A list of 5A Ranked and (All-Class) ranked Wrestlers that will be at Liberal Regionals

103: Tyler Dryden KMC - 2

112: Adrian Salas LIB - 1 (9)

125: Chase Nitcher VC - 1 (1)
Dylan Penka BC - 2 (6)

130: Victor Cruz LIB - 3

140: Cade Blair VC - 1 (4)
Jake Mainz BC - 3

145: Cobly Crank HUT - 1 (2)
Kyle McGoldrick VC - 2 (8)

152: Tyler Sutherland LIB - 2 (9)
Jimmy Stults VC - 5

160: Kyle Detmer BC - 1 (2)
Sammy Sanders HUT - 4

171: Jonathan Truman KMC - 1 (8)
Devion Keith BC - 5

189: Nate Davis LIB - 2 (5)
Aron Elson GB - 3 (6)
Luke Hirschler BC - 5
Dylan Matheny KMC - 6

215: Howard Johnson GB - 2 (5)
Jake Cole BC - 3 (8)
Titus Hopper VC - 4
Chuy Torres LIB - 5

285: Tony Marquez BC - 3 (6)
Ricky Gomez LIB - 4 (9)
Jerrod Douglas VC - 5

Looks like some good action taking place in the heavier weights.

Very tough regional. The heavier weights of 189, 215, and heavyweight are sure loaded at this regional with several ranked 5A and Eric Johnson ranked all class wrestlers.

Throw in Zane Wickham, Hays #3 at 145 and it makes for a very loaded class!!

If the wind is out of the wrong direction, the smell alone will make this the toughest tournament to attend!

Will Cokeley, you have been lambasting almost everything about Kansas wrestling from our inability to allow change with out a 99.5% level of support, our 500 mile rule, not being allowed to film competitors matches, our lack of duals, too easy of tournaments, Kansas allowing Kevin Klemm to leave the state, our too few matches, too many classes, too many state tournament locations, no dual state, no grand state, our inability to recruit, lack of appreciation for the Chief, poor overall participation in off season wrestling, our lack of college All Americans and socialism being responsible for almost everything. But now you have gone too far. It is time someone call you on one of your tirades.

I am here to tell you that this last remark of yours absolutely STINKS!

Cokeley is from Liberal. He lived there is whole youth life. I think he has earned the right to make a joke about Liberal. Have you ever been there. He is talking about the feed lots. He was joking.

I have never been to Liberal but I am originally from Omaha and lived near the South Omaha Stockyards area where many of my relatives worked for their entire lives. I also currently work in the livestock industry and I have a great deal of respect for the hard working people in the livestock industry. I definitely knew Will was joking and I also knew he was joking about the odor from the feedlots. Will knows me well enough to know that I was joking with him. I guess it was a poor attempt to be humorous. I really did not mean to offend anyone and I apologize if I did.

At least its not out at Garden City or Dodge City. There stuffs a little more potent.

I figured he was talking about the National Beef plant. That place smells way worse than a feed lot.

After talking with Will that is exactly what he was talking about.

Heck, ask anybody who has been to Emporia how bad that town used to smell until Tyson decided to stop its kill line. Now I bet Emporians wish their town smelt kinda funky so at least they would have a better tax base. Oh well, they still have a pretty salty wrestling team that’s one thing that hasn’t changed in a long time. And my boy Clint Bowyer also calls this place his home.

Wait a stinkin' minute! (yes, the pun is intended) I lived out in Western Ks most of my life (Lewis, Dodge City & Gem [just North of Halford, 9 miles east of Colby]) and I was always told that was the smell of money!!! :-)

Bingo. Gotta love that money.

Kind of like that smell of "work/victory" permeating out of a hot, stanky, sweaty, wrestling room after a great practice.

Lets not take away from these young men who have worked so hard this season getting ready for regionals and hopefully moving onto state by turning this topic into something so far from what it started out to be. Lets get back on track and give the young men the recognition they deserve - Also sorry for overlooking Zane Wickham 145#.

RJohnson

Ronnie:

I apologize for my role in taking this topic off of its original intent. I think we were just trying to inject a little humor into it as we enter into the intense regional and state season. But you are correct the topic should get back on track and give recognition to the deserving young men who will wrestle this weekend in Liberal.

As you know I have a particular interest in 215. This is a very tough bracket this weekend at Liberal. You have the top ranked 5A wrestlers from #2 thru #5 (Howard Johnson Great Bend #2, Jake Cole Bishop Carroll #3, Titus Hopper Valley Center #4, and Chuy Torres Liberal #5) That is a very competitive 215 weight bracket. I am sure there are some other 215 wrestlers in this regional who also have a good shot at qualifying. This has got to be the toughest 5A 215 regional. Best of luck to all of you quality 215 wrestlers in Liberal this weekend.

In spite of all the comments, We are glad to be hosting this year's Regional, and hope that everyone will be focused on wrestling as our boys are, and won't be inclined to notice the things that aren't the most pleasant about our community, but rather notice our hospitality and intensity with our wrestling program. Hopefully everyone that comes will not have time to be outside,but will be inside on the mats. We do welcome you all to our school and community, here in Liberal.

The Sutherland Family

We have to stop the madness! No more apologizing! The forum is for fun and publicity!

Good luck to Tyler, Adrian, Austin, and Nate! I will be pulling for the Angry Red! Everyone needs to check out "The Burial Grounds" possibly, historically speaking, the toughest place to get a 5A road win in the state!

Some light hearted humor is going to do more for these young men than a bunch of old farts (another stink joke) saying how tough it is going to be.

Originally Posted By: rjohnson
Lets not take away from these young men who have worked so hard this season getting ready for regionals and hopefully moving onto state by turning this topic into something so far from what it started out to be. Lets get back on track and give the young men the recognition they deserve - Also sorry for overlooking Zane Wickham 145#.

I was not complaining in any way about the humor about the smell, feed yards or packing houses. I myself grew up within a mile of a feedlot, have worked in maintenance for years in a packing house or related industry and know very well that this is the smell of money. I do not need any apology, for I was not even close to being offended. I just wanted everyone to be more focused on the hard road that some where going to have at this regional compaired to others where the #3 and #4 kid going to state have a losing records in some weight classes.

Yes I enjoy humor as much and anyone else and enjoy a good laugh better than most. And I agree about the old farts talking how tough it is. Heck! for most the toughest thing that will take place for this regional is to prepare themselves for the journey to the edge of the world, but a trip that I think that all who attend will remember for a long time to come.

And yes I also have a very big interest in the 215# Bracket my son is Howard Johnson. But I haven't seen very many other Regionals in any class like this one where there are so many #1,#2 #3 #4 #5 #6 ranked wrestlers or any combination of them at so many different weights, and with some of the non-ranked kids that I know that will be there also there will be some upsets.

So with all this babbling any predictions? But most of all good luck to everyone where ever they may be wrestling this weekend and with any luck hope very much to see you at State.

Ronnie Johnson