Colby comes up shy of a championship ... He is the Runner Up at #149!

All-American...sweet!

A big congratulations to Bryce Shoemaker from you family out west in Hays.

Lance & Crista

Great job to Mark, Pat, Daniel, Lonnie, Bob, Dult, and the 5 thousand other people who made this happen. GREAT EVENT!

I will 2nd what Damon said!

"Great job to Mark, Pat, Daniel, Lonnie, Bob, Dult, and the 5 thousand other people who made this happen. GREAT EVENT!"

Outstanding Job - 1st Class! I will add Joe and the other Trackwrestling experts, the many many young bodies that doing what ever needed done, setting up, tearing down, the expocenter staff, NAIA Staff, on and on - Oh those young legs can get around that concrete floor.

Bryce...

I remember:
the feisty 8 year old with a fearless motor;
Jack and you brutalizing each other;
all the boys...
sandbags, "last 30 seconds", sprinting, crying, puking into the trashcan;
all the parents...
at the gym standing, hooting, applauding the spirit in you boys;

I remember:
your first state championship;
hugging your father;
national tournaments;
watching your high school legacy;
knowing that the losses built you more than the wins;
"Never count out Shoemaker...ever"
"Ever"

I am so very proud of you Bryce. So very proud.
I am so pleased for your parents. So supportive. So loving.
I am also grateful.
This accomplishment is more than pride in your national championship.
More than the pride in Baker's first national champion.
It is a wonderful chance to remember all you boys, all the coaches, all the parents, all the times.
One of life's chances for it all to come together and overwhelm.


Congratulations Bryce Shoemaker
133lb NAIA National Champion
From Baker Univ, through Baldwin City, Kansas
Feisty with a fearless motor

That is awesome Craig, thanks very much & thanks for calling last night!

Craig,
Thank you for the above writing and especially for the phone call on the night of the Championship. Bryce told me later that night you had called and talked with him and that meant a lot to him and to us. You played a big role in developing Bryce into the wrestler he is today from those early years in youth wrestling! Melinda and I will never forget those days and we will always appreciate what you did for Baldwin Youth Wrestling and for so many young and determined wrestlers who you coached. Take care and God Bless you and your family.