May 10, 2011
To: Class 3A-2A-1A Member Senior High School Principals and Athletic Directors
From: Gary Musselman, Executive Director
Rick Bowden, Assistant Executive Director
Subject: 2012 KSHSAA State Wrestling Tournament – Date Change
We have recently been contacted by the Athletic Department of Fort Hays State University regarding a schedule
conflict with their facility on the dates of next year’s KSHSAA Class 3-2-1A state wrestling tournament. FHSU
has been identified by the members of the RMAC Conference and the NCAA, to host the NCAA Division II West
Regional Wrestling Tournament on Saturday and Sunday, February 25 & 26, 2012. This opportunity occurs
infrequently for FHSU. Their last NCAA regional was in 2003 with a one day format on Sunday. With an
increasing number of universities now involved, a two day format is required by the NCAA.
After discussing options and ramifications with FHSU, the KSHSAA Executive Board approved a change in
the schedule of this tournament for 2012 only. Accordingly, the KSHSAA will schedule the 2012 state
tournament for Class 3A-2A-1A schools, one day earlier. The 2012 tournament will be conducted on
Thursday and Friday, February 23rd & 24th, utilizing the same time schedule and competition format used in
recent years.
While it is never easy to make a change in a state tournament schedule, our highest priority is to protect the
integrity of the event for the participating student athletes. It is hoped this early notice will allow you to make the
necessary changes to your school calendars, travel and lodging plans.
Considerations which played a major role in the decision to advance the schedule one day, to a Thursday
and Friday tournament include:
1. Maintain the time schedule and competition format of the event to ensure athletes competing in 2012
have the same quality experience as those in recent years.
2. Ensure availability of hotel rooms in Hays and the surrounding communities to adequately serve the
needs of our member schools, their teams and fans.
3. To ensure the event continues to be held in an outstanding venue our member schools appreciate, and is
staffed by competent and capable volunteers FHSU arranges.
4. To ensure a change in this tournament would not negatively impact our other state wrestling
tournaments
By providing you with this early notification, we hope you will begin immediately to modify your plans for
hotel reservations and make other adjustments as needed. Fort Hays State University’s Athletic Department
will make accommodations in their wrestling rooms and PE Complex, for schools arriving on Wednesday night, to
have time and space to work out. The time schedule of the two day meet will be exactly the same as last year’s
tournament with the exception that competition will begin on Thursday morning and conclude on Friday
evening. Thank you for understanding and supporting our efforts to provide a quality tournament for our young
people.

Not a fan of this idea. Move us to another location for a year. Our kids loose a day to make weight. They're out of school another day. There were better options than this.

Definitely agree with you Tim !!!!!

I though the reason we couldn't have all the classes at one state tournament was due to the fact that KSHSAA did not want a three-day tournament because it would mean more days of missed classes! This looks like more days of missed classes to me! HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM?????????????????

Come on over to Salina the water is warm!

I think this would be a travesty if we were being bumped for another sport (ie a basketball regional), but this is a tremendous opportunity for Fort Hays State Wrestling and the wrestling community as a whole. What a great weekend to be in Hays.

I understand that it creates more of a hardship, on the weight cutting aspect. I might have a different perspective if I were still coaching, but from a fan's view, this is pretty cool. I also see it as a great opportunity to promote our high school athletes. With coaches in town for atleast a portion of our state tournament, our kansas kids (especially the 321 A kids) will be able to showcase their talents.

Administratively, I think it would have been a nightmare to change venues.

Why would KSHAA allow FHSU to dictate what we do? KSHAA should have nothing but the best interests of our Kansas student-athletes in mind. And I don't think changing our State Tournament to benefit FHSU is what's best for our young men and women. That being said, I'll probably go watch 4A on Saturday and head to Hays on Sunday. But it's still disrespectful to the 321A wrestling community.

On the contrary, I think it's a compliment to 321A wrestling community, that FHSU is willing to still host, just asking for a date change. If they really wanted to, FHSU could have said, "Sorry, KSHSAA/321A, we're hosting a Regional & you're out, cause we need to set up for OUR tournament! Besides, the colleges would rather not have people in the way, when they arrive on Friday and would like to work out."

It may not be ideal, but A) where else would 321A go? B) Like Jason said, look at the exposure that 321A will get, once those college coaches get wind of the state tournament taking place the couple of days before their's!

At least the KSHSAA got the news out now, instead of waiting for late-summer/Coaching School or fall.

Should make the motel room availability interesting and also how much will they increase there room prices? I Hate to see the Thursday Friday format>

Last year it was so cool to see so many of our community travel to Hays to watch our wrestlers in the finals on Saturday. This will hurt fan attendance as well as students attending. The wrestlers work so hard all year - just doesn't seem fair to them.

I'll bet that most of the coaches and teams will be there during the High School tourney. This is a good thing for the Kansas wrestling community. It would be interesting to see how many kids get signed to wrestle in college because of this. So I have to take another day off work next year. Wouldn't miss it!

Attendance will not be an issue. Plus Hays has plenty of room now and if you need to spill over to Ellis, they have a fantastic Days Inn 15 miles down I70. I stayed in it last year at under $80/night.

I think this is a WIN-WIN!

.

If the motel rooms in Hays are full, you're all more than welcome to stay at Bill DeWitt's home

If everybody is cool with a Ramen Noodle continental breakfast, then I am game. If not, I will bet that Holiday has an empty garage space he would rent out, but it won't be cheap.

i know that there is no way itll happen, but i would love to see all classes at intrust bank arena.. maybe do a thurs, fri, sat.
i used to love seeing 4-5-6A at the Colosseum. i couldnt imagine if 321 was added. just my thoughts.

derek alley

Bill,
I'm disappointed by your inhospitable nature. On an administrator's salary, I would expect you to cater in breakfast from the Golden Ox (if the health inspector hasn't shut it down), Varnies for lunch (double bacon chili cheese burger), Al's Chickenette for dinner, and a 2 am dash to Taco Shop after an evening at the Q. A 4 day weekend at DeWitt's house, priceless.

PS - We might be able to squeeze in a trip to Grande and Gutierrez.

Then we can stroll on over to The Home, where I am certain "Tootsie Roll" will be playing on the dance floor, and then hang around after closing time to watch some chump get beat up next the rail road tracks for trying to hit on some guy's girlfriend. That would just about do it.