WRESTLING FANS!

You don't want to miss this weekend's 2006 Senior Classic.

This year's dual will be held at Abilene High School on Sunday, March 19, starting at 3 p.m.

The meet will feature Kansas' top seniors in a "Big Schools" (5A-6A) vs. "Small Schools (4A-321A) dual.

The Big Schools team will be coached by 6A State Champion coach Ryan Jilka of Goddard and 5A State Runner-Up coach Tim Dryden of Wichita-Kapaun Mt. Carmel. The Small Schools team will be under the direction of 4A State Champion coach Rick Rivera of Andale and 321A State Champion coach Bill Johnson of Norton.

I will post lineups as soon as the final list is submitted to me.

COME SUPPORT THE BEST OF KANSAS WRESTLING!

This is the most up-to-date lineup for the 2006 SENIOR CLASSIC.

CONGRATS TO THESE WRESTLERS FOR BEING SELECTED. Good luck on Sunday!

RED TEAM/SMALL SCHOOLS (4A & 321A)
vs.
BLUE TEAM/BIG SCHOOLS (6A & 5A)

103 lbs.:
Nash Burtin, Eureka (321A), 4th-1st-3rd-1st
vs.
Donte Rogers, Wichita Northwest (6A), 3rd

112 lbs:
Matt Rein, Abilene (4A), 2nd-1st
vs.
Joey Stephens, Derby (6A), 2nd

119 lbs.:
Clay Madden, Norton (321A), 4x champion
vs.
Kenneth Livengood, Blue Valley N. (6A), 5th-3rd-2nd-1st

125 lbs.:
Tanner Dawson, Abilene (4A), 1st-2nd-3rd
vs.
Nick Nothern, Salina South (5A), 2nd–2nd–1st

130 lbs.:
Tait Weatherbee, TMP-Hays (4A), 2nd-2nd-4th-1st
vs.
Tristen Deshazer, Wichita West (5A), 4x champion

135 lbs.:
Logan Dreiling, Scott City (4A), 1st
vs.
Daniel Munoz, Wichita South (6A), 3rd-5th

140 lbs.:
Cole Garcia, Colby (4A), 2nd-1st-1st
vs.
Brett Hoshaw, Manhattan (6A), 3rd-1st

140 lbs.:
Travis Warner, Smith Center (321A), 4th–1st
vs.
Matt Mahan, Shawnee Mission South (6A), 4th

145 lbs.:
A.J. Heckel, Ulysses (4A), 3rd-5th-1st
vs.
Will Gray, Wichita Heights (6A), 6th

145 lbs.:
Taylor Finley, Colby (4A), 6th-3rd-2nd
vs.
Ryan McKoon, Paola (5A), 5th

152 lbs.:
Luke Pfannenstiel, Norton (321A), 5th-4th-1st
vs.
David Loos, Bishop Carroll (5A), 2nd-2nd-1st

160 lbs.:
Lance Roe, Norton (321A), 5th-4th-1st-1st
vs.
Frank Jonas, Kapaun (5A), 1st-2nd-1st-1st

171 lbs.:
James Wright, Beloit (321A), 5th-1st
vs.
Bryan Irsik, Garden City (6A), 6th-2nd

171/189 lbs.:
Dustin Bartlett, Atchison (4A), 2nd
vs.
Chris Bertucci, Junction City (6A), 3rd

189 lbs.:
Chris Sutton-Kearn, Concordia (4A), 2nd
vs.
Jesse Hardy, Lawrence Free State (6A), 5th-3rd-4th

215 lbs.:
Jesse Strawn, Holton (4A), 2nd-2nd-1st-1st
vs.
Jarrett Edison, Wichita Northwest (6A), 4th-2nd-1st

215 lbs.:
Tim Erwin, Hoxie (321A), 3rd
vs.
Justin Naccarato, Valley Center (5A), 4th-1st

275 lbs.:
Donte Jones, Bishop Ward (4A), 3rd
vs.
Xavier Louis, Wichita South (6A), 2nd-2nd

SMALL SCHOOLS COACHES:
Bill Johnson, Norton, 321A State Champions
Rick Rivera, Andale, 4A State Champions

