Once again, it is time to solicit nominations for the Kansas Man of the Year!

As a contributor for Wrestling USA Magazine I have been asked to name a Man of the Year! (there designation ... not mine) So if you feel a person is worthy make your nominations to me!

Randy Hinderliter
Charles Knox
Bob Gonzales

Nothing against the other two mentioned, by I'd second Gonzo!!

Does it have to be a "man" for the award... Jeanie Dey comes to mind as someone that has done a lot this year.

I also like the mentioning of Gonzo.

I would like to add Beau Tillman with his heavy envolvement with wrestling at KState, Manhattan Kids, his hometown of Pratt, and promoting the sport all over the state and nation...not to mention winning the College Coach of the year award at Nationals, and then also by the Kansas wrestling chapter.

WILL COKELEY.
Will has done so much over the past year including-
coaching and organizing schoolboy duals; organizing camp for kids prior to duals, volunteering his time, money, and house
to advance kids wrestling,
bringing in great coaches such as Eric Akin and Tony Purler to
help with Kansas kids; being a referee;
trying hard to straighten out a messy political situation in District 1; always being inclusive and not exclusive; having the guts and determination to bring up difficult issues all for the kid's benefits-can he be harsh and at times a hothead-yes but he never compromises his love of the sport and- the kids
Kansas wrestling needs more people like Will

I would have to agree with Swayz, Beau or Gonzo would be great nominations.

Bob Gonzalez coached a State Championship Team, he dedicates his life to making sure wrestling is represented nearly every where he goes. People know Bob, and feel confident that he will not forget your name after he meets you once. Bob is a great assett to what we have in Kansas Wrestling. He coaches, politics, cares about people, and dedicates himself and those around him to working hard to become better and never remain complacent in life. Gonzo inspires wrestlers, young coaches, and I'm positive many other people he comes into contact with. Especially after the year that he had had, and maybe I'm just limited to how many people I know, but I think Bob is deserving for such an award.

Chuck and Cherie Elvin would also be great candidates for all they have done for Senior Nationls over the past many years with help from Gary Ulmer.

And Randy Hinderliter for his constant care and instruction to put togehter the coaching clinics and be dedicated enough to write for all other Kansas who could not attend an important invent, but not miss out on the details.

all of these people deserve recognition of some sort.

-Coach DeYoe

From what all I've heard/read about Gonzo at Brute, I feel it's neccesary to bump his name back to the topfor nomination for Man of the Year!

Here is a list of the award winners from the past several years. Gonzo would be an excellent choice to receive this award again!

Mike Juby
Richard Fergola
Bob Gonzales
Kit Harris
Bill Johnson
Greg Grater

All suggestions so far have been great ones, all very worthy......

But I think Randy Hinderliter would a GREAT choice for the next Kansas award winner for this honor. His promotion of wrestling is year around and if there is an event with Kansas wrestlers competing, he is there providing updates and support. He helps organize, coach, support, and promote the sport in throughout our state, and has done so for many years. He is certainly worthy of this honor, in my opinion.

I realize Randy is the person to complete the paperwork for this award as our Wrestling USA magazine Kansas representative, and he may thus feel awkward completing this for himself.

So if we can vote Randy in for this honor, then I (or any of us), can complete the nomination for you!

What does everybody think?

(I also like the nomination for Will Cokely, he has organized and provided for a lot of great wrestling - both training and competition - opportunities for Kansas wrestlers over the last several years. He is very worthy, as well.)

Will Cokeley,
He does more for the kids in kansas than anyone. He has organized the middle school dual teams the last two years, organized the schoolboy dual team. Opens his barn up to anyone that wants to practice. He supports every kid that wants to wrestle

Cokeley nor Hinderliter were on your list of past winners. Have these 2 people not done enough? Great job Randy and Will.


Jason Wood

I agree Randy deserves to be the Man of the Year..it was great to finally meet the man behind the legend at Senior Nationals this year.

