It should also be mentioned that Chase Nelson sought out both Detmer and Caldwell in previous matches this year ... providing fans of wrestling with alot of excitement. Seems to me that Chase Nelson takes on all comers!

yeah..nelson's pretty tough..he has to be one of the best wrestlers in the state..anyone that he's loss too.im pretty sure he'd beat em if he got another chance for sure.tough kid to just start in highschool in be able to compete on the national level.

i believe from my own opinion, if nelson and caldwell was to wrestle again,i'd put my vote on nelsons side!!he'll probably pin arnberger he was seriously injured that match.

Some have overlooked a fine wrestler in Kendall Pierce of Circle (Towanda). He's ranked third in 4A @ 215#, had an injury that prevented him mat time prior to Jan., but it'll be interesting, but he should win his Regional and then @ when (and if) he tangles with Kriss in Salina!

Yeah, Nelson a NATIONAL champ in Greco and then when I saw him get beat at Newton when he was hurt (taking nothing away from his opponent) -- he took it like a man. A real good sport. No throwing head gear. Kept his chin up high. No fit. Seems like a neat/well-mannered kid.

Yes Church, points well taken about Nelson. Your comments are 100% accurate. He has done quite well inspite of his "lack of experience" prior to HS, but he does come from great wrestling stock and does possess the kind of innate wrestling ability that I was speaking of with regard to Beard. He is a natural. Yes, perhaps if he wrestled earlier, he would be a 4xer as well (knock on wood) and be more "dominant", but that is not the case. Perhaps I should not have used the word dominant. Yes, Nelson is quite fabulous and very exciting, he always gives the fans their moneys worth and so does Detmer which is why they are both in my Fab 5. Nelson also takes challenges and all comers and you gotta love and admire that about him and I do.
No Suckerpunch, I am very confident in Beard. Didn't I just spend several sentences in my last post explaining that and why I feel he is Co-Fab with Caldwell. Perhaps I should not have used the word "blanket" to describe your statement about Beard. You did say though that you thought that Beard couldn't go up and beat Cotton and I do. I was treading on that lightly out of respect for Cotton. Beard could have gone up last year as a 71 pounder and given an 89 pound Cotton fits. Based on what I have seen, if Beard was the same weight as Cotton, I do not think that Cotton could beat Beard, but I could be wrong. We will never know unless they meet in college. Once again, Cotton is totally fabulous and is a great athlete. Beard is a great wrestler. You want to talk about dominant, no one has come close to Beard this year. If you would have seen him man-handle Kolmer and everyone else that he has faced, you would understand what I am talking about.
Either way, these are my unbiased opinions and I am entitled to them. They are not meant to be demeaning or derogatory to anyone else. Everyone mentioned is indeed fabulous, but my Fab 3 are Beard, Caldwell and Napier. My Fab 5 would include Nelson and Detmer. The Fab 7 would include Maple and Watson. Means, Nitcher and Orneales can round out the Fab 10.
Anyone is welcome to disagree with me and list their fabulous wrestlers in whatever order they choose, but please be nice about it.

Interesting topic. Not too suprisingly there are alot of worthy candidates for our mythical, all-state, outstanding wrestler.

Of course, the real treat is in being able to watch the intensity of competition between any two great wrestlers, with a "ranking" or "reputation" on the line (which incidently is why I am a fan of the chief's all-class rankings. As an aside, my favorite, all-time wrestling match involved Mitch Arnold and Alden Isenberg. As I recall, Isenberg bumped up or down to take on Arnold. What a match. You could have heard a pin drop during this competition. This years match-ups with Detmer/Nelson/Caldwell were spectular; as I've heard said: well worth the price of admission.

It is the excitement of these type match-ups that has popularized boxing in the past and now, ultimate fighting; and I believe will eventually serve to further popularize the sport of high school wrestling. As a further aside, I have taken notice that the Wichita paper has done a pretty good job of promoting wrestling, particularly when matches feature steller wrestlers and/or teams competing against each other.

I'd venture a guess that the Thursday dual between Bishop Carroll and Wichita Heights will draw a respectable crowd, as the Wichita paper and their sportswriters have well-publicized the fact that the so-called Bishop Carroll dual win streak could be on the line. We'll see.

defenitely not trying to disrespect anyone here, just giving senarios. everyone mentioned on here so far deserves to be mentioned thats why so many are getting involved now. great subject, great thoughts, by all. hopefully the best showing by kansas as a team at senior nationals. one of the strongest senior classes in kansas state history. as for nelson, don't dwell on the fact that he hasn't wrestled since birth, dwell on the fact that you don't have to wrestle since birth to be a beast. that's one of the biggest misconceptions about wrestling, imo.

Yeah just ask Jamal Parks, senior nationals champion, several Oklahoma state titles, and varsity spot for Oklahoma State. He started wrestling in 8th grade and he didn't turn out too bad.