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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,327
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Joined: Sep 2001
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Watch the match associated with the link below. Notice how wrestlers and fans are seated RIGHT NEXT to the mat. You will find this same setup in the finals of the Ironman. Fans are allowed to be next to the action. It is exciting for the wreslters and for the fans. Why do we, here in Kansas, push the crowd as far back from the action as possible? The 4A finals would be awesome if they were on a raised platform with bleachers around the the podium. We push the parents, wrestlers and fans so far away that it becomes as silent as a golf tournament. Lets make it more for fun for the wrestlers! The officials should focus on the action inside the circle and the AD's should organize the crowd control and allow teammates to be on the side of the mat cheering the wreslters on. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7WQ3vdVcD0
Will Cokeley (708)267-6615 willcokeley@gmail.com
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,267
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This all sounds like a great idea, but since the start time of finals has been bumped forward setting up a plat formed mat will take far too long. Also, I don't know if all of the facilities would have the plat form equipment. From what I've heard Fort Hays State has started to use this type of format for duals. I would imagine that the Bicentennial Center and Intrust Bank Arena both have stage equipment for concerts, so it may not be a huge problem. If platforms were not utilized and people were allowed onto the floor of the state finals it would pose a safety and sight problem for the crowd.
With the bigger venues in Salina and Wichita security really cracks down on keeping the masses from flooding the floor, so it is not as noisy as it could be. Both venues lack the acoustics of Gross Memorial, because of the sheer size of the arenas noise seems to float to the rafters rather than the ears. Wichita has the problem of having two state finals at once which keeps at times half the crowd focused on one match and vice versa. At Hays there always seems to be an abundance of people on the floor who are not wrestlers and it is a smaller venue, so it gets much louder for the finals. It would like to see this happen just because of the excitement it would bring to the matches, but only if platforms were used.
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,143
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The biggest problem with all of this, is the lack of crowd support at the finals. Most kids attend day 1, because it gets them out of school, and can ride the bus. Few come back for day 2. Then as Richard Robert points out, some of the crowd is focused on something else. Many times the crowd really has no favorite in the match. When you don't care who wins, you don't cheer as loud.
I defenitely agree with both of you, make the sport a bigger deal, in Kansas. I have lobbied on the kids forums to have tournament directors/ anouncers to mention matches over the p.a. system matches that involve two elite wrestlers. These match-ups happen all the time, and most people have no clue. We all seem to focus on our kid, school, area.
For the finals at high school state, raise the mats onto a platform, spotlight the mat, make it a huge deal in the announcements, and make it a huge deal in KS. And let's see what we can do to get more media coverage, the COX cable coverage has been great, the last couple of years. It's only 5a and 6a though.
"with attitude, will, and some spirit"
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 413
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If 4A would come to Wichita they could get some coverage as well! 
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,538
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The way it sounds 4A won't be leaving Salina for a while
Alex R. Ryan KSHSAA Official #15616 USAWKS Official #707
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