Article from the Salina Journal


Salina would be ideal as a state wrestling site

By CHRISTIAN D ORR
The Salina Journal
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The Kansas State High School Activities Association isn't ready to start talking about it yet, and people around Wichita don't seem to want to talk about it at all.

But there's a growing possibility that this will be the final year that Wichita serves as host for the state wrestling tournament for classes 6A, 5A and 4A.

My response is simple: Hallelujah.

My solution: Salina is here with open arms.

For several years, coaches, wrestlers and fans have grown increasingly tired of the Kansas Coliseum, its facilities and mostly the attitudes of the people there. It is chaos from the Thursday night before the tournament begins until the final team trophies are handed out and the winning teams hastily shooed out the door.

"Wichita is not hospitable toward the coaches, the fans and most importantly the wrestlers," said Colby coach Mitch Beims, who has said he would be in favor of the state tournament, at least for Class 4A, relocated to Salina's Bicentennial Center.

"I would love to see a 4A tournament at Salina. The Bicentennial Center is a good fit."

Tiffany Greene, Sports and Special Events Coordinator for the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce, said she is aware that changes for state wrestling venues is a possibility and she has talked with Rick Bowden of the Kansas State High School Activities Association about Salina possibly serving as a future host.

"We have let them know that we would welcome an opportunity to host a state championship here whether they keep it all together or they break it up," Greene said. "I think we do have a good facility and the community and volunteers to put it together.

"I know there is a lot of interest in wrestling around here."

There is little doubt that this area would support such an event with communities like Abilene, Clay Center and Concordia all sporting top-notch programs, Salina South continuing its 5A ascent and multiple others in the area that are simply wrestling fans.

The only question is whether the Bicentennial Center is large enough to serve as host to the three larger classes.

But under many of the current proposals, that may not even be an issue. Several coaches at the 4A level have expressed an interest in breaking away from the pack and having their own state tournament at their own site.

My response: Salina is here with open arms.

Another proposal would have Classes 4 and 5A continue to be at one site while Class 6A would break off on its own.

My response: Salina is here with open arms.

Kansas High School Activities Association director Gary Musselman said if the state does decide to change venues for the 2003-2004 school year, Salina would be an option. But at this point the KSHSAA's only focus is on this year's state tournaments.

"Are we looking very seriously at alternative opportunities to host the state tournament? I would say not any more seriously than we always look at other options and alternatives," Musselman said. "I think a lot of this talk has come up because this is the last year of our contract with the Kansas Coliseum."

Personally, I would love to see both the Class 3-2-1A tournament and the 4A tournament in Salina while Classes 5A and 6A wrestle at another site. But there is little chance that Class 3-2-1A would ever leave its home in Hays. The coaches love it in Hays and the people of Hays have done a fabulous job of running it.

The bottom line, however, is very few people want to see any of the tournaments return to Wichita.

"A lot of the coaches, myself included, are not very happy (in Wichita)," said Salina South coach Brent Lane, who is pushing a proposal to bring Classes 4A and 5A to Salina. "I don't know if we can do all three (4A, 5A and 6A) here, but 4A wants it here and I want (5A) here, too.

"I'd love to see it come this way."

I said it before and I'll say it again: Salina is here with open arms.