I was disappointed in the size of the factility at Olathe for this years District 1 Tournament.
Dangerous numbers of people in the building.

I was disappointed in the safety zones around the mats, in the way the mats were seperated.


My son wrestled on a mat that had a inch and half difference in height to the next mat. This was the out of bounds line. I thought this was dangerous for ankles when the mats were of that different height.

I was disappointed in the weigh ins. Excluding everyone but wrestlers, means the kids lose clothes, have to come back if they are young and need their nails trimmed. Wrestlers also reported to me limited scales, which really slowed down the process, and use of bathroom scales to weigh. Don't know I couldn't see the scales. I am concerned everytime something is done excluding the adults that work with these kids all year.

I didn't witness, but heard concerns from others about the way spectators were treated by staff.

These were my disappointments, typed in the most polite manner that I can force myself to use. I don't know what everyone else thought. Please post your ideas for Distict 1 wrestling next year.

I was there, and one of the guys at the weigh-in door, which was part of the staff, had yelled at my coach to go change our singlets in the bathroom and approached him in a very angry motion. i was dissapointed that it took over 40 minutes to even get to the doors to weigh in, and then had gotten told to go to the back of the line to change into my singlet when there was a whole gym full of empty bleachers.

I personally think for next year, to not have it in olathe, where it was, but at a more organized and put-together place.

this is my opinion anyway

I agree with everything that you said. Plus, the fact that it was so hot in there, that it made the day even that more miserable. I never ran across the rude staff, because I stayed up in the stands.
I don't know of any other facility in our Dist. that would be big enough without having to use two different rooms or buildings which always makes things alittle more difficult, except for Pittsburg. But, then again, they might not have enough room for the seating, I'm not sure.

Oh, and about the bathroom scales, I seen them go in and I was told by some people also, that they were using them.

yeah it was hot in there also, im sick right now, and dont know what caused it.

the building that it was in probably would've been big enough if they had done a split format.

I heard that Johnson County College might have a big facility. I haven't seen it, so I'm not for certain, I was just told that.

Unknown wrestler, don't critize all of Olathe because of this. We actually had a tournament with 500 kids and it started on time and was finished by 2:00 and had plenty of space.
I heard this was not the first choice and was the back up facility.
I do agree that the staff was horrible for the most part. I had a Barney Fife want to be-I think he was Campus Security in my face about moving out of the door way. I told him to find me a seat and I would. He said there was plenty of seating....yeah right.

I also agree with the abouve posts. There were also people allowed at matside that should not have been. I think it is probably a great place for a smaller tounament but not this type of tournament.

agreed

I agree with all of the above. In addition, not letting parents and grandparents in the building. I understand we were over capacity. If this wasn't the building that was promised at the district meeting, what happened?

And, 6u State had larger mats than 10 and under had in Olathe.

I think it was great to see so much support for kids wrestling. First time I have ever seen a sold out venue for a kids event. I bet thats the biggest crowd that basketball gym has ever had.

Great point Deeohh! A nice problem to have!!

I thought the facility was terriable. This is a exciting time for parents and wrestlers and when you cant even get in the door to see your kid wrestle I think that is terriable. Also the staff was not nice at all, I seen them throwing people out just because they were standing along the rail trying to watch their kid wrestle. Come on people> I hope when you vote for next years District tournament facility its not there.

Hold the event in the mens room and you will be "sold out" every year. Bottomline, these type of situations cause problems for all involved and each district should have the common sense to make sure they don't happen. This is when our sport REALLY becomes dangerous. When you pack people into tight surroundings, tempers flare, as this thread will attest to.
We had simular, although not as bad circumstances in D-2. For whatever reason our coaches/club directors continually vote for coaches hospitality rooms over increased mat size.

I have to agree with sportsfan02 a bit here. Seldom, can you hold a facility to blame.

Also kudos to Olathe South WC, from what I saw, they worked very hard at making their facility work!!

What about Washburn University? I know a few years ago they had Southern Plains and the Topeka Tornado tournament, which were both big tournaments with plenty of seating.

The problem in the past with Washburn is they couldn't commit to our schedule.

If we cant get nobody big to commit we definetly need a split format that was awful if the mats were bigger the outcomes on matches would of had a different outcome some wrestlers got robbed.

Ottawa always ran districts very well and ther is plenty of space with the two gyms

Split format discussion- I asked one the men organizing the district 1 tourney several weeks ago, he will remain nameless as I can't name names on this forum, about running subs and districts as a split format and was told it was too hard for on the director to plan. Split formats had no advantage over the regular format and less flexiblity for the director to run. He really dressed me down for asking. It appears that if District 1 wants a split format it will be only after a motion for a split format at the next meeting. This same gentlemen insinuated in the halls that those who were unhappy with how this tourney was running could easily be removed from this tourney and for next week. He appeared to like power too much for my taste.

I did fail to point out that the awards room at the District 1 Tourney was run very well. They had enough staff, something many tourneys don't have, did their jobs quickly and efficiently, were very patient with wrestlers and people that had questions when I was present.

The hospitality room was great. Good food and nice staff. Don't know whose little girl that was that helped behind the tables in the afternoon. I could tell manners and expectations for her behavior were valued very highly in her family.