FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - The Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) announced last week to its membership that the 2024 Class 3-2-1A Boys State Wrestling Tournament will be held in Salina.
Fort Hays State University has home conference basketball games scheduled that weekend in February that involve four MIAA institutions, conflicting with dates of the state wrestling tournament.
"We realize the significance to our community of facilitating multiple events throughout the year," FHSU Director of Athletics Curtis Hammeke said. "Our staff works diligently attempting to balance these events with our own schedules. When we realized that solutions for solving the basketball conflict were not realistic logistically, we began to explore alternatives to keep a tournament in Hays."
"The Kansas State High School Activities Association appreciates the longstanding efforts of the Fort Hays State University Athletic Department and the Hays community in providing championship caliber efforts while hosting state championship events for our member school students and communities," KSHSAA Executive Director Bill Faflick said. "We truly appreciate the FHSU administrators in trying to creatively solve the scheduling conflict. This move for next year is no indication that KSHSAA is moving the state wrestling event permanently. We analyze our sites for all our state championships annually to make the best decisions for our schools and hosts."
FHSU proposed to host the Girls 4A-1A state tournament the week before on Thursday, February 15 and Friday, February 16, along with a Boys regional on Saturday, February 17. Eventually, KSHSAA opted to have both tournaments in Salina over a three day period during the traditional championship week.
"We felt like we had a good proposal, but an alternative concept was selected," Hammeke said. "We remain hopeful to have either a boys or girls state wrestling championship in Hays in the future. We have a good working relationship with KSHSAA and will continue to work to accommodate these special events to the best of our ability."