Originally posted by Ryan Jilka:
First of all, who said 5A and 6A like state in Wichita? Do you really think that because we're used to a bigger town, we like what happens there? The thing I like about state in Wichita is that it is crowded, there are 3 classes to see, and it is better for wrestling! I did not say wrestlers, but wrestling.
If you want comfort, Goddard High School could host a 16 man tournament. Won't that be fun. "Guess what guys, because we can put on a better hospitality room and the fans can get home an hour earlier, you get to come to school for State!"
Real fans want the wrestling atmosphere and will put up with some poor accomodations for the sake of good wrestling. I don't blame 4A for wanting a better place, but if you can possibly explain to me how it will help wrestling as a whole, please do. I coach at a 6A school, but I care much more for the sport than my own comfort.
Sometimes I feel that the thing that keeps wrestling from getting the recognition it deserves is not it's complexity, basketball, the media, or title IX, but it is us! We rip on each other for weak regionals. We accuse teams of recruiting. We spend hours debating which class is better. What in the hell would happen if we actually spent the same energy promoting our sport?????
Amen to what Coach Jilka says! But Coach don't blame even a majority of 4A coaches for wanting to split the tournament. As far as I can find out, it's still a small group who want this split.
