Because it's right at the intersection of the 2 major Interstate Highways for one, but if you want a more technical answer:
Salina: from the western border of Kansas is 59.9% of the way across the state. From the southern border it is 61.11%
Emporia: from the western border of Kansas is 78.79% of the way across the state. From the southern border it is 46.29%.
The State of Kansas is approximately 400 miles from East to West and 210 Miles from North to South. Based on the above percentages, if you calculated the distance from the exact center of Kansas, Salina lies 38.36 miles East and 23.33 miles North of the exact center of Kansas. Emporia lies 115.16 miles East and 7.79 miles South of the exact center. So if driven only moving in a perpindicular fashion (North, South, East, and West only) Salina is 61.26 miles closer to the center of Kansas than Emporia is. If you go "as the crow flies" Salina is 44.90 miles from the center of Kansas whereas Emporia is 115.42 miles. For the record, the closest city to the center would be Great Bend which is approximately 15 miles away from the center of Kansas.
Like I said, it's fine when it's in Topeka right before kids state, but it would be nice if it were set up a little more central when it is not possible to have it at the expocentre.
It's a huge honor to be asked to wrestle in the East West or Big School Small School Classic, and most parents and kids are more than willing to make the drive to such a prestigious event no matter where it is located. I was just agreeing that it is always held in the Eastern half...and I like math problems
