I heard plenty of fans say this event needs to stay in Wichita. It is a nice venue for this event for the size of it. Not too big like Ft Hays and not too small like LCC or NCCC.

Also, if the event is in Hays or Colby fans from the SEK where LCC and NCCC are located have a lot longer drive and probably will not attend. In the middle of everyboyd is where this event needs to be and Newman should be able to keep it at their place from here on out.

I am sure that LCC,and pretty sure that NCC, will attend regardless of where it is in the state.

A central location is nice, but I'm not sure that is best for exposure around the state. Venue size should be a consideration though.

Also, As I understand it the venue rotation is set for the next six years. There are plenty of fans in all corners of the state, I think it's just a matter of reaching out to the clubs and HS teams. Also, there will be three programs in Western Kansas as of next year. I don't know that they will all attend but there are technically three programs.

i think he was talking about the fans, coming from all areas, but realistically the fan base should be about the same everywhere. it needs to rotate.

i think with bringing in ALL KS grads it would be great. i'm sure there are a few that brother richard robert forgot who would contend for medals also.

Yeah, I misread that. I think it would probably reduce some fans from those schools just as this year would reduce some from out west. The "local" fans will increase at each venue though.

I would be suprised to see many coaches from out of state programs allow their wrestlers to compete individually at this tourney. If it was over Christmas break, maybe. If they aren't a starter, maybe. That is interesting, but I think it should stick to KS colleges not former Kansas HS wrestlers. Once you open that up, why not former Kansas JC wrestlers, or guys that wrestled 1 year at a KS HS. Current Kansas College wrestlers is easily definable and the most logical.

The FHSU open in December is a good opportunity for those who want to see lots of Kansas wrestlers who are in out-of-state colleges. Many of the Nebraska & Iowa schools traveled to the FHSU tournament this season. It will only get bigger.

I agree that the Kansas Cup should be the reward for those who stay in state and wrestle for a Kansas school.

impossible to have ks high school grads attend. hypothetically would be fun to see. realistically....not a chance. lets deal in reality. i've changed my view on the dual format. labette, pratt, neosho all dual twice as is. and each see colby at least once. ike is right on the money when he talks about fan friendly. just 2 mats, you can see all action! 3 venues on the rotation spread the wealth. maybe not fair to the jucos but economically and regionally smart. biggest problem this time around was small brackets. fill them with club teams and this event only grows in fan support.

Yeah, They do see each other plenty of times in a dual scenario. I'm now convinced that it should remain the same individual bracket format with team scores.

I agree with what both Tim Horgan and Ike Wennihan posted on the last two posts.

Like sportsfan02 I was a little disappointed that I did not notice more youth club members and high school team wrestlers in attendance. I am assuming that was one of the primary reasons to have it on Sunday instead of Saturday. If the event does not ultimately attract youth and high school wrestlers, I would suggest consider changing the day to Saturday since that is better both for the student athletes and their fans to have a day at home before the school and work week begin.

Maybe all the youth teams and hs teams had the flu and all that could have come was JV guys and they are not "good" enough to get to attend in some folks opinions.

I think you have to get a flier in their coaches hand to hand out. Posting it just on the internet or this talk forum is not as effective advertising. Or do both. Send and electronic file to the coach with a personal note and ask him to make copies to hand out to his kids - something to the effect - come watch the best college wrestlers in Kansas. Maybe next year make some sort of poster in advance and get it to the coaches so they can hang it in the room all season with last years champs and team scores.

I know Coach Thompson is already talking about getting his Sports Information Director involved early on to generate programs, etc. I think you'll see a big effort to get the word out for next year. Not to take anything away from Coach Smith's effort this year. He spearheaded this entire thing and managed to get coaches to come together and do this thing. Like most things, I would expect this will get better with time.

Looking at the sparse brackets I'll once again put in my two cents... that all the collegiate wrestlers, not just varsity, might be given the opportunity to represent their state. I think this should be done for next year's event. The wrestlers will be happy to represent the state, their parents and siblings will attend and make the ticket takers happier, and you'll have more people promoting the event. We didn't go because our JV wrestler wasn't able to participate, so you missed 2 parents, siblings, and some grandparents - maybe a cousin or two, and at least one uncle. Do the math....

Oh yeah - and his high school coach, assistant coach, and some classmates.....

It makes team scoring wierd though. Maybe they wouldn't count towards the team score?

I certainly don't know the solution to the scoring situation - but if it's as simple as not counting toward team points I'd say that was easy....

Maybe they should do it like NAIA and allow the 10 varsity plus 2 non-scoring wrestles per team. This would roughly add a full team of wrestlers to help fill brackets.

No team score! Just give partipation ribbons? Kidding...but I hate the idea of not keeping score. Score is suppose to be kept in competition or else it is just practice.

Don't forget that there will be another team in the mix next year. Really two if Lampe brings his...which is doubtful. Add in the club teams and you have full 8 man brackets. I like the idea of bringing your best team and get it on...no adapted rules that complicate things and need to be explained. Our sport has enough confusing rules for the lay fan. With one more team and club teams pigtailed in....shazam, you've got full brackets.

Would still rather see the college team wrestlers get in before the club teams.

Looking at the brackets some schools had some opens, other schools like Baker carry 30+ kids. Let 'em wrestle!

Its going to be 8 teams next year... Top 10 for each team. Not top ten and jimmy, johnny, and Timmy.... There are Open tournaments from from the 1st week in November through early February. If you want to see that format then you have around 7-8 opportunities to do so.. This is an Invite to see who has the top 10.

Yes there were some open spots in brackets. But in theory by next year it should be a full 8 man bracket and with wrestling out to 6th place that is plenty of matches for how late it is in the season. Many of the teams have Regionals just around the corner.. The size of these brackets are similar to those of a qualifer for Nationals.... Don't need to get any bigger..