While everyone is thinking about it lets talk about the future of the Kids State Tournament. This year the executive board will take bids for the next three state tournaments (with the right involvement this can be changed to one or two years.) In its present format there are only two feasible locations for the tournament, Wichita and Topeka. It has been in Topeka for at least the last eight years (someone can probably give you the entire history. I know that it used to be in Henry Levit Arena, Gross Memorial Coliseum, and the Bicentennial Center before 16U was added.) There are many reasons it should move and I am sure the pro Topeka group can come up with a fair number to keep it there.

I am putting this post up so that a great number of you who are new to wrestling or have never been familiar with the process of chosing the site will learn and get involved. The executive board is comprised of elected and appointed members who will listen to presentations by both cities. There will be lots of points made by both groups. Admission cost, parking cost, bed tax sharing, concessions, bag searches, setup staff, security, etc. The last time this process was done I believe the ball was dropped and the decision became one of emotions instead of one based on the best package and the best interest of the future of the Kids State tournament. District 4's representation joined hands and voted against Wichita in spite of an economic package that was at least as good if not better. It doesn't take a geography expert to figure out that for almost EVERY member of District 4 this created a drive that was one to three hours longer. District 2's representation was not totally in attendance and so key votes were lost. Long story short, because of the way high school state was hosted by Wichita the Kids board vote wound up going to Topeka by one vote.

This decision is one of THE MOST important votes our board makes. YOU must make sure your elected members and district representation attends this meeting. YOU must make sure they are informed and you are informed. I honestly believe the process should require one meeting for presentations and then time to meet as districts to hear the pros and cons on each package and then another meeting to vote. It is my opinion that it is time for a change. The present practice of hotels in Topeka gouging our members is unacceptable. It is unacceptable for our represenatation to accept a bag search and no food/drink policy when nearly no one in our membership wants such. These two cities will FIGHT for this tournament! It is worth thousands of dollars to their economies and our membership should be able to negotiate into the package what WE WANT and what WE NEED! Get involved! Get informed!

Thanks for the information, Will. What venue in Wichita is likely to be in their proposal? Also, for folks traveling from the west/north-west, the coliseum is ~ 85 miles from the I-70/I-135 junction, while the ExpoCenter in Topeka is about ~ 105 miles. If they are coming from the south/south-west, then Wichita is a considerably closer location.

Being in district 1, my family can travel to Topeka in just about an hour, so we don't get fleeced for the motel...helps off-set the cost of the meals. Topeka did a good...no, they did a GREAT job of running yesterday's District tourney and it was really a great venue for that size. First tournament I have been to that there was adequate seating for everyone.

But my memory of the state tournament's there (two and three years ago), it seemed that there was not enough space, like most other tournaments, with the seat saving being worse than I ever imagined.

I agree that we should be able to negotiate things like the bag check/no outside food limitations. That should be involved in any future contract negotiations.

What about Salina Bi Center? Its centered in the middle of the state for everyone. Why is there only the two cities? And why cant there be a sat morning weigh in for people farther away? never did understand that. If you register for a weigh in ahead of time then there wont be so many walk ins. It could be done i think.

i would like to see it in wichita, from scott city it's about 4 hrs, from garden city to wichita around 3 and a half hrs and from dodge city, its around 2 and a half

Hotel rooms in Salina would be an issue there.It would be cool and fair to see it move to each different district every year.

Bring it back to wichita! I am appalled at what the capital plaza hotel does. Making you pay for rooms with a no cancellation or money back policy. We travel a lot and I have NEVER heard of a hotel doing this. We have had to cancel due to illness/injuries etc... and as long as it is within the cancellations policy time frame (usually 24 or less), you are not charged. They don't even have small refrigerators or microwaves. Most places have these now. They try to force you to eat at their expensive hotel restaurant. They are GOUGING us! Take it away from them. There are enough hotels in wichita and around that this would never happen.

Something doesn't sound right about your story gymmom. I'll buy your room back if you have had that problem. There are others standing in line that want rooms at the Capital Plaza for the weekend...just see the other posts on this forum.

i personaly liked the capital plaza, my boy did not make it to state, and were still trying to get a room there to go and support our fellow wrestlers. i would love to buy the room from you as well. let me know,

I for one think that the tournament should be in Wichita or Salina, it would be more centralized. I for one have had problems with hotel help being very rude at two different hotels there.

