I was just informed that the KSHSAA is looking at changing the place wrere State Wrestling Tournament will be held for the 2003-04. I really think that coaches need to discuss this at their Regional Tournament meeting this topic. What I have been told is that the KSHSAA is looking at putting 6A State Tournament at some large High School, and 4A and 5A together in some other venue. I think that they want to leave 1-3A at Hays. But what I was told is the State wants to do what the KWCA recommends. Coaches if you want to see a change or if you like the way it is now you need to speak up now.

I am not a coach but do have an opinion on this issue. Making the tournament a lesser event I think belittles the significance of the accomplishment.Please think about how hard a wrestlers works to make it to an arena type event.

It is my understanding the reason for moving has more to do with Sedgwick County playing hard ball in negotiations for the facility. As some of you are aware the pro sports teams also utilize the same facility and they would rather subsidize them than bring millions of dollars into the local economy via wrestling fans and teams. If you would like to see the tournament remain in Wichita I would recommend that all coaches and clubs in Sedgwick Co. contact their local representatives and voice their displeasure.

Why not hold state at Kansas State University? Ample hotel room, 2 large scale arenas, great burrito place, et cetera...

I think one of the problems with that is who is going to put it on. What I have seen is they like to have 4A school work on the 4A and 5a working on the 5A state tournament. This is just what I have been told.

The best thing that will ever happen is to get the tourney out of that cold, dark, dirty, rude, barn. I have never seen anyplace as inhospitable as that building and the people that worked for it and I am not talking about the state workers, rather the people who run the building. GOOD RIDENCE and as for where else, ANYWHERE. Salina, Manhatten, Topeka, anywhere in Wichita but there. I think it is great. Maybe they can go somewhere that can clean a bathroom or turn on their scoreboard to run the team scores.

No other facility in KS is large enough to host all three classes so if you go elsewhere you're going to have to break them up.

Put it in Topeka.

I used to coach at a 2A school and now coach at a 4A school and I would love to see our 4A tourney stand alone at its own site like the 3-2-1A tourney at FHSU.
I "experienced" the big three classes state tourney in Wichita and hated every minute of it. The staff is terrible, the arena is worse, and it just didn't seem like State to me, comparing it in my mind all weekend to state at FHSU. Its just too much at ot one place and will be better if move out of Wichita, but we need to break this up into 3 sites or it will continue to feel like a big cluster where nobody cares about your team and your kids.
Lets go 4A by itself in SALINA. 5A and 6A can do whatever they want, but put US in Salina...

Topeka is by far large enough for it. The big arena there would have no problem with it and there is a vast amount of hotel space in Topeka due to the government needs. No farther for any of those Wichita schools than it has been for us back here all these years.

Lets not do 4A in Salina. Too small. I would like a metro area large enough to accomodate interest other than just wrestling. Other family members travel to these events and enjoy other activities. Topeka, Wichita and Kansas City are the only cities big enough to host the event properly. I enjoy the three classes together also. I think seeing the best wrestlers in the state is what its all about regardless of size of class.

I care about my wrestlers and my team and they are not treated like they should be in Wichita. I want there to be one Championship match going on at one time and the entire arena watching. And wouldn't it be nice to have a board of team standing in the arena? As a coach, I don't even get a chance to see what is going on in the 5A or 6A part of the arena and honestly, I'm so wrapped up in what is going on in the 4A brackets and with my team, that I wouldn't miss 5A and 6A if they were gone.
Anyone who doesn't think this would be better needs to go to the 3-2-1A tourney once and you will see what I mean.

I think that each class should be held at a different site. I think that there should be 4 sites to rotate upon between the classes that way everyone would have to travel.
For example:
2004
321A Hays
4A Kansas City
5A Salina / Topeka (which ever location is better)
6A Wichita

2005
321A Wichita
4A Hays
5A Kansas City
6A Salina / Topeka
and so on

thats and idea, but from what i am hearing everyone wants out of wichita and your not going to get the 321A coaches from Hays.
My other question for you on that is why would 6A want to go out to hays where everyone would have to stay in hotels? with 321A a large number of schools are out west and can go home over night.

The Rotation idea is good for 4A, 5A, and 6A but keep 321A in Hays. I agree that Kansas State would be a good place betweeen Ahearn Fieldhouse and Bramlage Coliseum.

i know alot of the smaller schools out west would object but if all the state tournys were in the overland park convention center. all of them could fit, and there are a million hotels and places to eat near by. if not all classes maybe just 6A, when you consider so many of the 6A schools are in metro area it wouldn't be that bad.

The rumor mill says that Blue Valley West has expressed interest to host the 6A tournament individually.

The Powers that Be (which I believe consist of Vince Russo, Jeff Jarrett, and Miss Hancock) would then have the 4A/5A cohosted at the same venue. That venue would most likely be wherever the Powers that Be received the best deal on an arena space.

3A would be left alone in Hays.

Then again why don't we take this opportunity to combine into two or three classes and reorganize KS wrestling appropriately....making wrestling a pinacle event in this state.

Wherever the move the Powers that Be must do a better job of generating marketing/media coverage to raise the sports profile. Title IX is killing wrestling on a collegiate level and lack of marketing and promotion is killing wrestling on a Kansas high school level.

It would be ridiculous to move the 6A tournament to a high school gym, even one the size of BV West. The 6A/5A in Topeka and 4A in Salina plan (with hands off 3-2-1A in Hays) makes the most sense by far, and as a coach, that will be what I will urge at Regionals. And Salina would be more than adequate in seating and hotels for 4A.

I would be in favor of 5A in Salina.

I would be all for having 4A & 5A in Salina. I think the Bicenter would have sufficient space. I would guess table workers, etc would be easy to come by with good fan support from several nearby schools (Abilene, Concordia, Clay Center, Salina South, Salina Central, & McPherson) all within an hour. Salina has added several hotels in recent years. Hosting the tournament is a huge undertaking, but I think it is very feasible.