Posted on Fri, Oct. 05, 2007

Wrestlers to relocate in 2008

The Class 6A tournament will move to Koch Arena while the 5A heads to Hutchinson, then both will reunite at the Coliseum in 2009.

BY JOANNA CHADWICK
The Wichita Eagle

A 22-year run at the Kansas Coliseum for the Class 6A and 5A wrestling tournaments ended in February. The Kansas Sport, Boat and Travel Show occupies the Coliseum that weekend in 2008.

But it won't be gone for long.

Wichita State's Koch Arena will host the Class 6A tournament in February, while 5A will be at Hutchinson High. Both will return to the Coliseum in 2009.

Class 4A will be at the Salina Bicentennial Center for the third straight year -- before that it was at the Coliseum with 5A and 6A -- and 3-2-1A continues in Hays.

"We're thrilled to have 6A in Wichita, Kan., at a great venue," City League director Bill Faflick said."... It just so happened that both (Wichita State's) men and women (basketball teams) were out of town that weekend. We had a tremendous need and (WSU) stepped up and is filling it for us."

The KSHSAA looked at other arenas to host 5A and 6A -- together or separate -- but had issues. Some high schools didn't want to disrupt classes to host, others didn't have enough space or had parking problems. Then there was the problem of finding volunteers to run the tournaments.

"People may not understand how many behind-the-scenes people it takes," Musselman said."... It's no small thing to consider relocating."

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