Let me start by saying that I wasn't there and that it sounds like the tournament ran as fast as it could have with that many kids. That and I have helped run tournaments (some good, some bad), and I have coached kids and been the parent at different meets around the state, so I do have a little experience with this situation.
That being said, I think that one of the problems with youth wrestling is the long days that the kids have to put in. Again, I am not saying that this tournament was ran poorly, as I am sure it went as good as it could have. And I am not talking about the kids who really take to wrestling and don't mind being there all day. There are certainly plenty of those. I am talking about the young kids who are getting their first taste of wrestling and don't really know if it is "for them". We (the wrestling community as a whole) are losing these kids right from the start. They never get a chance to see if wrestling is "for them" because they are turned off at such a young age (or early on in their careers for the older first time wrestlers). The kids need a more positive experience, especially the youngest ones.
Now, so I won't be bashed, a possible "solution" that might make the day a little better. Why can't we split the event into two different events? I know we would need another venue and more help to run it, but it would cut the workload and the day in half. It doesn't sound like that big of a deal when you think about all of the places in Indy that a slightly smaller tournament could be held at. I don't think it would be a big problem to get more volunteers either, if you could offer a shorter, easier day for them. The length of the event and the hectic nature of a tournament are 2 reasons more people don't volunteer now.
With this change, maybe we would keep a few more kids out long enough to fall in love with wrestling, and at the same time, make the tournaments more enjoyable for the kids, family, fans, and all of the volunteers that make everything happen.