Sorry it has taken me so long to go ahead and put this on here, but i just wanted to see what you guys thought of (forgive me for the spelling) eirismiths showing in the finals and him not getting ow of the tourny. Just wondering what you guys thought of someone who is an OU wrestler and had that terrible of a showing

I believe Erisman is at 171 and he has a scholarship to OSU not OU.

If he is a 171 puonder he is the bigest 171 punder i have ever seen in my entire life but anyways what did everone think about his performance

Erisman is an outstanding wrestler ... one of the best ever produced in Kansas. But at this years Burlington Tourney he did not get my vote for the Outstanding Wrestler of the tourney.

It was no fault of Neal's but the draw in his weight class just was not as tough as some others! Bechtel, Strawn, Burtin, and Erisman all deserved consideration but in my opinion, Mike Roberts, Holtons heavyweight was the MOST outstanding.

Roberts was in a loaded bracket with several glossy records including the #2 ranked wrestler in the State. Mike Roberts pinned this opponent in the finals in around 30 seconds.

Therefore, Mike Roberts received my vote!

Neal had an outstanding showing at this tourney but Roberts had greater competition.

... a big 171-pounder??? Actually he is a fairly light 171 and makes the weight class with relative ease.

HE IS LISTED AT 152 FOR THE BULLDOG CLASSIC. IT MAY BE AN OLD ROSTER BUT I KNOW ALL THE OTHER ROSTERS ARE RIGHT.

I MEANT THE BOBCAT CLASSIC

I will agree with you about not being one of the best of all time, but he's a lot better than most wrestlers who haven't won a title. You also have to include his credentials as a National Level Freestyle/Greco Wrestler. Those I am not as familiar with.

33-1 as a Freshman. Runner-up to Eric Luedke of Colby (2x JUCO National Champion)
27-1 as a Sophomore. 3rd place losing to Justin Wiscombe of Sante Fe Trail.
41-1 as a Junior. Runner-up to Nick Zahm of Columbus.
As a Senior who knows for sure.... still better than most kids who never won a title. 101-3 in just 3 years, quite impressive.

He started at 145lbs as a freshman finishing runner-up in 4A.

Interesting thought acbulldog, the fs thing that is. You could very well be right on that. But if he is willing to toil a couple of years, maybe less, he will likely start I would think. Plus, if he grows, they are weaker at the upper weights were he could crack in sooner.

I believe that when his wrestling career is over and done Neal will go down as one of the best Kansas ever produced. His talent coupled with the OSU wrestling room is going to be a great combination. What would you rather have: 4 High School titles or one NCAA DI title?

Whatever. I guess OSU coach John Smith must be seeing things as well. I mean a college is allowed a total of 9 scholarships per team. Smith might as well throw one out to a scrub to fill up the practice room. I would only hope that my son could one day be a bad as Neal.

Im sorry to burst your bubble here but i have to agree with acbulldog. There isn't a chance he is a zach roberson. If he comes out of college with a D1 title i will be very impressed becuase from what i have seen from him there isnt a chance that he will ever make it he will get rocked in college. Now if he turns his stuff around and wrestles like i have seen him wrestle before his senior year then yes he might and i say might for a reason have a chance at a title. As of now and what i have seen from him lately no he will not get a title and yes i do think smith his throwing a scholarship out the window.

soclosebutnot -
You seem to by very knowledgeable about Neil. Let's see - you spelled his name "eirismiths", claimed he was a 189 pounder, and then said he was "the biggest 171 pounder you had ever seen."

I'd have to say, judging by these three profound statements - that you are an excellent judge of wrestling talent and seem to be the perfect person making judgements on such a horrible wrestler.

Doesn't Erisman have the younger Zahm brother in his weight this year in state? You think Neil will seek "revenge" if he gets lil bro?

The main point with my post (clearly I missed it) was that you can't judge whether a kid is "one of the best" Kansas has ever produced until his career is done. If a kid (be it Neal or anyone else) doesn't win a State title but then goes on to win on the next level then you have to consider that in determining if he is one of the best ever. And no one has still answered the question: would you personally rather be a 4 time high school state champion or a 1 time NCAA chamption. Forget about whether Neal will win one. Which is more prestigous to you?

BDisney1: You ask a very good question...the obvious answer is both. My opinion is the 1-time NCAA champion, as success is usually measured at the highest level obtained. If you win the Heisman in football, but enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame, one usually associates you with your pro accomplishment over your college deeds. Same is true in politics, your title is the highest office obtained, as in ex-President vs. 6-term senator.

I believe Neil Erisman to be an extremely talented young man, regardless of his outcomes on the last week in February. He has devoted a lifetime of effort into the sport of wrestling and is a better person, physically and mentally, for it. Often times, a resume' of work doesn't always paint the entire picture. He will do just fine at OSU...

I understand completely acbulldog. He would also have the greatest American freestyle wrestler ever in history as a coach. I also agree that right now he is a better free-styler than folk-styler and John Smith knows that, would anyone say that John Smith does not know what he is doing. I have no crystal ball but everyone better rethink this Erisman thing. He is dang good and could be dang great. You cannot judge his career off of one loss to Zahm in the finals last year. Zahm is no slouch and he was a senior. Only time will tell, but I can tell you one thing for sure and that is that in the O-State dungeon, you either get better or you get gone. My money is that Erisman will get better. I am not saying that he will be a DI champ, but he is definately good enough to be a DI all-american. I do not think anyone is trying to say he is a Roberson, that would be disrespectful to Roberson who has earned his props. Erisman may be able to go longer internationally in the long run as Roberson's fs weight is probably much tougher perhaps the toughest, but that is a long way off.

Let's take the time and enjoy this fine young man as a great ambassador for and example of Kansas wrestling. My hope is that he brings back to his home state the knowledge and experience from the OSU wrestling room to help future generations of young Kansas wrestlers and help provide opportunities for other kids to extend their careers.

Klint Deere

soclosebutnot,
you can't spell Erisman and you probably can't spell wrestling either! Erisman only has 3 career high school losses, and I don't see him in jeopardy of losing this year. He should get his state title without breaking a sweat.
How many Kansas wrestlers sport a career record as impressive as that? Not to mention he started his career at 145lbs. not 103lbs like most wrestlers that have that type of record!!!

He has obviously done better in freestyle (national champion) so far, but that does not mean he is not one of the best in the nation at folkstyle. I think you will find out the senior nationals come along, which he qualified for as a freshman!

I don't think John Smith wasted anything, I believe that Erisman will eventualy be a sucessful starter on the D1 powerhouse and more than likely be an All American.