BIG SCHOOLS COACHES:
Tim Dryden, Kapaun, 5A State Runner-up
Ryan Jilka, Goddard, 6A State Champions

Some fun facts...
(if these lineups hold up...may still be some changes)

7 321A wrestlers
11 4A wrestlers
8 5A wrestlers
10 6A wrestlers

38 total state gold medals
(20 small schools, 18 big schools)

88 total state medals
(46 small schools, 42 big schools)

2 four-time state champions
(1 small schools, 1 big schools)

Last year's result:
Big Schools 42, Small Schools 33
(it was the first year of the "big vs. small" concept)

Also, the following STATE RECORD breakers will be honored at the beginning of the dual. CONGRATULATIONS!

CAREER-MOST WINS
Kenneth Livengood, Blue Valley North, 166

CAREER-MOST FALLS
Neil Erisman, DeSoto, 116

CAREER-TEAM POINTS
Tyler Baker, Hoxie, 1006.5

CAREER-3POINT NEARFALLS
Tristen Deshazer, Wichita West, 186

CAREER-2POINT NEARFALLS
Josiah Mason, Baldwin, 107

SEASON-TECHNICAL FALLS
Nick Shumate, Blue Valley Northwest, 22

SEASON-MOST FALLS
Jesse Strawn, Holton, 38

SEASON-BEST RECORD
Tyler Baker, Hoxie, 45-0

SEASON-MOST WINS
Neil Erisman, DeSoto, 46-1

SEASON-TEAM POINTS
Tyler Baker, Hoxie, 295

SEASON-2POINT NEARFALLS
Matt Rein, Abilene, 63

This event will be broadcast on the web at:

http://www.kqnk.com

Providing the play-by-play will be KWCA award winning radio broadcaster Fig Millan of Norton.

If you can't make the meet, be sure to tune in!

Will someone be accepting for Tyler all of his rewards? He's wrestling in Colorado this upcoming week I believe.

no Shumate or Erisman - anyone no why?

Planning on going up from the Wichita area, anyone from here wanting a ride, I have room for 3.

I think Shumate has had a trip planned for quite some time.

I like the small schools chances this year. In the lower weights, I think small schools have the big schools beat. Graduating from a small school, I would love to see them win it!

I agree, it looks like the big schools are gonna get rolled this year!

I think I will be back for OKC by then, but if not, can Xavier.. my HWT get a ride?

Yea, just have him get in touch with me. I'll be leaving around 1:00 right after church.

Kit,
How are the seniors chosen for this event? Are coaches contacted, etc.?

It may be just me and im not even gunna be able to go to the classic but i think they should just let strawn and sutton-kearns duke it out again....any takers?

It's known as the "Big School vs. Small School" dual. Since both Jesse and Chris come from 4A "Small" schools they're on the same team, therefore they will not wrestle this year.

As to the selection process...

The selection committee selected senior state champions, then added others as needed. The list of kids to contact was divided between four coaches and they contacted the wrestler and/or their coach to attempt to get a confirmation. As kids declined due to conflicts or not wanting to wrestle, then alternates were contacted. Eventuallly, we tried to piece together two lineups representing the classes. We are still waiting to hear back from several invitees.

I hope this helps explain.

Kit Harris

Wrestlers/Parents,

A photographer will offer "memory Mate" Packets for the team. There will be a group picture as well as individuals who want a package,
different options for different prices. They will also incorporate the t-shirt artwork into the group picture. If you are interested, plan to bring some form of payment. (It should be around $20).

Wrestlers,

Please plan to arrive between 12:30-1:00 in order for us to check out gear and have team pictures before warm-ups.

Again, you may weigh-in with your home coach (bring signed weigh-in form), or weigh-in at Abilene HS at 1 p.m. You will get a ten pound allowance.

If you need to purchase a USA card, you can do so in Abilene.

LINEUP CHANGE

There has been one lineup change. Two-time 6A runner-up Xavier Louis of Wichita South will compete at 275 pounds, instead of Wichita Northwest's Tyler Jessen.

Xavier Louis will take on Bishop Ward's Donte Jones in what will be the final match of what should be a very exciting dual.

SEE EVERYONE IN ABILENE!