Pre-Tournament Press Release!

National High School Seniors Wrestling Championship

Cleveland, OH
April 2, 2004 - April 4, 2004

15TH ANNUAL NHSCA SENIORS WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP SET FOR RETURN TO CLEVELAND’S PUBLIC HALL IN APRIL

EASTON, Pa. – Having evolved into one of the most anticipated annual wrestling events at any level, the National High School Coaches Association’s High School Seniors Wrestling Championships will return to Public Hall in Cleveland, Ohio, April 2-4, 2004. This marks the 15th year for the week-long NHSCA celebration, and organizers expect over 800 of the best high school wrestlers in America to compete.

“The growth of this tournament since its inaugural 1990 season with 262 wrestlers, to the 15th annual event with an expected 800 wrestlers demonstrates how greatly a tournament like this was needed,” said NHSCA executive director Bob Ferraro. “While some wrestlers come here as the culmination to an outstanding high school career, others come with the hope of establishing themselves as a force to deal with at the next level. And for both, the NHSCA Seniors Championships has turned into the perfect stage.”

This year’s anticipated entry list includes wrestlers from 48 states, and among them will be numerous entries from the defending champion state of Ohio, several four-time state champions from across the nation, at least two wrestlers undefeated for their entire career and another competitor whose story in the world of wrestling is nearly unbelievable.

The state of Ohio, which has been on firm ground as host by winning each of the past two years in Cleveland, will no doubt enter another strong contingent. In the latest NHSCA senior rankings, the Buckeye state had 13 wrestlers ranked top eight in their respective weight class – second only to Pennsylvania with 15 ranked wrestlers. Ohio (seven times), California (three) and Minnesota are the only states to win a team title since 1993 when team scores were first kept.

At least three wrestlers who are undefeated for their entire career will be competing in this year’s event. Michael Sutton, a 135-pounder from Weaver High School in Alabama; Alexander Tsirtsis, a 140-pound entry, from Griffith (Ind.) High School and Chris Oliver, a 152-pounder from Creighton Prep in Nebraska are 251-0, 236-0 and 128-0 respectively.

Still, a 103-pounder from Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Ga., may be the story of this year’s championship. Kyle Maynard, who completed the 2003-04 wrestling season with a 35-16 record for coach Cliff Ramos, has received the state of Georgia’s wildcard entry after going 3-2 in his senior state championship effort - despite having no arms or legs. Maynard, who placed sixth in the NHSCA Preseason Wrestling Championships, appeared on HBO’s award-winning Real Sports program in January. Born with no legs, no hands and arms that end before the elbow joint, Maynard’s story has become an inspiration to thousands, and potentially millions, who have learned about his accomplishments in recent months. Both Maynard and Ramos will serve as banquet speakers at Thursday’s annual NHSCA evening gathering.

The tournament will begin on Friday at 9 a.m. with wrestling in championship rounds only, all the way to the round of 16. At 9 a.m. on Saturday, the round of 16 will be followed by the quarterfinals, multiple rounds of consolation and the semifinals. Wrestling will again begin at 9 a.m. on Sunday with more consolations and placement matches. The championship finals for first place will follow a parade of All-Americans slated for 6 p.m. Sunday evening.

The NHSCA selects Coaches and Senior Athletes of the Year in 20 boys’ and girls’ sports, and sponsors 11 national championship events in the sports of wrestling, golf, and soccer. The 14th annual National High School Seniors Wrestling Championships attracted 798 entries from 46 states to Cleveland, Ohio in April 2003. The NHSCA also sponsors the National Open High School Wrestling Championships in July at Norfolk, Va. For a complete list of this year’s events, visit the NHSCA’s web site at http://www.nhsca.com. The National High School Coaches Association is a not-for-profit 501c3 service organization founded in 1988 to provide support and leadership programs for the nation’s 500,000 high school coaches.

Maynard Stands Tall!

In wrestling, and in life, Maynard stands tall

04/01/04

No offense to the other wrestlers in the High School Senior Nationals here this weekend, but they're not Kyle Maynard's toughest challenge. Buttons are. It is a tribute to his extraordinary life that nothing else comes even close.

