I've wrestled in the Bicentennial center, and the colesium. I thought that the Bicentennial was much better. I thought the colesium was great, but there wasnt too much emphasis put on the finals. This year the finals for 4a were the most exciting ones ive seen all throught high school. That was because all the focus was on the only match in the areana. When you have multiple classes in one arena, i feel that not everyone is focussed on the match in their class. I think it would be great if 5&6a found an areana together again, but i liked 4a in salina. Why are 5&6a trying to find a new venue?

5 and 6a are trying to find a new venue partially because of the renovation project of the facility down there.

4a finals this year although also in Salina last year were probably more better in the sophomore season because of the learning curve of hosting it in year 1. The spotlight was a great touch and don't forget when the local teams have success you are going to have more butts in the chairs. Last year Clay Center had 0 in the finals and Abilene 1. This year you had a healthy mix of local schools with talent spread throughout.

I believe in a single venue, with a 3 day tournament, each class could easily have their own final and many, like myself, would be there to watch all four classes. Something that is totally impossible now. I know another taboo subject, and will likely never happen, but if looking at a Thursday weigh in, Start wrestling Thursday night, and then wrestle Thursday, Friday, and then finals on Saturday, it would be possible. I know a lot of teams could do that as they already miss school to arrive the day before in some cases for the tournament. The other thing, really taboo, is a Sunday option, but I won't mention that option for the fear of getting some folks too upset.

Shane,

That response is over the top. Sean is fully invested in the growth of our Kansas kids. Nobody ever suggested that Bowden and Musselman don't care. He is just laying out the possibilities for the wrestling community. It was great to see the seating capacity and features for each of the venues. Sean didn't "jump" on the forum and "gripe". Your post however, included both of those verbs and an adjective called "unstable".

- Eric Johnson

The real solution is to combine 4A,5A,and 6A. Less medals (maybe then the KSHSAA could afford something that is respectalbe), less wrestlers, less hotel rooms required, etc. Two state champs per weight class in a state with only 2.7M folks seems adequate when compared to other states. As far as talking to Bowden, Musselman, etc. they just keep saying they are doing what the member schools want them to do. Your guess is good as mine as to how you really instigate change. I am sure this isn't the place but it is enjoyable to read all of the data and opinions. As it stands today we have too many kids competing in 5A and 6A state. There is consistently a significant percentage of competitors with losing records and the quality of wrestling from top to bottom isn't as good as it should be. At the very least they should be combined. Smokey, keep up the good work!

If you combined 4a, 5a, and 6a you would have 128 of the most populated schools in one division and 64 less populated schools in the other. Real solution?

Let's just combine 5&6A so the qualifying process is the same as the other classes...

How many 321A schools field a wrestling team?

Enough to require 16 man brackets at regionals, the rare exceptions you will have a 8 man, even in 4A you will rarely get a 8 man regional.

I would like to see one State tournament and not 2 or 3. We should have one legitimate state champ. Having 2, 3, or 4 waters down the prestige of the title. This would solve the problem of coaches recruiting, there would be no more questions about a possible Grand State, and I doubt that there would anymore losing records at state. One tournament should solve the problem of a venue and cut the operation cost for KSHSAA. Qualify the top 32 wrestlers per weight class instead of 64 and medal the top 8 or 10 kids. Granted, 32 man brackets would take longer to wrestle out, but I think it would only take maybe a day longer. I also think this would elevate the prestige of the sport in Kansas.
Again, as I said in an earlier post if California can do it so can we.

I say you have one sight with one bracket for each weight. Take the 16- 123a, 16- 4a, 16- 5a, and 16- 6a guys from each weight and wrestle one 64 man bracket except have each classification have their own seperate awards. Then after the awards for each quarter of the 64 man bracket are awarded finish wrestling out the tournament in the 64 man style. This would allow for each classification to have one state champ and for there to also be a grand state champion. You can also keep team points for each classification and for grand state also.

Why not keep the classes as they are, take the top four placers from 321A,4A,5A and 6A put them in a sixteen man bracket and crown a single state champ.

tbau,

As it has been stated many many times on this forum, KSHSAA will not do another "Grand State" like you propose, for time and money reasons.

Also as Shane said KSHSAA is committed to allowing 3A to host a state tournament as long as they want it.

I agree with Will on this one. I really wish they would combine all the classes into 1. We should have 4 "super regionals" which geographically split the state into four regions much like USAWKS does. I don't really care what the logistics of the split is. Each super regional will have 8 man brackets top 4 from each super qualifies for State.

Each Super Region would qualify 4 from two regionals held the week before Super Regional week. I know a lot of schools would not like that because that is the week that many host their league or city tournaments. To this I say they can either get rid of the league tournament OR they can shorten their regular season by one less tournament. I know when I wrestled we went to some pretty weak tournaments that I wouldn't have minded missing. Keep in mind with this plan the total season length remains the same. And in effect you get a little tougher schedule because you add one tournament (regional) that will have some decent competition. I don't really like the idea of 8 man brackets at super regional but its either that or host 4 regionals in each super region, and that may not be possible because some areas in western Kansas don't have 32 teams to compete in this 4 regular regions.

Anyway this is assuming that all classes want to compete for 1 state champion and would require FHSU to give up their tournament which they won't do. It is in effect much like the California system.

i really dont see the time problem for a grand state. why not just move regionals and state up a week if they didnt want to go later in the season. a lot of states including missouri already have state that week. also i think grand state would potentially make money. i dont know, maybe KSHSAA wont do a grand state for whatever reasons and it may not be feasible. i won't claim to be the one with the most knowledge on the subject.

If KSHSAA doesn't want grand state, then the KWCA should host it independently. We should have it almost like an 18 and under state, except the 4 state tournaments be "district championships"

I like your idea.

Your smart for that!