Does anyone know where the state tournament sight for 4A will be for 2002-03? All the information I receive from my athletic director says Wichita, and I was under the impression it would be changed. If you know something, please post. Thanks.

It will be in Wichita this coming year. Topeka and other sites weren't available for this coming year, but that could definitly change next year.

Coach kocher, I was curious if as a varsity coach you had a chance to vote or express an opinion concerning any preference you may have had concerning where you would have liked to have the 4a tourney? From your post, I would guess that kshaa didn't make any attempt to gather your opinion. I wonder if they ask anybody?

The KSHSAA did ask for the coaches opinions on state tournament site, a survey was in every head coaches packet at the state tournament and they were asked to complete and return to me last March. The results were inconclusive as the coaches who responded (which was a rather large number) were set in almost an exact split on opinions on both the groupings and the locations.

I did visit with Rick Bowden at the recent KSHSAA Coaching Clinic in Topeka about this issue. He said the site would be decided on a year-by-year basis. There were efforts to bring the 5A-6A tourney to Topeka, and the 4A tourney in Salina, with four mats for each site quickening up the event. But prior event commitments in those facilities prevented this from happening. It sounds like it may be a possibility next year. The 3-1A state tournament this year will get to use four mats this year to quicken up the early rounds. Hopefully, all classes will get this opportunity in the future.

Some FYI.

Kit:

That sounds great — I'd love to see that arrangement, both with the sites and the four mats. The Bicentennial Center would make a great facility for the 4A schools and four mats would fit in there nicely.

JLH