EDITORIAL  –  Re:  Minor Sports “State Tournaments” – This is going to come off as Sour Grapes, but that’s OK.  On the boys side, Ryle was obvioulsy the better of our two teams, having defeated us a combined 10-0 this season.  My problem is that the KH$AA satellites and Regionalizes these Minor Sports.  While I personally don’t care much for the game of Soccer, it involves more student-athletes than all sports outside of Football, and generates big bucks (Bluegrass Games, Soccerama, etc.).  I wasn’t there, but I’m guessing that the only thing that felt like a “State Tournament” at Ryle or Highlands were the admission prices.  Our games with Ryle and Highlands had to feel like just another regular season contest.  I remember in earlier days, Lexington teams coming to NKU to play our teams in a proper “State Tournament” setting when we were the host.  However, the KH$AA, namely Commissioner Julian Tackett who is retiring, takes the easy way out, and has for years, now with the regionalized “SubState” setup.  Win-Win for the KH$AA, they don’t have to get involved until the Final Four.     The All “A” which is strapped for funds does a better job, making their State Tournaments feel special than does the KH$AA.  Even the next round games are satellites, and then the Final Four goes to Paul Laurence Dunbar High School – four teams, and finally the finals goes to the Pro Soccer facility in Lexington.  Two teams will play in a genuine “State Tournament” environment.  Tackett showed his penny-pinching tendencies when Riherds Scoreboards, exclusive to the State of Kentucky, were abandoned for Arbiter, a National Service, which underperforms about as badly as I predicted, and didn’t take over Riherds, or hire someone to take it over.  It was the premiere stats venue, maybe in the world.

Our Volleyball Team, should they win the Regional as expected, will be relegated to some Regional High School.  Our last Volleyball Regional Champ went to Boyd County High School outside of Ashland, and played in front of a half-empty gym.  The All “A” sends all 16 teams to Owensboro. making being a regional champion something special.  Football, due to the fact that teams can only play one game a week, only play their State Championships at Kroger Field in Lexington.  All 16 Regional Champion Basketball Teams play in Rupp. 

There is something wrong about a team practicing all summer, playing a 25-some game schedule, winning a Regional Title, and then being rewarded with an away game at Ryle or Highlands, compliments of the KH$AA.  I’m guessing that not too many of our Soccer players will be telling their grandkids about their “State Tournament” experience.   Too Bad!

DS