yea seems like the place to go if you are wanting to wrestle. Now if these kids would have stayed in the school that you feel they should have the district where they live. McLaughlin does not get to wrestle no program. He would not have had a chance to make his team better or himself. Now the others would they have made there team better who knows but the parents of these children did what they thought was best for there child and seems to me its paid off. The hope that southeastern ohio wrestling will become more competitive needs to start with each school stepping up to the plate and getting bettter schedules, elementry teams with wrestling coaches not just good hearted dads, middle school teams once again good coaches and highschool teams with good coaches. Once the school show they have a desire to get behind the programs they will grow until then heavy D your kid can go to school where you live, work his butt off and have half the success just because of the position you put him in your call I made mine and am happy.

[tric118]

Great post sounds like someone is busted. I have loved those kids since they were in little and worked out with us. One of my favorite pictures is Zach, Thomas and Colt at the old school on Fayette it hangs in my office. Sad that so many people just hate the programs and don't respect the kids and their dedication. I can gurantee this those boys would be 40-0 under their home school schedule.

[Nybucks70-80]

You miss read my intent. I think you guys do a great job, and your kids are not only excellent wrestlers, but great kids as well. I was simply stating a fact as well. NY is fortunate to have kids want to come there and wrestle. But if they would wrestle where they live, or lived those teams would do a lot better. The matches with NY and the Dogs are good ones, and the Dogs came out on top in the league the last couple years. Tourny time now.

But those kids would not be as good as they are now. They would not get the coaching they do at NY and have the practice partners that make them so much better than other area wrestlers.
Good luck to all Athens County wrestler this weekend and the next 2.