His arms stop just above the elbows, the result of congenital amputation - he was born with four underdeveloped limbs.

Zippers he has mastered by looping a hanger through the hole. The hanger works well enough on socks, too.

Wrestling has fallen into the same category with typing, dancing, writing, eating, showering, playing video games . . . whatever. Under the umbrella of what he calls his "pursuit of normalcy," his everyday tasks and his lifelong passions have became not just doable but remarkably well done.

Maynard was selected by Georgia wrestling officials to participate in this weekend's national meet.

He finished his season with a 35-16 record for Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Ga. He placed in the top 10 in states, wrestling in the 103-pound weight class.

"We never let a disabled mentality into our home," Anita Maynard said. "He's played street hockey, football, some baseball. He's always wrestled. There's only been a handful of days, maybe, in 18 years that he has felt sorry for himself."

Maynard's upper limbs meet at a midpoint.

He has made them work as a hand would. By age 2, he was coloring with a crayon and keeping as well within the lines as any of his friends.

The last time he attended a special-needs school was the year before kindergarten. When Anita Maynard saw her son through a glass door there one day fumbling with a toy gun he brought for a show-and-tell, that was the last of the prosthetic arms. He dispatched the prosthetic legs, too.

A motorized wheelchair was and still is his transportation outside the house, but at home he moves from basement to eating area to his upstairs bedroom on his own. The house has few adaptations. Not the home computer keyboard, where he types 50 words a minute. Not the pens he uses to write his school papers in amazingly clean lettering. Not the kitchen utensils. He had a special spoon that clipped to his arm as a toddler but stopped using it around age 5.

"It kept getting lost when we'd go to a restaurant or when I would stay over at a friend's house," Maynard said. "I've always done better under pressure. So I was going to a friend's house one night, didn't have it, and just picked up a regular spoon and made it work."

The boy tested his parents' resolve to fit in by trying out for sixth-grade football after the family moved from Fort Wayne, Ind., to suburban Atlanta. His mom didn't like the idea for obvious reasons. But the Maynards had to let him practice what they preached.

When the other kids would run sprints, Maynard would do bear crawls. He needed no help getting to his position, nose guard. He would crawl on all fours. In a region of the country where football is almost holy, he was religious in his practice and play.

"I loved the hard-nosed sports," Maynard said. "But in football, I was getting broken bones. Wrestling gave me what I wanted - hand to hand combat - and against somebody who weighed the same as me."

Cliff Ramos, the Collins High wrestling coach, received a call from Anita Maynard seven years ago telling him her son wanted to wrestle.

"She said, 'He has this physical condition,' " Ramos said. "I said, 'Don't worry. Our youth coaches can handle it.' She said, 'Let me tell you about it.' After she was finished, I paused. Then she told me not to worry."

Ramos wondered if the boy would ever win a match. He lost his first 35. Ramos and Maynard's father, Scott, a former wrestler at Alma College in Michigan, wanted to help him with technique. But how? Ramos would fold his arms up inside his shirt to get a sense of Maynard's challenge.

Wrestling isn't tennis. It isn't golf. Lose 35 consecutive golf or tennis matches as a sixth- and seventh-grader and there might be embarrassment. Lose that many in a grueling sport like wrestling and the fallout is an avalanche of physical anguish and doubt.

"There is nothing more painful than going through an entire wrestling season and not winning a match," Kyle Maynard said. "I had to look back at the end of that year and say, 'You know, this might not be possible.' But halfway through seventh grade I won. And to go from that kind of record to where I am now has been a lot of fun."

Maynard matches his teammates sit-up for sit-up, push-up for push-up. His father has an engineering background. They slipped ropes through weight plates and attached them to Maynard's upper limbs. Later, they used chains. He has lifted 240 pounds 23 times, setting an unofficial record in a strongest teen competition sponsored by GNC. He says he has maxed out at 400 pounds.

When HBO filmed a "Real Sports" segment on Maynard that aired in January, a rival wrestler described him as "one big muscle."

