I have been going to the kids state tournament for over 7 years now. I have yet to buy anything other than an occasional gatoraid at the concession stand. I don't sneak food in either. I would like to support the concession stands but our family is not higher income and every penny counts. So what I do is on the nice and sunny days, I pack a cooler and keep it in the car full of fruits/vegetables and sandwiches and we just go outside to eat. On wet and cold days like this weekend, we load up in the car and take a very short (less than 5 minute) drive to Sonic and eat in the car. With coupons, the price was very good. If the food was a little cheaper, I would support the concession stands but I just can't stomach spending 6.00 on a single hamburger or hotdog. I don't care how good it is, I still am not spending that kind of money when less than 2 blocks away I can buy a whole meal for the same price.

Other than the high price of food, the tournament was ran well. The only suggestions I would make for changes would be for the weigh-in on Friday. I personally think it would work so much better for the wrestlers and the parents if there were dividers at the beginning of the weigh-in so that all wrestlers were in single-line file waiting for the hair and skin-checks instead of being able to bunch up like they did (maybe even have a separate line for each district using the ropes like in movie theaters?). As it was, many of the younger kids were getting pushed by older kids and vice-versa and some even "disappeared" in the huge group making some newbie parents very nervous and upset. I also think that there needs to be a separate area for wrestlers to take off their clothes BEFORE they get in line for the table to get their card. Again, when you are jostling for a position to get in line and then having to step over piles of clothing left here and there, it can cause a mess. I know that there were several mothers that were nervous about the long wait for their son/daughter to get through the weigh-in. When your son/daughter is only 6 or 8 and going through the first time, it can/is pretty nerve racking waiting for them. But that is all. Again, had a great time and hopefully will be back next year.