SJA's goal is to win the one tournament that matters most. The Thunder doesn't care what they are ranked as there are no trophies for being ranked and they don't give you bonus points based on rankings. There are lots of legitimate and strategic reasons things happen the way they do. It is over a six hour drive and demands two days of missed class in order to be properly prepared for Garden City. Home mat advantage cannot be overlooked either.
I grow weary of everyone grinding on the Chief about bias. It is really simple... each team gets points based on their individuals potential to place in a hypothetical INDIVIDUAL tournament of ALL Kansas wrestling schools. All five placing matches lost by SJA were to Colorado wrestlers so that dirties up an ALL Kansas comparison right out of the gate. It is simple math that stacks the ALL CLASS team rankings the way they end up. No bias and no special bonus because Chief likes the Thunder. All Chiefs like the Thunder because that is what you want when you do the rain dance.
I know the rankings are based on math which many posters struggle with so lets just go straight up, head-to-head in a dual format and speculate a little...
How would they stack up?
106 - Efrain Sanchez (20-10) placed 4th and scored 18.00 team points. vs Jackson Ott SJA We will give GC a bonus point.
GC 4 SJA 0
113 - Michael Prieto (35-2) placed 1st and scored 29.50 team points. vs Steve Tujague SJA It is a decision as it happened.
GC 7 SJA 0
120 - Mark Perez (19-16) placed 11th and scored 11.50 team points. vs Max Goode SJA (Toss Up)
GC 10 SJA 0
126 - Thomas Marquez (5-11) place is unknown and scored 4.00 team points. vs Reese Cokeley
GC 10 SJA 6
132 - Alec Castillo (8-6) placed 4th and scored 15.50 team points. vs Zak Hensley
GC 10 SJA 12
138 - Tevin Briscoe (24-3) placed 1st and scored 26.50 team points. vs Clay Lautt (Mies caught Clay but I am saying Tevin doesn't)
GC 14 SJA 12
145 - Chris Adler (36-6) placed 3rd and scored 22.00 team points.vs Andrew Tujague
GC 14 SJA 15
152 - Jesse Nunez (26-10) placed 5th and scored 16.00 team points. vs Sammy Cokeley Could go either way
GC 17 SJA 15
160 - Zac Finch (6-3) placed 6th and scored 14.00 team points. vs Ben Vanlerberg
GC 17 SJA 21
170 - Matt Marez (19-15) place is unknown and scored 2.00 team points. vs Matt Pratt
GC 17 SJA 27
182 - Tye Hahn (9-9) placed 14th and scored 9.00 team points. vs Trent Salsbury
GC 17 SJA 33
195 - Sam Reyes (32-5) placed 3rd and scored 24.00 team points. vs OPEN
GC 23- SJA33
220 - Luis Castaneda (11-7) placed 6th and scored 15.00 team points. vs David Feist SJA
GC 23-SJA 36
285 - Montana Fuller (5-1) placed 2nd and scored 24.00 team points. vs OPEN
GC 29 SJA 36
Mark should have the "Back in the day Rankings" that are based purely on his "opinion" but I think we should stick with math and not pure subjectivity.