Ramos began sending out tapes and e-mails about the wrestler he calls "the most amazing athlete who ever lived." Tony Marinozzi, a Cleveland-based screenwriter, was so impressed he contacted Ramos. He has written a treatment for a movie, and helped bring Kyle to the wrestling world championships in New York last September. At a private party there, Marinozzi watched Maynard hop out of his wheelchair and gyrate on the dance floor.

"He is so upbeat all the time," Marinozzi said. "When you look at what he's dealt with, I can only think he was sent for a purpose."

Inspiration goes both ways. Maynard has met his wrestling heroes - Bobby Douglas, Dan Gable, Cael Sanderson of Iowa State and others. He calls them "amazing."

Maynard will speak at a banquet in Cleveland tonight along with Ramos. Earlier this week he learned his 3.7 GPA was good enough to get him into the University of Georgia. He wants to someday own a gym and make his living as a businessman/public speaker.

When the competition begins Friday, he'll find himself in even more elite wrestling company.

"There are 18 four-time state champions," said Maynard. "I'm thrilled to be out there with those kind of wrestlers."

Eighteen years after he was born with no arm or leg joints, the talk is of how his condition gives him an advantage on the wrestling mat because opponents can't shoot for his legs or grab his arms and because he has such a low center of gravity.

Imagine.

No one mentioned that when he was losing 35 consecutive matches and his opponents were controlling him by pushing his head to the floor.

Come to think of it, there can be no higher compliment.

Kyle Maynard. Advantaged.

To reach this Plain Dealer columnist:

bshaw@plaind.com, 216-999-5639

Thanks Richard. Great reading!

The Luckiest Coach

I bet you Michael Johnson’s high school track coach thought he was the luckiest coach in the world. Or perhaps the high school coaches of Herschel Walker, Larry Bird, Barry Bonds and Dan Gable thought they were the most fortunate for having a “one of a kind” athlete on their team. Well, they were all wrong. I am the luckiest coach anywhere because I have Kyle Maynard on my wrestling team.

Who is Kyle Maynard? Kyle Maynard has been my JV 95 / 103 pounder for the last two years. This past season, his sophomore year, Kyle raised his total JV record to 28-8 after winning the King of the JV Hill Tournament, the largest and toughest junior varsity tournament in Georgia.

So Kyle has a pretty decent high school career going, but how can I say that he makes me the luckiest coach anywhere? Well, he has this physical condition which hinders him at times. Oh, I know there are many stories of handicapped athletes who have been successful, like some state wrestling champions or national champions with one or no legs. Sorry, Kyle sets the standard for physically impaired athletes who have experienced success.

Kyle was born with no legs, only two small feet turned at weird angles where the tops of the femurs are supposed to be. That can be a pretty severe handicap, but try wrestling with no legs … and no fingers, no hands and no elbows! He was born with stubs for arms that stop a few inches above where his elbows should be. So basically, Kyle competes using a neck, two shoulders, a very intelligent brain, and an enormous heart.

And he wins. As I mentioned earlier, Kyle has two successful JV seasons under his belt. He actually has a chance to be our varsity 103 pounder for at least part of the time over the next two seasons. And that is on a team which has one state championship and two third place finishes over the last three years in the state’s largest classification.

We have tried to invent and reinvent when it comes to technique for Kyle. But almost all of the credit for the “inventions” goes to Kyle. Most conventional moves do not work for him, so Kyle will do some pretty strange things on the mat. Sometimes it looks like he is doing a breakdance right before he leeches on to a leg.

Don’t feel sorry for Kyle – he might be the meanest kid on our team (but only while competing). He uses his head and face like a battering ram and his arms like little clubs. The opponents who feel sorry for him usually end up bleeding and watching the referee raise Kyle’s arm after the match.

Do be amazed by Kyle. I'm amazed every day I see him. I am amazed when I see him "run" with the rest of the team, which for Kyle is more like a bear crawl. I am amazed when I see him eat with forks and spoons. I am amazed when I see him write with much better “handwriting” than anyone on the team. I am amazed when I see him type at the computer faster then a lot of people … he is also an “A” student in all honors classes.

