Brian Harris, 3x state placer from eudora, undefeated last year, his senior year, untill he got beat in a very close match with matt murray in the semis at state, he came back and easily got third, he would have easily won any other bracket besides 4A that year

I never got to see him wrestle, but i heard that ronny bainum was a 4x placer. all of the finishes in the top four.

Brandon Pfeifer of Ellis was a 3x runner-up. Lost to Nate Lawrenz of Herington as a sophomore and junior (3-2 score his junior year) and then gave one a way in overtime to Tyler Grandclair of Hoisington as a senior. He was a tough one.

Brandon Pfeifer was a real good one. Brandon and Tyler Grandclair went 2-2 that year. Brandon won the first meeting, Tyler won the second, Brandon the third (regionals), and Tyler the 4th (state championship). Les, you have had some great posts but I would not say that Brandon gave away a match to Tyler. Tyler was up 7-3 at the end of the third. Brandon managed to come back and tie it up and Tyler got the takedown in overtime. It was an excellent match. Both were deserving to win but unfortunately only one can.

Certainly did not intend to take anything away from Tyler as he wrestled a very sound tactical match against Pfeifer.

What I intended to say - and should have said in a more precise manner - is that I felt Brandon lost the killer instinct that had made him successful all year and wrestled not to lose in that match and it cost him. Of course it could have been Tyler's previous win that caused him to wrestle that way.

Thanks for keeping me in line and sorry I did not phrase the last post better.

I was coaching Brandon at Ellis when he lost the first two finals matches to Lawrenz. Both were one/two point matches. I moved on to a new job before his senior year. What an awful feeling seeing him lose in the finals as a senior. Brandon was an awesome athlete to coach. As a sophomore, he beat Tyler Samuelson(2X defending state champ) in the semi at the Hays Invite (Praire Classic). He really developed from that point on.

I talk to Brandon offen. We have often talked about the match with Grandclair. He didn't have that same "killer instint" in that match. He handled Grandclair in the regional finals and was confident he could do it again. When Grandclair started to struggle with the asthma, Brandon should have put him away, but was unable to. He didn't attack as he usually does. Grandclair showed alot of heart to take that match. It was an excited one, but a disappointing one in may eyes. Brandon is certainly worthy of mention in this group of "Best to never win the big one!!"

Ian Bork is a great wrestler, who never won a state championship, freestyle and greco all-american, but no state championship.

A pick of mine would be Chance Humble of Coffeyville. Chance beat Beau Tillman in the finals at Bishop Carrol in 1996. Tillman was pinned by Long in the finals the same year after leading by 7 points. Unfortunatly, Chance liked wrestling better than going to class and didn't made grades. Outstanding wrestler though.

Jim Ziegler from Coffiville I believe he was a four time state placer and three time college all american

Coffeyville

Gene "Red" Curry from Atwood (class of 1989) was one of the best wrestlers I have ever seen. Placed 2nd at 119 as a freshman, 3rd at 126 as a sophomore, 3rd at 133 as a junior, and 3rd at 140 as a senior. Red's best shot at a state title was his junior year when he soundly defeated Lance Shephard from Hoxie in the NWKL finals, and then again in the Regional finals. Shephard was a senior and the defending state champion after beating Wes Harding the previous year. Curry was upset in the quarters at state and Shephard went on to repeat. Curry's senior year he lost 1st round. Curry's 1st round loss was a blessing in disguise as he pinned every opponent through the backside which propelled Atwood to win the state title in 1989 by 2.5 points over Plainville. Red was definitely one of the best wrestlers to ever wrestle in Kansas, just never won the big one.

Scott Polley from Bonner Springs was a very good one. Bonner also produced Matt Biles, who was a 4-time semi-finalist & 2-time runner-up to Chris Hernandez. I believe he was also a 2-time All-American and National Champion in Greco-Roman.

Does anyone know what happened to Biles?

Brian Melchoire from Coffeyville never won state but was a 2X NCAA national champion for UCO and pinned his way through both years. He's got my vote. He really stepped up after graduating from Labette.

Good call Travis, Melchiori was a stud, he
was just always in loaded brackets. He didn't
have very many matches his senior year, because
he had a broken leg. I'm not sure but I think
regionals was his first tourney back.

P.S. Travis hows your fighting career going, I
had heard you were giving it a shot but hadn't
heard any results. GOOD LUCK!!!

Matt Davidson from Smith Center is a good one who never won a state title. He won regionals 4times and 3 of those he beat the state champion at the regionals. Another one is Brock Hutchison from Smith Center. He was undafeted going into state got caught on his back and lossed. The eventual state champion he beat 4 or 5 times throughout the year.

Without a doubt, Matt Biles of Bonner Springs...Lost to Chris Hernandez of Ark City twice...Was screwed in finals by officials in his senior year, I think...Was a cadet and junior all-american and took 4th in greco Worlds...Went to Univ. of Pennsylvania on scholarship, but blew out knee...

Of course Melchiori was a stud, he went to UCO. GO BRONCHOS!!!

GorillaHawk-
Do you have any idea what Biles is up to these days?

Is this Phil?

I'm KCMO sales manager for Boulevard Brewing Co.
Drop me a line sometime...instead of dropping my name..hehe

I would like to mention another wrestler from Ellis.....Ryan Augustine.
He really deserved a state championship but fell short a couple of times.... runner up this year & 5th place last year..... Won state as a 7th grader in kids, runner up the following week at nationals to Luke Paige. Had a great career in high school. Hats off to Augustine!