We never talk about these guys. They work just as hard as the next guy. Anyone have an opinion on who might fit this heading in the outgoing senior class? Meaning, who had great records, but never made it to the finals. This season or the last 4 years.

great records are a by-product of a less competitive schedule. Placing is what matters!

Placing matters for a moment, what you learn from the sport last a life time. Now I would be lying if I said placing doesn't matter at all, but it does not define us as people. I know of hundreds of state medalist and several state champions that have done nothing with the sport after high school, and some who have done nothing with their life after high school. This is a brutal sport, and if someone can endure it over the course of 4 years or more and come out their senior year with a respectable record, there is no reason not to honor them in some way shape or form. Even if it is just on a talk forum. Warriordad I will be happy to name a couple of 321A seniors who I would like to recognize as an outgoing senior. 2 who stand out to me are Brody Carrol 152 (Marion) and Adrian Lange 132 (Lyons). To all the seniors who did not place and plan on continue in the sport of wrestling whether it be officiating, coaching or wrestling, best of luck to you and thank you all for participating to help keep this blessed sport alive.


Clark Forward
OH

Gage Younger from Ellis in 152# never made finals, but was a 3 time placer (3,4, & 5). Has beaten some kids that were in the finals along the way.

Brody's my son and he was the one that used that term about himself. He qualified for state every year of HS, winning his regional the last three years. He compiled a record of 155-25 on his way to two state medals. To say the I'm proud of him is a gross understatement! He knows what he's doing next year and sadly (on my part) right now it doesn't include wrestling. My wife and are definately going to miss all the Saturdays in the bleachers. But, I think we'll hit a few to watch my nephew next year!

Mr. Carroll, judging by your post I'd say you did a fine job with your son. It doesn't matter if he continues to be directly involved in the sport or not. It's dads like you that will make this world a better place. And if your son does decide to be involved with the sport again, I'm sure he'll do it the right way. Thank you and best of luck to Brody!

Clark Forward
OH

He has decided to pursue a career in sports training ar physical therapy. Doesn't want the time consumption of a sport to interfere with studies. In the mean time he is helping our Jr. club get ready for their state run!

Mike Carroll

Warriordad....congrats to Brody and your family on his wrestling career. I always enjoyed watching him at state. Sounds like a smart kid, too. Best of luck to him next year in college.

Brody wrestled my cousin Kade Brown in the '52 quarters. I knew that would be a very important match as the loser would most likely have Younger in the consolation quarters. Kade and Brody both wrestled a great match. Again, congrats on very nice prep career!

Gage Pfeifer comes to my mind when speaking about this subject. He has been in wrestling all 4 years of high school. Had losing records his freshmen and sophomore year. Had a winning record junior year but didn't qualify for state. He then had a great senior year but missed placing by one match. I've talked to the kid and he seems like a nice kid. Props to him for sticking to it for all four years.

The 132 bracket produced a lot of "bridesmaids" as there were 3 former state placers who failed to place in this bracket and several other wrestlers who had put together good seasons. Just to name a few:
Caleb Studley of Phillipsburg
Keegan Amos of Holcomb
Cody Ray of Eureka
Adrian Lange of Lyons

This was in my opinion the toughest bracket in 321A.

Also, an interesting bit of information about this bracket is that all of the medal matches were rematches of the previous week's Regional Finals. I'm sure this has happened before, but it was the first time that I had witnessed it happening at the State Tournament. Daniel Melcher of Herington was the only wrestler to beat his previous week's Regional foe.

Hosington had several wrestlers who looked like they were primed for state placements, which would have put Hoisington in the running for a possible team state title. Cayton Janousek at 220, Avery Urban at 195, and Hagen Hanzlick at 182 looked like they could do some damage in their brackets, but they all went home empty handed. Also, three time state qualifier Zach Sanders at 152 wasn't able to make it out of the Garden Plain Regional and he looked like he could also contend for a medal. Urban was the only non-senior from this group, so it looks like the Cardinals missed out on a great opportunity to build on the success they had last season finishing as State Runner-ups.

Brady Lowell from Republic County is one. He was a four time state qualifier, and a three time state placer. All his losses this year were to Francka and Goepfert, the top two in his weight class.

Agreed. And Lowell last year only lost to Nienke and Crow. At the state tournament.

I would like to hear about the 5A and 6A "Best Bridesmaids" but I don't want to hijack your thread so someone start that up and I will comment.

Jordan Meyer 152lbs of Sabetha finished second in 07, by one point i believe, and suffered his only loss in 08' in the quarterfinals of state coming back to place 3rd

X this made me laugh. I too would love to know the answer to your question, since your state tourney has 55%-60% of the kids compete, I would think there are not as many upsets as you would have in a tourney where only the top 25%-30% compete.

Totally ignorant ass asenine comment. Not shocked to hear it from the source though.
Totally different issue as well and additionally upsets have nothing to do with "Bridesmaids". Bridesmaids is mostly about being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Nice dig, but please get over it Lucas and move on with something positive and productive.

Still hiding behind some letters I see! Why dont you put your name in your post? Its been 4 years and I have no clue who you are! I was hoping you would come say Hi while I was in Ark City

The truth hurts X I know! The first step to fixing the problem is admitting you have one. You still think its ok that 5a and 6a state compete against 55%-65% of the total number of kids in each division, While 3a and 4a only wrestle the top 25%-35% but hey this year in 5a only 3 kids made it through without winning a single match, Thats much better than last year! Plus the rosters at regionals looked almost full.

Im sorry to have upset you.

If a kid placed the year before and did not place this year, Well in most case's somewhere he was upset.

Im not going to stoop to name calling or calling someone ignorant for stating a fact, Id like to think I have grown up a lil in the last few years, so I will leave you with my thoughts and a good day to you XYZ!

You could never upset me Lucas as I have a real life to worry about. All this forum stuff is just goofing around anyway. You will just make yourself look bad by bad mouthing and being negative. You just don't get it. When you bad mouth 5A/6A, you are bad mouthing all the wrestlers and coaches.

Once again the thread was about Bridesmaids not upsets. And it was never about 5A/6A vs. 3A/4A. I am not going to argue with you about that because you just spin it your way and don't look at the real/big picture.

I never called you ignorant Lucas. I am not going to pass judgement on someone like that. I just said that you made an ignorant comment and I explained why. Sorry you got offended. I guess I could have said illogical instead of ignorant as that would apply also but you would have been offended regardless I imagine, so sorry again.

I sure hope that you have grown up a little in the last few years based on some of the comments you have made in previous years. I hadn't heard from you in a while and you didn't post you traditional post state greivances and tirade so I was hoping that was indeed the case. But then this came up so it appears that may indeed not be the case. But if you say you have, I will accept that.

I really do wish you the best either way Lucas. With all your enthusiasm and persistance, I am sure you could be a great ambassador for the sport if you could just channel your energies in a positive manner.

I'll start the 5a off with Johnny Perz from sta. he has had a great career placing 3rd his junior year and finishing his career off with a win to take 3rd.