My name is Brian Hargrove and I am Director of Events and Marketing at the Wichita Sports Commission. Myself and Bob Hanson, President & CEO of the Wichita Sports Commission just got off the phone with Jeff Smith and listened to his concerns. We would like to state the following...
#1) - Pavilion II is thoroughly cleaned before the event. Bob and myself each are on hand as the Coliseum staff cleans Pavilion II before the mats are placed in the facility. They use power sweepers and washers, mops, disinfectant and odor control powders.
#2) - The mats used for the event are the same mats used for many other tournaments that your kids may wrestle. We hire eight clubs to assist us in running the tournament and they each provide 1 or 2 mats for the tournament. These clubs are not going to provide "aged mats" that would add risk to kids in this tournament. These clubs that help us each have 50-60 kids wrestling from their own club. Do you really think they are going to give us "aged mats" that could cause harm to their own kids??
#3) - Via Christi Sports Medicine is on site at all times on Friday night during weight ins and Saturday for the entire event. EMS is on hand at all times, also. If there is ever any injury that occurs, we have first class staff on hand to treat injuries.
The reason we put on this event is for the kids. We strive to make this the best, first class event in the state. We take every safety step necessary to make sure that the kids are safe and there are no risks of serious injury. Unfortunately, as is the case in any tournament, injuries happen. They happen in many tournaments that kids wrestles in. It is not because they are wrestling on bad mats or hard floors. It is very similar at many events.
The Sports Commission takes great pride in this tournament and the success that it has had over the past decade. And, we plan on continuing this great tournament for many years to come. We have listened to Jeff's concerns and others and plan on taking safety measures necessary to bring comfort to every parent or coach out there. We know and recognize there are concerns and we plan to address them the best way we can and assure everyone we have the safety of all wrestlers as our number one concern.
We take great pride and make every effort to return all calls and e-mails. If anyone out there has any concerns that they would like to address, please e-mail me at bhargrove@visitwichita.com. I would be more than happy to discuss this with you one on one instead of attacking one another on a message board.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and I will see you on March 8.
Brian Hargrove Director of Events Wichita Sports Commission
