Cokeley is an outstanding wrestler but not up to Slyter. These kids are all competitive and outstanding kids. But, to be considered the outstanding wrestler you should either dominate your weight or defeat what most people feel are a superior opponent. Disney dominates. Cokeley wrestled great but his wins were against guys he already beat and expected to beat. Slyter moved up a weight class and has beaten Cokeley many times. For Cokeley to have earned OW for the tournament, he would of had to beaten Slyter. Slyter beat Haase at Bobcat moving up a weight against a state champ. When Cokeley, who could easily have wrestled 125, moved up to wrestle a state champ, McCormick, he got stomped.
IN RESPONSE TO BIG DAWG I WROTE:
It is to the point that it looks like you don't even think he should be a state champ. Sharky beat Ryne ONE TIME 8-5. Were you at the Freestyle/Greco State tournament last summer? I have to beg to differ with you. Ryne is up to Sharky. Where do you get the "many times" comment?
I need to go on record to clarify a couple of things. Apparently there is some rumor that there is a "rift" between the Cokeleys and Slyters. ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE! Only Sharky, Mark, and Clint were more disappointed that Sharky was upset in the semis than Ryne and I. Did Ryne want to wrestle Sharky because he thought he would beat him? NO! He wanted Sharky to be in the finals because both of them have worked hard to get to the top. The key reason that I stated "Ryne is up to Sharky" is Mark Slyter. He has worked many, many hours with Ryne. He has driven Ryne to tournaments that I couldn't go to and coached him just like he was his own son. Is it tough when they wrestle each other? ABSOLUTELY! Every dad wants his son to win but when you have worked hard to help another kid they sort of become a second son to you. Sharky is THE BEST wrestler on his feet in the state, NO ARGUMENT! Sharky and Ryne have battled and Sharky owns the advantage. There is no rift and these two wrestlers will continue to work together to get better. Hopefully Ryne has grown enough that they will not be battling each other for the top spot ever again.
