I wrestled for Spring Hill (4a) from 95-99' and really appreciated having the state tournament in wichita. Having 3 classes wrestle in the same venue was tremendous! There were excellent matches over on the 5a and 6a mats that i wouldn't have missed for the world. There were plenty of matches that i was too busy to watch........but just having the oppurtunity to watch was great. I still go to the state tournament in wichita just so i can see some great wrestling through all the classes. I remember stepping out on the mat (my first time)at the collesium and feeling overpowered with pride and nerves just by the atmosphere....of having several thousand fans watch you and a couple hundred good wrestlers work their butt off to earn a title. I am a rule 10 coach (dollar coach) at spring hill and just want to beg the powers to be NOT to split 4a up from 5a and 6a.
Also i agree that the wichita mob squad can be compromising to wrestlers, fans, and coaches but i believe its for good reason. At state, there are too many fans and wrestlers (who aren't about to wrestle) who are down at the mats watching the wrestling up close. These guys create part of the cluster that the state tournament has. I believe if the fans would just stay off the stairways (and in the stands) and in their seats (not by the mats) that the mob squad would be a little nicer to us all.