There are really not enough rooms in Topeka and that is why they are able to get away with making you pay cash up front with a two night minimum stay. Salina and Hays do NOT have adequate lodging opportunities. This is where we have to get outside of the box. We could shorten the season and state would consist of only 8U, 10U, and 12U wrapping up before high school state. Then we could have 14U and 16U after HS state to accomodate HS and MS wrestlers. If we did this the tournament could move from district to district. (Pittsburg, Wichita, Topeka, Hays, Manhattan, Salina).

Mark, The Capital Plaza contracts the rooms and the same clubs have had the rooms in their hands for years. I am pretty sure gymmom is right. She could resell her room but the hotel locks these clubs in. There is no way the average wrestling family is going to get an opportunity to stay there. THe Holiday Inn requires cash only (they will not accept a credit card.) You can compare rates from weekend to weekend (I haven't done this) but I would be willing to bet the rates are higher for this weekend than any other.

well i see it this way, if they are taking advantage of family's because there is not enough rooms. simple move it. wichita would be the ideal place to have it. plenty of rooms, food and all of that. it make sense for them to choose the better location.

i like topeka but what makes sense. the people who decide, should choose a location , that suits everyone and wichita is the perfect place hands down.

Do you folks who think Salina is the center of the state ever get south of I-70? If not, there is a whole big world south of there. To answer your question, the Salina arena is not big enough.

Topeka will be a wreck this weekend.

There is a Teamroping being held at the barn right next to the Expo Center. I have competed in it for several years now. I will be going to watch my son wrestle, so no roping for me this weekend.

Just on the average year half of the south east parking lot is full of ropers with horses and trailers.

I can't understand why they booked both events. I know several ropers that I had called and told them a month ago that rooms will be tight. Of course none of them could get rooms that are usually easy to get a month in advance.

This is going to hurt the roping and make it a complete (even more) mess around the Expo Center this weekend.

Everybody just be prepared for long lines in every resturant and lets all hope the hotels we all have had booked for a long time now hold up their end and don't double book.

On a normal year of this roping two weeks before it there are no rooms.

Everyone please double checks your reservations.

Our club reserved 25 rooms last year. We only needed 20. 5 of our club members wanted to stay on Saturday only. Guess what we either stay both nights or no nights. I'm sure they will jump up the price and make some poor sap pay double.

VOTE WICHITA!!!!

If this event was moved to Wichita I think there would be two great improvements!
1. I think that the room issue would almost totally disappear.
What % of wrestlers at state come out of the immeadiate Wichita area?
20%
25%
30%
I don't know but these people, and their families, and their guest would not need a room! They would get to sleep in their own beds!
2. I think the overall spectator count would go way up! I think more people would come watch because a majority of clubs are in the Wichita area.

There would also be multiple venues that would compete for this event!

I'm looking for downsides here and to ME the pros out weigh the cons!
PLEASE VOTE WICHITA!

I really think it is a high percentage than what you have, but I bet someone could find the number on what clubs are 50-60 miles from Wichita.

The talks need to start as soon as possible, they are already talking with the NCAA to get games in the new arena for 2009 or 2010 I think.

To be real honest for us non-Topekans it is pretty cool for the kids staying in the hotel, the capital etc..

Wichita would just be another wichita tournament after ahwile, but maybe not.

I don't make post very often but I do keep an eye on the Forum. This is one topic I tried not to post on but felt like I had to. For the most part I agree with Will C. and it is clear that he has talked in depth with the right people about this subject. However, Will I would like to talk with you and hear more on the parts I am not sure I agree with you on. If we can find time this weekend let's try to talk.

Jess Keith

now make sure that nobody goes over to the team roping and gets horse crap on their shoes and drags it in on the wrestling mats. im sure the same people that complained about the classic will be waiting foaming at the mouth just looking for a chance to get on here and complain about it.

Their bid to host the first round in 2010 was just denied by the NCAA. This should never be a problem because they would only host first round games if ever accepted and those would be the week of our district tournaments.