STATE IN WICHITA, SHAPE UP OR MOVE!

I have only attended probably 10 state tourneys (4 of which I competed in), all of which were at the KS Colliseum. I truly believe that the level of competition was good this year and watching the kids compete was trully a lot of fun and brought back a lot fo good memories.

However, as much as I want to keep the tourney here in Wichita, I can't see a reason to do so with the way the KS Colliseum staff and certain tourney officials treated us all.

1) The check in process was about the dumbest thing I have ever seen. Weigh ins were taking place and teams were still stuck in a line out the door trying to check in. (ridiculous)

2)$10 for updated brackets for the tourney. I understand making money, but what is that. I can buy a stack of 500 sheets of paper for $4.

3)$6 for coaches to eat in the hospitality room. The meal was a nasty film covered soup and bologna sandwiches. (hell, we had ribeye steaks at our regional for free!)

4)Security was rude and kept 4 wrestlers who were making weight on sat. morning and group of cheerleaders outside in the cold at 6:30 am when all we wanted to do was check our weight. They lied saying the scales werent set up. We finally got in at 7:00 am. (yes, I gave them a piece of my mind)

5)Gosh dang, how much does it cost to rent that place. Hell, for a family of four, it must have cost $100-$200 in gate fees just to sit in the stands not too mention another $200 in consession stand items.

6) I was scared to walk into the nasty gross bathroom that were ankle deep in waste from all those thousands of people. Who the hell cleans that place and why did they wait 2 days to clean it instead of during the day.

I could go on, but I don't even like to read post that are longer then a paragraph. I hope I'm not the only one who felt this way.

For the price, I just don't believe the Colliseum is nice enough. WE ALL DESERVE STEAK DINNERS FOR THAT PRICE!!!!

I COULDNT EVEN GET A FREE POP.

THATS ALL MAN JUST ONE FREE SODA. JUST ONE AND WE WOULD HAVE BEEN FIRST.

DUDE JUST ONE FREE SODA.

HULL

Amen,
I think Mr. Rick Bowden is getting some under the table money from those people in Wichita. I totally agree it is ran like a second-rate tournament. I could come up with 50 ways to make that tournament better. Whoever runs that, sucks at it, period. Let's get out of there.

Well, Hays did a great job.

Church, you are right on w/your complaints. The wrestling was great this weekend, but the venue could have been better. We need to make the state tourney more wrestler and fan friendly. -Parks

321A State / 4A,5A, & 6A State Tournament

I have been to several State Tournaments at the Kansas Colliseum. For the last two years we have attended the 321A State Tournament at Hays.

I would have to say that the atmosphere and the general aura of the State Tournament @ Ft. Hays State University is just AWESOME!

I have never in my life witnessed so much energy and anticipation at a wrestling event ever.

I understand why wrestling in the North West part of the state is so good. The fans and the people in the crowd are so in touch with their wrestlers.

When a school has a 100 kids in it and 30 go out for wreslting, then the town brings 200-300 people to the state tournament just to watch.
WOW

I think that the only way to duplicate that same kind of atmosphere and aura for 4A, 5A and 6A would be to move them to their own venue and then the schools have to bring their fans.

I can honestly say that I believe there were wrestlers feeding off the energy of their fans.

We sat right in front of the St. Francis section and everytime one of their wreslters took the mat, all eyes and energy from their fans were directed at the mat. It did not matter if it was a consolation match or a championship match.

The people that ran the tournament were great.
There were no major security issues or bullying by the people working the tournament.

I do not write this to in any way knock the 4-5-6A tournament, but rather to compare the facilities, security, atmosphere and overall performance of the people who run these two tournaments.

321A is by far the best ran, best hosted, best atmoshere tournament.

I can only hope that some of the local 321A shools will get more involved with their wrestling program and take more interest in the state tournement.

If any have not been to both tournaments, I would challenge you to attend both and then compare for yourselves.

Would it kill somebody to empty the trash bins by the exits so we don't have to walk over trash to get in.

The trash was really bad...Another thing to think about is having a two day pass and making it a little cheaper for those who have the whole faily going BOTH days...

