BY JEFF BAHR, jbahr@aberdeennews.com American News

12:05 a.m. AKST, February 22, 2013

“But we do the very best we can,” Brownell said.

The State A wrestling tournament runs today and Saturday at the Watertown Civic Arena. Watertown has about 840 hotel rooms, said Kathy McInroy of the Watertown Convention and Visitors Bureau. If beds run short, Brookings is only about 45 miles away, she said.

Moore said there are certain times of the year when you can use more rooms and there are times of the year that you don't.

“So it just depends, I guess, which end of the spectrum you're on. We just work real hard to make sure everybody's accommodated,” she said.

There are lots of things a city can do to provide additional rooms, Moore said. Many visitors have formed lifelong friendships by staying in private homes, she said.

When the USA Track and Field Region 8 championships are in Aberdeen in July, athletes will be housed at residence halls at Northern State University and possibly Presentation College, Moore said.

In addition to providing housing, local hotels help the State B wrestling tournament in another way. The Aberdeen Hotel Alliance helps pay for the hospitality room at the Barnett Center.

Aberdeen will put out the welcome mat for the Class B boys' basketball tournament March 14-16.

The Class B wrestling tourney will return to Aberdeen a year from now.

Also during the 2013-14 school year, the Hub City will play host to the boys and girls state soccer tournaments in October, the Class A volleyball tournament in November, the gymnastics meet in February 2014 and the Class B boys' basketball tournament in March 2014.