But I am most amazed when I see him in our wrestling room … which brings me back to the point I previously made about being the luckiest coach in the world. Kyle is an inspiration to the coaches and the wrestlers on our team every single day. He doesn’t miss practice. He never complains. He is one of the more vocal leaders on the team. He jokes around and horseplays just like any other kid (he is especially good at the age-old prank of sneaking up behind someone to let an accomplice push someone over him). And on a scale of one to ten for being a hard worker, Kyle is a 10.

And there have been numerous instances where I have used Kyle as an example and a teaching tool … A couple of examples: A kid might come to me during a grueling practice and say, “Coach, my knee is killing me. Can I sit out and ice it?” If I think the knee problem is minor, I’ll point at Kyle and say, “I bet he wouldn’t mind having a bad knee right now. Do you think you could wait until the end of practice for the ice?” Or another kid might inquire about sitting out due to a hyperextended elbow, and I’ll look at Kyle and say, “ I imagine he would take two hyperextended elbows for just one day.” The kid’s elbow usually starts feeling a little better.

I have been coaching for 26 years and have never coached or seen a kid who has a bigger impact on the people with whom he has contact - not just the young people and adults in our wrestling program: people associated with any opposing team are amazed and inspired as well. Therefore, I think I am correct when I say I am the luckiest coach in the world. Well not exactly. I am not lucky. I have been blessed. God has sent a blessing to a wrestling team in Suwanee, Georgia, in the form of a two and a half-foot tall giant of a person.

-coach Cliff Ramos

I'm still wondering if he doesn't have hands...how does he hold on? How does he keep balance too? Earl Jones at least has 3 healthy limbs for balance. Maybe he can ride like the devil, but is his strength purely from crawling everywhere in his house? Can't really do weights....fascinating story!

Sweazy:

If you inspect picture two (2) you will notice both arms, with NO hands, the left arm near the mat and the right arm between the opponents legs.

Picture three (3) shows a close up of the right arm, with NO hand.

If you still question the story, go to the following link:

Strength and Surprise are Maynard\'s Edge!

Strength, surprise are Maynard's edge

04/01/04

Pat Galbincea
Plain Dealer Reporter

..."What makes this kid so unique? He wrestles - and wins - despite having been born without hands and lower legs . His condition is described as congenital amputation. His arms end before the elbow joint, and his legs end well before his knees, with small feet turned backwards."...

..."So what can a wrestler with no arms and legs do on the mat? Plenty, according to Ramos.

"Kyle can hit an outside fireman's carry, and sometimes a single-leg but in an unorthodox way," Ramos said. "Of course we don't want to give away all of Kyle's strategy in print, but he does a lot of basic holds, some in conventional ways and others unconventionally.

"Kyle's biggest asset is his strength. He is so strong . . . he's got the strength of a 160-pound wrestler. His back is unbelievably strong. Opponents find they are facing one big block of muscle."...

Why doesn't Kansas get Wild Cards?

Are only certain states good enough for that distinction?

1st and 2nd in the rules can go to state...if you were a finalist in your 4 years you can go...if not...stay at home.

Sweazy:

First you question if the athlete has hands, and now you are complaining because he is allowed to compete!

Are you suggesting the young man, after overcoming a lifetime of difficulties, is not deserving of the opportunity to participate.

I am surprised at such a statement coming from an individual who wears a NCAA Division II National Championship ring, and never won a match or qualified for the tournament, and who had absolutely nothing to do with the success of UCO.

I was wondering about the hands, as how he does things in the match, no intent to slam him.

As for the saying that I don't think he deserves to be there...the rule state that you must finish in the top 2 at your respective state! I think this might be a good example of an exception, but then we get other exceptions all on the east coast for wrestling...I wasn't targeting this kid, I'm targeting the character of the National Committee for allowing people in the tournament that didn't earn the right to be there.

As for your attacks on me for the lack of letting your brain explore all reasonable thought. I did win matches remember you so eloquently stated Sweazy 1-7 on a forum talking about Fish...hmmm, nice backhanded compliment, and trying to say it didn't mean anything. It's fine to dish it but when somebody has an opinion, then you don't like it.

