While Dual State has consistently shown overwhelming coach support the past two years, the sate schedule change idea has not actually been discussed yet as a proposal topic at a KWCA meeting. It was brought up last year after the KWCA proposals were set and will not come up until this year's Nov. 1-2 meeting in Salina. We'll have to wait and see if it is supported or not. I have heard a handful of coaches in favor of the idea, and have not heard anybody yet oppose, but that could change in Nov.
I personally like the idea. I'm yet to hear an argument that has made me change my stance, but that could change in Salina when all the coaches have a chance to hash out pros/cons. The one legitimate concern I have heard is that doing semis on three mats could make it difficult for some coaches to keep up with their kids in such a crucial round. I know coaches would hate to have a kid wrestle in a state semi-final without their head coach, but I also know that happens every year as we currently do it anyway.
I also am not in favor of closing down a mat to only two at state. I am all for speeding up the tourney and getting fans/kids out of the arena as early as possible, less mats means more time. I think we harm our sport by making fans sit for hours upon hours in gyms all winter. It's important to keep in mind many parents/fans aren't as gung-ho about wrestling as us coaches and die-hard fans. And wrestling needs all the fans we can get, even the ones that are not as "addicted" as many of us who have devoted a large part of our lives to the sport.
I can report on the state schedule change proposal after the Salina meeting to follow up. If supported it would go before KSHSAA in April for 2004 tourney.
Kit Harris
Baldwin HS