I Don't know if this has already been discussed but I have been asked and always wondered, which tournament was considered harder over the years, Basehor, Newton, or Garden City? I know things change from year to year but I just thought I would get others opinions. Feel free to add in any other tournaments that you think are great as well. Thanks

In my opinion Newton probably has the toughest selection of strictly Kansas teams. You get a mix of the top programs in the upper classes like Wichita Heights and Derby, but you also get the annual top dogs in the lower divisions like Colby, Clay Center, and Norton. However, Garden City is a much tougher tournament because it has a group of out of state programs that annually compete or win their state tournaments like Rio Rancho, New Mexico; Canyon Randall, Texas; and Ponderosa, Colorado. Not to mention teams like Andale, Emporia, Garden City, and Scott City representing the state of Kansas. I think that Basehor is the third toughest, with Newton coming in second, and Garden City being the cream of the crop.

Ricky,

Unless they have two teams, I believe Andale is wrestling at Basehor. I don't know if that changes anything in your ranking of these three tournaments.

The Garden City tournament is in a couple of weeks. Andale is doing both.

Jammer,

My bad. I must have woke up on the wrong side of my head this morning. Sorry Rrrricky Boooby. Just remember, my name is Lee Girard, not Jean Girard. Au revoir (till the seeing again).

No problem, that's why I'm here.

Is Goddard going to the Garden City tournament again? Always liked that tournament.

I believe Goddard took Garden City off of their schedule because they were missing too much school because of attending so many two-day tournaments. When Goddard removed Garden City from their schedule they were also going to the Toshiba Midwest Classic in Kansas City, MO. They attend Derby, Basehor, and State of course for two-day tournaments. Goddard now wrestles at Chanute instead of Garden City.

newton and garden city go year to year on which is tougher i would say in past basehor could come in third but derby seems to be tougher these days than basehor

That's new to me, seems a bit has changed since I wrestled there. (lot of stuff for 2 years i think) I wonder if they'll ever go back to Dallas. That was a fun set of duals.

This year could have been tougher with the addition of Shawnee Heights and Emporia, but the "bad" weather kept them from attending Derby. One problem that Derby has in terms of competition is that only around 20 teams attend. While at Basehor you have 32, which helps to add to the depth in the field. Basehor also has two very tough out of state programs with Oak Park, MO and Glenwood, IA. I've decided I will rank the 5 toughest two-day tournaments in Kansas just to help fuel this discussion.

1. Garden City
Awesome out-of-state competition and some of the best in-state programs butting heads. Not to mention some the top wrestlers in the country with Trujillo of Rio Rancho, Snider of Ponderosa, Cokeley and Moeder of Saint James. It would be nice if they could make this a 32 team tournament, 27 teams went last year. I say add good team from Oklahoma.

2. Newton
Best mix of large and small class programs in Kansas who annually compete for state placements. Also, draws from nearly every region of the state. If only Bishop Lynch, TX and Perry, OK still went to this tournament I'd give it the nod as Kansas' Toughest 2 Day. They should add a few more teams anyways and make it a 32 team field.

3. Basehor
Good out of state programs, along with several state contenders from Kansas. The bottom half teams aren't quite as talented as the aforementioned tournaments bottom halfers.

4. Derby
This tournament has had some of the best individual matchups of any tournament in the last few years with Blair/Cokeley, Moeder/Nitcher, Caldwell/Nelson/Detmer. Weather hurt the quality of Derby for this year. It needs to get a better mix of elite smaller programs to attend.

5. tie: Eudora and Rose Hill
Eudora's an early tournament that gives your team plenty of chances to wrestle with a pool format. Some pretty decent programs attend and there are some marquee matchups in the finals.

Rose Hill is the last major tournament before the state series and matches some of the top 4A programs and 5A programs in the state.

Newton is a great tournament. More teams would be great, but they would need a bigger venue. Talk about up close and personal!

the newton tournament is not tough at all i places second ...but it was a walk in the park the only one i stuggled with was javier veira but i still pulled off a win... ide like to go the these other tournaments and see what therelike

the newton tournament is not tough at all i placed second ...but it was a walk in the park the only one i stuggled with was javier veira but i still pulled off a win... ide like to go the these other tournaments and see what therelike

must have had a little trouble with reed also.

Basehor is most definitely the toughest you have the top wrestlers from iowa and missouri coming over to wrestle some of the top kansas kids

One small school from Iowa with a couple of ranked wrestlers does not, in my estimation, count as "top wrestlers from Iowa". Just don't want you to get away with an exageration!

Not trying to pile it on you Muffin, but just have to give you a hard time: I also remember you telling me in the 4A rankings that you disagreed with me about Missouri wrestlers. I believe you stated that the Missouri wrestling was not as tough which, if thats the case, doesnt help support your statement.