I guess this is a second or third or fourth.........

Coach Brown

With all the ups and downs he's had this year. All the slams he's taken on the forum and in person. All he's done for every club he comes in contact with and the Jr. High teams he's put together. I think Will Cokeley is the man. That is of course if he wins the Cokeley vs Sportsfan cage fight.

Will Cokeley

Will Cokeley
Bob Gonzales
Randy Hinderliter
Beau Tillman
Chuck Elvin
Ned Price


All great candidates. This state has a lot to be thankful for!

My vote would go to Will Cokeley. This year, Will continued to contribute to Kansas wrestling. It has seemed to grow every year, the time, effort and money that he has dedicated to this great sport. The barn that Will had built with wall to wall mats has been a fantastic resource to countless wrestlers who have had the opportunity to learn from Eric Akin, Tony Purler and many others. There is also an annual event that is gaining the attention of the entire state. It started last year when Will organized two full teams of 43 Middle School kids to wrestle in the National Middle School Duals. Since then, I continue to hear from the wrestlers and parents that made the trip. It was something they will never forget. The impact Freshmen that were on those teams last year include, Chase Nitcher, Derek Weller, Parker Madl, Lucas Vincent, Brock Heithaus, Sean Gaither, Mark Kolmer, Koty Russell, John Hambleton, Jonathan Truman, Kyle Caylor, Benny Armstrong, Jake Walker, Blaine Smith as well as my son Tanner Johnson and many others. There were 12 of those Middle School kids who ended up placing at High School State! This year, Will invested countless hours in taking OVER 60 Middle School wrestlers to Iowa for the National Duals. As witnessed on this board, there were rave reviews. I am sure there will be 20 to 30 impact freshmen from that years group.

Any of those that have been mentioned would be great choices for Man of the Year. Will Cokeley has my vote for this year.

- Eric Johnson

Mr. William, AKA Will Cokeley. He does so much for Kansas kids wrestling where do you even begin to start listing what he does? I don't have enough time but he gives loads of his own time and money on kids and Kansas Kids Wrestling. A lot of times the extra money he spends is on kids that are not even his own, he always wants to help out kids in Kansas any way he can whether they are his own kids or not.

Mr. William for M.O.T.Y.

I agree with the nomination of Will Cokeley. I have been around kids wrestling for 4 years now watching and traveling with my son, and I believe Will has done more for wrestling in the Northeast part of Kansas than anyone else during that time. He frequently puts together teams/trips for regional competitions that are open to EVERYONE. Not just the best kids. For many of these kids this is their first taste of wrestling on a regional basis or in a dual event. Its great to be part of a club team, but being part of a team made up of kids from other Kansas clubs is a true treat. By going to matside and being on one of Cokeley's Kansas teams at the Park Hill Duals this year my son has made a number of friends which I think has been one of the most important things he has gained from wrestling. My son now has a number of kids that he frequently follows how they are doing at tournaments. It makes wrestling tournaments much more enjoyable for him. This was made possible my Will.

His practices at matside are excellent. He provides a great facility with tough practice partners with all the money taken in going for the coaching, not him. And, lets not forget the coaches he brings in.

Will is also willing to address the tough issues in Kansas wrestling. Even though I do not always agree with him, I truly believe he has the best interest of the kids in mind. I believe Kansas is lucky to have Will living in our State.

Yes, I really enjoy Randy's reports on the different events, but I think Will edges him out.

Why not Co-Men of the year with Cokeley and Hinderliter?

Bob Phillips of Holton has been selected to be the 2007 recipient of Wrestling USA's Man of the Year!

Coach Phillip was one of the founders and coaches of the Jackson County Wrestling Club.

He currently serves the Corporate Board of USA Wrestling Kansas as the Clubs rep and the Kids Board as an At-Large representative.

For years, Coach Phillips was served as a co-director of the Southern Plains camp and tourney.

He developed and has run the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association website since its inception, including maintaining a forum for ranking high school
wrestlers.