Hey, that looks pretty balanced. It looks like someone really put some thought into it.

Sportsfan,

I know that part can be difficult. It was just a couple of years ago there was a delay simply because KSHSAA couldn't find a school to host. But now that I look at the location of the 4A schools, there really are not a lot of 4A schools out west. It was kind of shocking to me. I feel bad for the Colby kids and parents that have to travel so much but I guess that's just how it worked out this year (or from what Kriss is saying, every year). So for all intents and purposes Topeka is western Kansas this year.

Actually, in 4A, the split between east and west is 75 highway which runs through Topeka. There are 32 teams east of the highway and 32 teams west.

That in itself is interesting to me that the dividing line is so far east. Good info.

The "Trans-Miss West" begins at about that line. In the settler days East of that line, life is close to the same as Ohio and Indiana. But West of that line life is completely different. No trees, no water, different weather patterns. Lots of eastern folk didnt make it out west. The smart ones improvised and thrived.

2007 Regional Pratt 3.5 hours from Colby
2008 Regional Clearwater can't hardly get there from Colby
2009 Regional Ulysses 3 hours from Colby
2010 Regional Pratt see above
2011 Regional Concordia 3 hours from Colby

When you live in the sticks Travel is expected. Football District is Concordia, Clay Center, and Goodland.
At least we got running water and Electricity with in the last few years. Shoot! we used have to make these trips by horseback or covered wagon. Them there buses are high class.

Chapman also has Abilene and Concordia which are some pretty salty teams as well.
Fort Scott has Paola, Louisburg, and Prarie View. Those 3 teams could shake things up at that regional. I remember Paola had a really good regional tournament last year.
Mulvane South has Mulvane and El Dorado. El Dorado could possibly make some noise this year.
Spring Hill has Saint James, Spring Hill, and Tonganoxie. Spring Hill has some sleepers on their team. Tongie has a lot of kids returning this year. Saint James is creeping up on the top ten in 4a.

Chapman:
3 total ranked teams:
#5 Clay Center
#6 McPherson
#10 Colby
18 total ranked wrestlers
#1- 3 (number of ranked wrestlers at that spot)
#2- 4
#3- 4
#4- 3
#5- 2
#6- 2
Side note: 4 weight classes with 0 ranked wrestlers (106, 132, 145, and 182). 4 ranked wrestlers at 120 (#1, #2, #3, and #6).

Fort Scott:
2 total ranked teams:
#2 Pittsburg
#4 Chanute
21 total ranked wrestlers:
#1- 4
#2- 2
#3- 5
#4- 4
#5- 2
#6- 4
Side note: 3 weight classes with 0 ranked wrestlers (120, 152, 195).

Mulvane:
3 total ranked teams:
#1 Andale
#8 Ulysses
#9 Hugoton
26 total ranked wrestlers:
#1- 4
#2- 4
#3- 3
#4- 3
#5- 5
#6- 7
Side note: only 1 weight class with 0 ranked wrestlers (120). 152 has the #3, #4, #5, and #6 ranked wrestlers.

Spring Hill:
2 total ranked teams:
#3 Bonner Springs
#7 Baldwin
19 total ranked wrestlers:
#1- 3
#2- 4
#3- 2
#4- 4
#5- 5
#6- 1
Side note: 1 weight class with 0 ranked wrestlers (138).

I would say right now Mulvane is the toughest 4a regional. The next 3 are pretty much tied up as far as toughness goes. Fort Scott looks slightly tougher than the other 2. I would out Chapman and Spring Hill at a tie. Chapman has more ranked teams, but Spring Hill has more ranked kids. Chapman has 4 weight classes that are wide open, but Spring Hill only has 1 ranked kid in a majority of their weight classes.

However, since the season is just getting started you can't really say which regional is toughest yet. The stats above will change plenty before we get to regionals!

I guess Sims doesn't mind the drive as much as Kriss...well, the dividing line may be highway 75 but it feels like I-70 this year. No more east/west. Now it's north and south. What are we, Florida?

As I always say to our wrestlers, all they need to do is beat the man who steps on the mat with them. Do not worry about rankings, regional assignments, or who is at what weight. Focus should only be on training hard with precision technique and wrestling one match at a time.

Not sure if we even tried to host......but Pittsburg...in the recent past being the only 5A in the area, we have traveled long distances, Ark City last year, Wichita area the two prior years, always at least 2 hours if not 3.

I thought we would of had a chance to host, We moved to 4A, have never hosted....that I know of. But no complaining here, Ft.Scott is only 30 miles away, get to sleep in own bed.

Gardner has wanted to host for several years- asked but for what ever reason other 5A schools were selected.

Great to host our first 6A regional. It will be a well run tournament.

Every place that hosts has a mats and stands so what is the difference. Distance doesn't have much factor. Just show up and wrestle. No excuses.

Says the guy who is probably traveling 5 minutes to a regional.

I feel your pain...I have a 6 hour trip to Irish country for regionals. If the weather cooperates this year, the following week my trip to State will be ~7 hrs. I would drive farther if I had to.

Is this a good time to start the state tournament under one roof thread? I would love it if the KS wrestling powers would terminate their contracts all over the state and wrestle one big show in Topeka. That's a short drive for me at 6 hrs.

Ellis and TMP got the shaft in 321A. They both have to travel close to 3 hrs to Lakin when Russell is also hosting and about 30 to 45 min drive.

Doesn't look like the Russell regional took any teams West of them except Kensington-Thunder Ridge.

Hell even Plainville is closer to Russell than Smith Center. Nature of the Beast I guess.

Gonna be another tough regional out West!

Richard- I think the last time Pitt hosted regional-1988.

Lansing has to pass Aquinas on it's way to Emporia. It will definitely help Aquinas qualify more for state.

I'd say we are due.

The guys that qualify for state for Aquinas will qualify because they are good enough to qualify. With an outstanding program like Lansing, I am sure the same can be said, regardless of where they wrestle.

I get the message and it sounds good. I'm sure Aquinas and Lansing both have guys who would qualify no matter what regional they were in.

What I'm saying is that based on the team rankings, the Aquinas regional has only 1 ranked team while the others have many, up to 4. If Aquinas has ANY varsity wrestlers that aren't ranked, they would theoretically be more likely to qualify out of that regional. If Aquinas has ranked wrestlers, it's probably less likely the could be upset. It's not a negative statement. It's no different than saying Basehor is a tough tournament to place in, while another tourn typically may not be.

It also doesn't make sense that Lansing would go to Emporia vs Aquinas if distance or balance were considered.