Another thing to think about is having a two day pass and making it a little cheaper for those who have the whole faily going BOTH days...

I agree with all you guys. Those bathrooms were just awful. I thought I was the only one that felt that way. Did anyone notice the mullet security staff?

Boy I sure did notice the mullet security staff and that's why I claimed half of them. Yes you heard right...more than half those securities members are MY MULLETS. So the score for me something like 10 or 11 mullets found. Anyone else near that or top that?

I heard rumors this past weekend that the colliseum is going to be closed next year for renovations and that the state tournament may be held in Salina. Anyone else hear anything about that?

lets move 4a 5a 6a to wichita state koch arena

I heard the same rumors, but I asked a very reliable source who heard from Muselman that the renovations will begin next year the day after we leave, so we have at least 1 more year of dealing with the Coliseum, which was the most hospitable it has been in the 6 years I have been going there.
My largest complaints were with the way the tournament directors ran the breaks.

Mats were waited to be mopped until the last 30 minutes of the breaks instead of at the beginning. This left wrestlers with no place to warm up.

The parade of champions at the beginning is ridiculus. The wrestlers had to go line up 45 minutes before the were allowed on to the mats. That means many kids couldn't warm up for about an hour prior to the start of the tournament.

The parade of placers before the finals is also ridiculous. The wrestlers again had to clear the mat 45 minutes before the finals began. That means that 103 pounders had to stand in place instead of warming up. There is no reason for all the placers to be walked out, they will be recognized on the medal podium. If just the finalists were lined up it would take far less time. And the awards could also be done a little faster.

All in all I thought this was the least jerky the coliseum staff has been, but the tourney directors need to worry less about putting on a show, and more about running a wrestling tournament that allows the kids a chance to warm-up and get ready properly.

I agree w/ all of this. Not only did the security staff look like they lead a life of poor hygeine, they didn't make exceptions for anyone. I can completely understand that that is their job, but when the same person comes by 6 times after taking pix of placers, you'd think they would let you by and not walk all the way around the coliseum.
I too agree with the price of food. I don't understand how blood workers get free food tickets and the coaches don't. I don't think there's much justice in that.
Maybe it should be held somewhere else.

Somebody please explain to me why the door opposite where the pictures are taken is an up only entrance. Why can we get down that all weekend but during the finals the staff makes you walk all the way around. I had a suit on. I had my wrist band and coaches pass. I was not sneaking down on the floor. This to me was absolutely ridiculous. I don't mind walking, that is not the problem. Talk about making life heck on everybody.

And I will never pay 6 dollars for a hospitality room again. I understand the need to cover your costs. We hosted 4 events this year and paid for all the hospitality rooms. Give me some variety for my money. I appreciate the effort of those that made this possible, but can you explain to me why 6 dollars for less variety than before. I did bother to go elsewhere to get my lunch.

Also, I kept thinking as I was using the restroom how many wrestlers were stepping in the sewage on the floor in the bathrooms. And we worry about ringworm.

Wouldn't you just love for someone from the Coliseum to respond, just once?

Hey guys...this is good stuff...I may actually have to put in 3 questions or so and let you guys attack...then do my sports write up for the News-Times complaining about the situation. I'm a wrestler through and through, and now that I'm a journalist...I will be a voice for the wrestling public.

Aaron:

Pose your questions; I for one will be glad to help. Not that I think it will help. Sedgwick County doesn't care what we think.

As for pizzaboy's comments, get something straight: NO ONE wants to move out of Wichita more than Rick Bowden; trouble is arranging for new sites. But that will happen.

1. How do you feel about the cleanliness of the State environment of the 4,5,6a venue in Wichita?

2. How do you think the coaches, athletes, spectators..etc, are treated by Collesium staff, and explain.

3. Is the 4,5,6a venue at Wichita money driven?

4. Is there a need of a new venue? If so where should it go?

5. Is there a need for a new tournament direct? If so whom?

Threw down 5....if you can my deadline will be the 8th of March (Monday) by 6pm.

