MHSTeCA's Forum Page

Topic:

Please let us know your opinion regarding having one site (Midland) for all state finals.

Basis: This may mean that Friday we play at separate sites to get down to the semi-finals and then head to Midland for Saturday. It may be good for our sport and make the all-state selections easier.

Other Coaches Opinions

NAME	COMMENTS
Tom Kudwa	Finals all at one site... Personally, I have a difficult enough time keeping track of one Division in a city/area. I'd like to keep it as is? Would there be enough indoor courts to complete all divisions in the same area if it rains both days? How about hotels and parking? I don't want to stay 40 miles away because everything is booked up. Especially a problem if something else is in town the same weekend. I like 4 sites. Spread the financial wealth around also.
Larry Brown	We should keep the way we do it now. Planning on going to the state finals with hotels, rides, food, etcÉ is already a huge process. Changing sites in the middle of this does not make sense. We need to keep down our costs for the schools, parents, and kids. Especially in today economic situations with schools.
Jim D'Angelo	No thank you. Too much travel. Added cost to schools or parents. Why go, e.g., from Kzoo across the state to Midland??
Mike Finton	Sending the finals to one site would be detrimental to the players travelling from one site, (possibly 3 hours away) to Midland. Often semifinal matches do not end until early to late evening having some players arrive in Midland at 11 or 12 o’clock which gives finalist little time to rest before playing the final match at 8:00 in the morning. Keeping the finals in the city they began in allows the finalists ample time to recuperate for the final match. Also if the tournament stays in the same city teams that wish to stay and watch the tournament can more easily view the entire tournament.
Al Nelson	No, finals are great the way they are!
Chuck Parker	The idea of being able to watch the semi-finals and finals of the best players in the state at one location sounds very appealing, but I have to vote with those who see the travel implications of having a second site for the semis and finals as too much of a burden on players, coaches, parents and schools.
Larry Nykerk	The State Finals needs to begin and end at the same location. Travel/hotels in two different cities for two different nights- I don't think so.
Annie Murphy	I am not in favor of adding travel on the second day of states to get to the final matches. Travel and motel accomodations are hard enough as is without adding another site to the state tournaments. Also, for those players (and parents) not in the finals, but wanting to stay to support their teammates, it makes more sense to stay at the same site for the duration of the tournament.
Dennis Jokela	Sorry we don't play in that district but I do have some input on finals. Our final started out at Buchanan (regional) and then ended in Kalamazoo (final) which is fine with me. My question is whoever came up with the idea that team banners were not allowed at the final. At the regional in Buchanan no one said anything. At the state final in Kalamazoo I was told by an "official" that no team banners were allowed at the final. Who came up wit that bright idea? Certainly we would not want students to proud of their school and being at the final. Some backwards thinking there.
J.R. Muniz	Over the years our coaches association has prided itself on putting player first. Adding travel to another site the next day seems counter to this goal. A player is best served under the current format. School budgets and parent budgets also do not need further stress. I am not in favor of all finals being played at one site the very next day. Starting competition on a Thursday might work, thus allowing for a day for travel. Still more logistics would need to be worked out.
Margaret Ruemenapp	It sounds like a good idea but we live 3 ½ hrs from Jenison- where our state tournament is held- it would be a 2 ½ hr trip to Midland and then we are 2 ½ hours from our home in Petoskey. It is a great deal of traveling for a Friday-Saturday event. This is my initial reaction.
Charlie Bassett	THERE IS NO WAY IN THIS TIME OF MONEY PROBLEMS THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER THIS. AS A COACH I WOULD NOT WANT TO HAVE MY PLAYERS PLAY AT JENISON ON FRIDAY AND THEN HAVE TO GO TO MIDLAND THE NEXT DAY. IN FACT I THINK IT IS A JOKE TO EVEN ASK THE COACHES AND PLAYERS AND THEN THE SCHOOLS TO PAY FOR ALL THIS TRAVEL. WE HAVE A ENOUGH PROBLEMS AND TO ADD THIS WILL NOT HELP ANYTHING. THIS IS A BAD IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dan Bittner	Could be a great idea, but I would love to see the logistics (i.e. hotels accomodations, travel, rain delays, etc...) explained.