sportfan02,
Klint is correct that I and the group that I was involved with are interested in getting NCAA Division I wrestling in Kansas would be very happy for it to start anywhere in Kansas.
This is actually kind of funny to me because I know that several years ago I remember posting on some topic that I thought that WSU would seem to me to be the most logical place for it to happen it Kansas. Unfortunately, I have not been able to locate that post I made a few years ago. I also remember suggesting on another post that I would hope that if WSU would start a team that the Big 12 would allow it to join the conference as a wrestling school. My suggestion for WSU as the most likely place to start a program was due to the great Kids programs that I was seeing in District 2 at that time and the overall enthusiam for wrestling that I was seeing from Wichita which I saw as a major metropolitan city in Kansas that would draw well for wrestling.
When announcements were made that KU would receive all the money over the next few years from the ESPN and adidas contracts last spring, I felt that it could be a good rallying point to get our wrestling community involved in promoting the establishment of a NCAA Division I team in Kansas. I like the Lawrence location also due to its proximity to KC and Topeka. I believe that would help for attendance and media exposure. I am attracted to the possibility of KSU starting a program due to the strong local community support that I can see manifested in the support that is currently being given to the KSU club team. I still think a team could be strongly supported at WSU due to the popularity of wrestling in Wichita and the surrounding area.
I really would like to see NCAA Division I wrestling at all three in the near future (WSU, KU and KSU). I would also like to see another Division II program at Pittsburg and Washburn. I also want to see us support all of them when it happens. I may be an idealist about this but I believe it will happen someday. I may never see it but I really believe it will happen because I believe in this sport and what it does for kids.
sportsfan02, I was not trying to slight WSU and I don't believe Mr. Witulski was trying to do that either. I think you and I both know that he would love to see it at WSU too. Perhaps he should have made his letter to be a double dual with all three there (WSU, KSU and KU). It can happen someday. We need to try to make it happen. We all know it is not going to be easy. Maybe we are going to have to focus on one of them first and maybe that should be WSU. I really don't know but I think we need to give Mr. Witulski a chance and I agree with Klint that we should just all sign up to join his effort now. I am willing to call a truce on this now if you are.