I did a lot for UCO, maybe not on the mat, but I helped in fundraising and many other avenues...I can actually speak pretty well and don't come off as a dumb jock which is why I was out in the streets getting sponsors more then some of my teammates. They had talent on the mat...mine was off of it. Plus, I'd like to see you beat a 4 time State Champion, and a guy that was a 2 time NCAA D2 finalist and NCAA D1 3rd place finisher for a varsity spot...you do that and we'll talk.

I wasn't targeting this kid, the idea of people getting in without meeting the criteria to qualify is what I was targeting, and if you misunderstood that, then all I can say is read slower and comprehend.

Anytime I mentioned the kid I was curious as to how he does moves and stuff...I don't think that's being negative...what if someone asked you to describe Earl Jones technique...would it be incensitive because you aren't "handicap" and he is? Earl is far from handicapped on the mat, and apparently so is this kid...they are both role models for many young people, and the fact that you think you know it all shows that your prime is well past.

Sweazy:

Had you performed a little research, you would have discovered the following:

National High School Seniors Wrestling Championship

"Eligibility
Must have senior eligibility in high school and a public high school state champion or runner-up or national prep school champion or runner-up during your high school career. New York, New Jersey, and Indiana will qualify the top four wrestlers in each weight class due to past performance and because there is only one division in their state tournament. California will qualify the top eight in each weight class because they have more than 800 high school wrestling programs and only one state championship. The top four place finishers in the NHSCA National Open Wrestling Championships are also eligible. There will be one wildcard per state that will selected by a state committee.

Sweazy states: "I wasn't targeting this kid, the idea of people getting in without meeting the criteria to qualify is what I was targeting, and if you misunderstood that, then all I can say is read slower and comprehend."

To which I reply:
The State Committee from Georgia felt the "kid" had the "criteria to qualify", and if you do not fully read the rules, or do not understand the rules, "read slower and comprehend".


and back to the topic of the thread:

"To the delight of many, Georgia’s Kyle Maynard built a solid lead on Louisiana’s Mike Featherston in a 103-pound consolation match. With fans, wrestlers and coaches flocking to the side of the mat, Maynard held on to win 6-5. He then posed for pictures, spoke to the media and signed autographs, as perhaps the most remarkable story in amateur wrestling continues. One more win would solidify that claim – it would make him an All-American."

First Round
Dario Rucas (TN) Maj. dec. Kyle Maynard (GA), 23-10

Consolation First Round
Kyle Maynard (GA) dec. Mike Featherston (LA), 6-5

Richard---

Why must you be a pompous ***?

GorillaHawk:

Why not!

As you well know, I provide the reading material for informational purposes, and the other party feels compelled to comment while not having any idea what he is talking about.

By the way, I am not certain about pompous, however the last part is correct.

There will be one wildcard per state that will selected by a state committee.

Who is Kansas's Wild Card?

Richard.....
Although I agree that sometimes the tone of your posts can sound a "bit" arrogant, I love reading everything you write. You have proven that you are knowledgeable, your information is current, and you're usually correct in your "prognostications." Thanks for sharing. I thought I read a post that said you are a writer for your college paper. I'm bettin' that you're a pretty good one. Wish I had seen you wrestle. Keep up the good work!

so was Maynard an All-American or not?

Maynard lost the match to get to the medal round 14-5 to Ty Roach of North Carolina.

Maynard finished the tournament with a 1-2 record.

Salyer...since you do the research better then me and nobody responds...

Who were all of the College A.A.'s this year from Kansas in the following Divisions:

Njcaa
NAIA
NWCA
D1
D2
D3
Women's

what place did they take and where are they from?

I don't know if they will air it again, but HBO Inside sports with Bryan Gumbel (I probably didn't spell the name right) did a piece on the Maynard kid this year. This kid is incredible. He also plays defensive line for his high school football team. If you get a chance to watch the program about him it will amaze you.

Maynard to Receive Medal of Courage!

Kyle Maynard to receive Medal of Courage from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame
1/10/2005
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling

Kyle Maynard of Georgia, an inspiring young wrestler who has overcome a challenging physical disability and has received considerable national recognition, will receive the Medal of Courage from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

The Medal of Courage is presented annually to a wrestler or former wrestler who has overcome what appear to be insurmountable challenges, which may be physical, mental or other handicaps that make their achievements all the more uplifting.

