It is the belief of the TMSAA state committee that students should have to wait till high school to enjoy a state tournament. There are several reasons, cost of travel is one. Middle schools do not have the budgets high schools have.
A little known fact is that TSSAA (TMSAA) does not make one cent from ANY middle school tournaments. Schools taking part split every dollar made, so there would be no reason for TSSAA to support this for a $ reason. As was said eariler, principals do not want this. Maybe some day this will change but not anytime soon.