Prant,
If the tournament is moved a split is required because no other facility can offer the amount of floor space needed. This is the first I have heard of the 4 mats per class being used. Even the Coliseum wouldn't be able to accomodate that amount at one time. If the 4 mats is the plan then a split is required regardless of where held. The only alternative if you want to keep all 3 classes together is to drop the 5th and 6th place wrestle offs and keep it at the Coliseum. I'm old school and was against the 5th and 6th place matches when they were adopted. Speaking as one of the many volunteers, the tournament used to be a very pleasant experience prior to adding those matches but since has become a real grind. We used to have some breaks to enjoy the experience and be able to go out for a nice dinner prior to the start of the finals which now time does not allow. I agree that the tournament should be kept together in one place at all costs as it is the one thing that gives us any major media coverage during the season. Move some of it to Topeka and Salina and see how many stations send reporters and trucks from Wichita. Likewise see how many are sent from Topeka to Salina if part of the tournament is being held in Topeka. This is the one time of year we actually get to see coverage of wrestling on the local airwaves and in the Wichita Eagle.
