Amen Brian! We have to find a new facility to host 4a state wrestling!
Reason number 1 is for the wrestlers! The teams are not allowed to bring in anything to warm up a meal. Why?? So tonys event center can charge $10 for crap? Thankfully the weather was nice this year unlike last year so our team went tailgaiting! But for the teams to not be allowed to get their wrestlers a descent meal is reason enough to move the event to a new facility in my opinion. All the money that comes in there because of these wrestlers i would think they could accommodate the kids by allowing them to bring in a microwave or toaster oven!
Reason number 2 is for the parents/fans. The illegal searches that happen everytime have gotten worse and worse. My wife and i were there early to feed our team “tailgate” and so there wasnt a line to get in after breakfast was served. After about 2 minutes of digging through my wifes backpack the guy found a container that had 2 servings of an energy drink that we were gonna mix with their $4 bottles of water. (I learned not to “smuggle” in water about 9 years ago!) After a 5 minute delay waiting on a different security guard to come inspect this we were told that energy drinks are not allowed in the facility! You have all been there. Enough said
Reason number 3 is because of how rude the staff is. Sure the concession stand people smile! I would too if i had that business! But im not ok with how, at least some of the “security guards”, talk to our kids. To name call a kid that goes down the stairs the wrong direction is just unprofessional. I understand there are rules but come on. Turns out the security guard was the same guy in both cases as i found out when i was walking out of the facility saturday afternoon!
All this said i know we can do better! This should be a fun weekend for everyone and when there is a ton of complaints and crap that wrestlers, fans, parents, and everyone that comes has to deal with because of the facility it is time to look at our options. We were in 321a one year. Hays was awesome and accommodating! So i know it can be done! Come on KSHSAA. Look into this! The same complaints have been happening long enough! Work out a better contract with tony’s or find a new facility!
As for the mix up on the pictures i know the boys had a good laugh about it!
