Will, the idea of having a sigle site for college recruiting is not a worthy arguement. I dont ever remember Jack Spates, Bobby Douglas or even John Smith at a Kansas State Tournament. Yet there are still Kansas kids in those programs. Recruiting takes place @ Fargo, Senior nationals and through coaching contacts. Even if they were in one site, JUCO's cant attend because it is the same weekend as their national tournamnet. I wont disagree that it may make for a more exciting venue although I dont personally agree due to watching a 123A state tournament. It may be more cost efficient but I have never ran the numbers. The best reason for consolidation is it may be best for kids for the HS experience. If a college wants a Kansas athlete they dont have to see them at the state tournament to recruit them.
The head coaches are not the coaches that normally attend the state tournaments to recruit. You are correct, you can get recruited by doing well at Fargo, Sr. Nationals, etc. but wouldn't it be nice if our tournament permitted our kids to get recruited there? Recruiting is a tangent to the other reasons you have mentioned. To me it should be about the fans. We are being deprived of the experience offered by our neighboring states and the majority of others.
I keep hearing that 321A is steadfastly opposed to merging. Not sure why.
Tom,
I would bet the average number of wrestlers out for the sport is the same or greater in 4A than it is in 5A and 6A. I guess KSHSAA is oblivious to the fact the larger schools offer lots of other extracurricular options that smaller schools cannot offer. Not to mention how many kids in metro areas elect to work instead of play.
