Who would you guys say the toughest league in kansas is?

i-70

I don't know about this year but beginning next year the newly formed and yet to be named Chisolm Trail/Ark Valley will be the best. The league tournament alone should be like a state tournament!

NCKL, I-70 is a joke by comparison

The Sunflower League is not only tough by the quality of competitors but also by just sheer numbers. Olathe South, Olathe East, Olathe North, SMS, SMN, SMNW, SME, SMW, Lawrence High, Lawrence Freestate, and Leavenworth. One league houses well over half the Johnson County area and like 1/5 of the 6A teams in Kansas.

Our wonderful Northwest Kansas League continues to prove itself year in and year out at the state tournament. We have witnessed numerous state final matchups in our league tournament finals. Many with different results.

Northwest Kansas League(NWKL). Other leagues cannot compare to the year-to-year strength of this league. I also think there are a few proposals on the table that would add teams to this league and make it even more amazing in wrestling.

who's in that league?

NWKL:
Hoxie
St. Francis
Colby
Goodland
Atwood
Oberlin
Oakley
Quinter

hotchie motchie

I dont know about that reply of the Sunflower league being the toughest. I see a lot of KC area schools qualifying for state in WEAK regions and not doing anything at state. There are some quality kids in that area for sure. But to say they are the toughest is a pretty good stretch.

nckl - we have won four out of the last five state championships

Being an NCKL guy, I'm going to naturally say the NCKL. Four out of the last five state champs as was mentioned before. Our league doesn't have a lot of teams, but the teams we have are tough.
Abilene
Chapman
Clay Center
Concordia
Marysville
Wamego

The NWKL has won a total of 47 team championships (I think that is right, might be off one or two. Correct me if I am wrong).

Saint Francis 16
Hoxie 10
Oberlin 10
Goodland 5
Colby 4
Oakley 1
Atwood 1
Quinter 0

How about the new Centennial League:

Emporia
Hayden
Highland Park
Junction City
Manhattan
Seaman
Shawnee Heights
Topeka High
Topeka West
Washburn Rural

What used to be a so-la-la league tournament will be a pretty stacked one next year in the new league's first year.

I hear the Frontier League is also getting pretty well bolstered and that some tough schools are wanting to get into it.

i would say that the sunflower league has very good individuals, but as a whole the league (hate to say it) is a BB league. You can argue they have sent some of the best kids out recently to DI programs. Zach Roberson (ISU), ranked 2nd or 1st depending on the poll, Dyer(OU) will be tough as well as Tyler McCormick (MU), Joe Johnston(IOWA), Gabe Conaghan (MU), Bogart (Oregon) and Shawn Bunch (Edinboro). I know their are some others. BUT, as a league, you can't argue they are the strongest. Look at the state results year in and year out, most of the teams finish well out of the top 10. Also look at how they fair against teams at Derby, Newton, BL, BVNW, etc. I love the league, but it is a tough argument for it being the toughest.

Not saying its the strongest but the ark vally has had the state champs in both 5a-6a the last 4-5 years with both last year arkcity in 5a huch in 6a and a strong following from derby macpherson and winfield.

Phil -

Pretty doggone close. My numbers might be off a one or two as well, but I had Atwood with 2 (73, 89). Scott City had 2 while they were still in the NWKL. Plus Norton has won 6 and most, if not all, of Norton's were while they were still apart of the NWKL.

If accurate that's a total of 56. And at least one NWKL school has won a state title every year since 1996 (8 straight years) and during 12 of the last 15 dating back to 1989.

Out of personal curiosity, can any of the Norton Blue Jay fans let me know what year Norton left the NWKL to join the MCL? I'd appreciate it
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I think the talented NCKL and NWKL have combined to account for the last 7 team title winners in 4A.

4A 2003 state champ = Abilene
2002 state champ = Clay Center
2001 state champ = Colby
2000 state champ = Goodland
1999 state champ = Abilene
1998 state champ = Abilene
1997 state champ = Goodland

The NWKL has been pretty strong in 3-2-1A too

3-2-1A 2003 state champ = Hoxie
2002 state champ = Hoxie
non-NWKL2001 state champ = Effingham
non-NWKL2000 state champ = Effingham
1999 state champ = Hoxie
1998 state champ = Hoxie
1997 state champ = St. Francis
1996 state champ = tie Leoti
St.Francis
non-NWKL1995 state champ = Leoti
1994 state champ = Hoxie
non-NWKL1993 state champ = Stockton
non-NWKL1992 state champ = Plainville
1991 state champ = Hoxie
1990 state champ = Hoxie
1989 state champ = Atwood
non-NWKL1988 state champ = Plainville

Les,

Nortonleft the NWKL to joion the MCL in the mid-70's. All six of Nortons state championships were won while members of the NWKL.

Good work on the research!

Yep, your right Les, I missed one. Alight I think this is correct then. In the 1970's, counting Norton, the NWKL won 15 state championships. I think that is pretty amazing. Correct me if I am wrong.

1970 - Norton
1971 - Hoxie, Oberlin
1972 - Hoxie, Goodland
1973 - Atwood, Norton
1974 - Oakley, Goodland
1975 - Oberlin
1976 - Oberlin, Goodland
1977 - Oberlin
1978 - St. Francis
1979 - St. Francis