By Jason Tarwater, Sports Editor
For the first time in 30 years, the MSHAA wrestling championships will take place somewhere besides Columbia’s Hearnes Center.
Not to worry, the tournament will be moving across the parking lot to Mizzou Arena in order to accommodate the move from three to four classes.
“That was the total reason for the move,” said Dale Pleimann, MSHSAA assistant executive director in charge of wrestling. “We noticed how much longer it took (in 2005) to try to go with six mats. It took the length of the day.”
With the additional class, the rounds took longer, which led to days that had more than 12 hours of wrestling ” meaning a long day for athletes, officials, coaches and spectators.
At Mizzou Arena, there is enough floor space for eight mats, instead of the six at the Hearnes Center. However, when the building was being built, Pleimann said it was thought there would not be that much floor space.
“That’s what they originally told us,” he said. “They said the floor space would not accommodate the amount of space we needed. It was an arena built for basketball, not a multi-purpose arena. But when they opened it up and did some measuring “¦ they came back and said they have enough space.”
While the extra mats means shorter days for the wrestlers, there are some bittersweet feelings among those closely involved with the sport.
For example, Harrisonville coach Eric DeVenney said he still has strong memories of wrestling at the Hearnes Center, which has hosted the high school championships, as well as other tournaments, since 1975.
“I wrestled kids club there,” DeVenney said. “I’ve gone to Hearnes to wrestle since 1980. It’s part of me. I really like Hearnes. It’s a neat building and a neat facility.”
However, DeVenney, who was part of a coaches committee that recommended moving the tournament, said the growth of the sport in the state has precipitated the move.
“That fact is the sport has grown,” he said. “We’ve outgrown Hearnes. Part of me is sad, but a lot of me is happy because of the growth. We needed a bigger facility. The good outweighs the bad.”
Pleimann said he is happy with the move and said the transition will not be an easy one.
“It will be a challenge to move into someplace new,” he said. “We know where everything is in the old building. It will be a learning experience for everyone.”
The MSHSAA wrestling championships are slated for Feb. 16-18, 2006.
To contact Jason Tarwater, either call 380-3228, extension 2235 or e-mail him
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