Feel free to email me at ucosweazy@yahoo.com

Please include first and last name, town you are from, and how affiliated with the sport..i.e: spectator, referee, athlete, coach, cheerleader, manager..etc. If you are from a school please let me know if you are a coach whether you are a head coach or otherwise and of what school, same thing applies to wrestlers (let me know what school you attend and add what year in school you are).

Thanks for your time...hopefully we can get something done as a community!

My complaints were the cost of concession food was outrageous (expected) but the food was so bad that I couldn't even give it away. Also, this was the first wrestling tournament that I have ever been to where people booed. I was very disappointed at the poor sportmanship of many of the crowds.

ELITE FORCE SECURITY!!!!

Dude, the mullet wearing Jerry Anvil Neidhardt (sp) security guard rocked. Anybody that stuck in the 80's probably has a pair of spandex biker shorts stuffed in his closet.

Any bets?

Hey coaches, if you don't like the food at the hospitatily room do what the officials did several years ago, take control of your own room. They pitch in about $10ea and someone prepares the lunch and dinner, brings in cans of pop and snacks. With all the coaches why doesn't the Coaches Association step up and do something about the situation. I think the KSHSAA wants to move the tournament but can't get the dates to work out yet. You have one more year, work together to make it better and quit the complaining. I do agree the restrooms need some attention, maybe the KSHSAA could address this with the County if you would let them know.

My question - why didn't they let security people who were blocking the south door look at the stamp on your hand and allow you to enter through this door instead on making you walk all the way around to the north door where security looked at your hand and then let you in?

It was Jim the Anvil never heard of Jerry the Anvil...hmmm avatar possibility

The Hays tournament did pretty good, except on saturday morning i tried to go in to warm up and get ready and stuff, and they tried to make me wait in line and the line was goin all the way out the door, i thought it was a bunch of bull s***

I don't know if someone has mentioned this yet or not. At the thursday night practice in the bathroom that was right by the scales and dressing area, the pipe that came out from the bottom of those huge urnals was BROKEN! I went in there and a sick mixture of water and bodily fluids was pretty much running onto the floor. Did anyone else notice this?

Since I wasn't able to attend the State Tourney in Wichita, I was wondering if the following fellow was one of the big mullet security guards?

http://www.ratemymullet.com/show.php?id=37

:-)

lwayne
it wouldn't be a hospitality room then would it

fanatic
good point

Coaches are almost stuck in the Colliseum taking care of buisness. They do it for the kids and for the love of the sport. Damm sure isn't for the pay.The KS Colliseum and whoever is running it is as arrogant as Martha Stewart when it comes to the money. Charging for the hospitality room is arogant and ignorant. Shows no class. I say move to another site. I live in wichita and would gladly travle not to have to stand in sewage water and have a first class tournament.

The bottom line is that they (as in the Coliseum and Sedgwick County) really don't care. They're take-it-or-leave-it attitude is obvious and it really is sad.

But they also know that right now, they have us and there isn't anything we can do about it. There is no other comparable facility in the state that we can get that weekend and Sedgwick knows that and is laughing all the way to the bank.

I think Campus Did the Best. They Took 2nd place it the best they've done in all there years

If you have to pay $6 for a meal it doesn't sound like a hospitality room either, there isn't such a thing as a free lunch. At regular tournaments the host schools pick up the tab, but believe me the coaches, table workers and officials can put away the food. All I'm suggesting is take care of the situation within the Coaches Association. The State isn't going to pay the bill. Good Luck

"All I'm suggesting is take care of the situation within the Coaches Association. The State isn't going to pay the bill."

Exactly, thank you! It's not like these coaches aren't given money for food expenditures.

I would think the Wichita tourism depertment would think picking up the tab for hospitality would be a worthwhile investment to attract the tournament and all the revenue generated from hotels, food, gasoline, shopping etc for the weekend. Hays does have a hospitality room provided by area merchants etc. I guess it comes down to attitude.

Actually sportsfan02, we are not always given money for those expenditures.

"Actually sportsfan02, we are not always given money for those expenditures."

But of course that wouldn't be the fault of the Coliseum or the KSHSAA. Our high school team packs lunches and food for tournaments as well. By the way, if anyone ever wants to eat good food find out where the Valley Center team is keeping their food. Just get there before Coach Shelton!