Kyle was born on March 24, 1986 with a rare disorder called “Congenital Amputation,” leaving him with three joints, a neck and two shoulders. He has no elbows or knees. He measures just over two feet tall, and weighs approximately 103 pounds.

Despite these physical challenges, Maynard has become a successful amateur wrestler, and has inspired thousands of people across the nation with his courage and spirit for living.

On the mats, Maynard became a successful high school wrestler in Georgia, posting a 35-16 record and competing in the 2004 Georgia High School Championships, where he had an impressive 3-2 record. He competed at the NHSCA National Wrestling Championships, and had a tremendous performance, falling just short of All-American status.

Maynard is currently a freshman at the University of Georgia, where he is continuing his wrestling career on the club team that participates in the National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA).

He is a tremendous student, earning a 3.7 GPA while being very active in many clubs and school activities. Along with wrestling, he has participated in swimming, baseball, street hockey and football, all with the aid of prosthesis. He uses his tremendous strength to his advantage in wrestling, and has developed a number of successful wrestling moves that allow him to make the most use of his low center of gravity and power.

Many within wrestling have learned about Maynard through his passionate involvement in the sport on the national level. However, his amazing story has now reached the general public, and his achievements are being reported in the major national media.

The first national coverage of Maynard and his wrestling achievements came on a report featured on HBO Sports in January 2004. Since then, his story has been told on some of the most respected media outlets in the world.

He received an ESPY award, winning the Best Athlete with a Disability Award. Maynard was interviewed on CNN Larry King Live. He was featured in a major Page 1 article in USA Today. He appeared on the Early Show on CBS. He has been featured in Readers Digest and Vanity Fair magazines, as well as on HBO Real Sports, ESPN’s Cold Pizza, the Howard Stern Radio Show and the Judge Hatchett Show.

He was a model for Abercrombie & Fitch, appearing in advertising with his friend and fellow wrestler Cyler Sanderson. He has been honored by the Georgia chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, as well as the Georgia State Wrestling Hall of Fame. He received the President’s Award for Courage from the Humanitarian Hall of Fame.

Maynard has become a sought-after public speaker, sharing his inspiring story with people all across the nation. It is Maynard’s attitude that has captivated the public, and allows him an opportunity to explain his love for wrestling and for life.

One of Kyle’s favorite sayings is “It’s not what I can do, it’s what I will do.” This attitude comes from overcoming numerous failures, having the perseverance to overcome his limitations, with the loving care of his parents. His father stressed self-reliance from the time that Kyle was an infant and it has helped him to reach high achievements ever since.

Maynard is starting work on his first book, to be entitled “No Excuses.” A screenwriter is working on a movie project. He is continuing to be a college student and athlete, while sharing his life and experiences with everybody willing to listen and learn from him.

Personally I saw the Real Sports episode ( I believe the first they ever did on wrestling as opposed to water polo and such) and was turly amazed. Then my father-in-law gave me the USA Today article and I hung it in my classroom, this kid is awesome for overcoming something so tragic and the title of his book "No Excuses" sums his life up nicely. In the interview on Real Sports he said "I do not know what it is like to have arms and legs so therefore I feel that I am normal." Whereas Earl Jones was born with two legs but a horse bite, I think, caused him to have an amputation(I am not degrading Earl in any way, shape, or form). Earl was awesome to watch and was also an inspiration because he was a great kid and wrestler.
We do not get many opportunities to have the national media cover our sport and this kid has done amazing things and should be commneded.
Currently he is wrestling at Georgia State I believe for the club team (like K-State and KU) they have no intercollegiate team and therefore he wrestles for the club.
At FHSU I wrestled with a kid named Jason Brown (no relation) who had no hands, he had arms but only two fingers on one hand (pinkie and thumb) and no fingers just a wrist on the other and he was tough, and **** strong too. Anyone who cna overcome a disablity like this deserves to recieve acclamation and rewards!
Coach Brown
ps. Jason wrestled for Bonner Springs I believe in high school and could use that "nub" (his own words)like a hammer on your head and could hit one heck of a firemans!