These are the NWKL coaches when I was in school a long time ago;

Larry Gable, ST Francis
Gus Garcia, Atwood
Buzz Matson, Oberlin
Jake Durham, Norton
Rocky Welton, Goodland
Pudge Wilson, Colby
Dale Samuelson, Oakley

Cant remember the coach at Hoxie-can picture, but don't know the name. At least 3 of these are already in the hall of fame, imho 3 others should be. It's funny how almost 30 years later I still remember their mannerisms, reactions, etc.

This was back in the day when the NWKL dominated wrestling in 3-2-1A Two questions-was it the changeover in coaches when these gentlemen started moving on that let other areas catch up? Or was it purely a numbers game as the towns started to shrink?

Pudge did his damage as the St. Francis coach (six state championships) he was at Colby Juco later on. Pickenpaugh was at hoxie in the late sixties early seventies and they won a bunch.

There use to be this guy at Schlagle. Old, ugly, stubborn, and mean. He really knew how to steal a defeat out of the jaws of victory.

lol yeah i remember him. Its a talent what can I say.

Bill Pickenpaugh - Hoxie

I'll tell you a guy that was as good as anybody has ever been but got very little credit for his work was Delbert Erikson at Newton in the 70's. I saw him win State Championships by getting kids to place third and fourth that I never dreamed would do so. He was a fine coach and a great guy and darned hard to beat anytime anywhere. He was a quiet guy though and never brought attention to himself but he was a great wrestling coach.

Jon Wicke--are you related to a Jan Wicke that taught woodworking at Colby High School during the 60's and who was also an asst. wrestling coach during that time?

No, that is the Jon Wicke that was a great wrestler at atwood 1975-1978. Came from a pretty good wrestling family too.

Jon, I thought Pickinpaugh retired while we were there, and someone else came in for my jr-sr years (your jr).

Talked to Gus a couple of weeks ago, interrupted his fishing!

Sam

Pick was there in the sixties and maybe slightly into the 70's. I was gone by then and didn't really pay attention until later but they had several guys for a bit I just can't remember who. Baker came along much later but those really good teams of the late sixties and early seventies where Picks teams. Winters, Mauck, the Popes and a whole bunch of others I can't think of right now. They were a handful.

Bob Lovenstein coached Hoxie HS in the mid and late 70's.

The Jan Wicke of whom I inquired was also from Atwood.

Assisted Lyle Neville.

Can you all think of anyone who was as consistent for so long as St Francis? I have been out of state for 20 years, and not back all the time to keep up.

I remember Roger Mauck being there, but I don't remember the time frame. Lovenstein may be the one I was thinking of, did not seem to have the personality of the rest of the guys in the league, but there were some tough kids in Hoxie during that time (Pickinpaugh, Heskett, Moss, Hartzog come to mind), so someone was doing something right!

Somehow got away from the original question-it it a numbers game with the area now? Reading list of 3-2-1A placers used to be like reading the results of the league tournament, not that way now. Still seem to have excellent individuals in the area, just the team strength has moved east

Paul Babcock was the coach at Hoxie when Kirk Baker came on as an assistant. Then, Roger Morris was the "official" head coach for awhile until the rule changed and Baker was able to be the head coach without having a teaching degree.

PAT SANDS emporia high great coach one of the best.

WAYNE JACKSON wasn't to shabby.

No sir, he wasn't shabby. I hooked up with Wayne many many times and he was sure among the very best this state has ever had. The most non political son of a gun I ever met and did the best job of anyone of getting his kids peaked at just the right time to get after it at the state tourney. That is what it is all about, that is the art of it and Wayne was most certainly a master of it. He was a great one for darn sure.