Never said the state champions didnt earn it or shouldnt earn it and they do earn it obviously. I am just saying that is not the total picture. Just watch the parade or better yet have a son that gets to walk in the parade or a daughter for that matter. There are several layers to that deal at state and I think you all really know that because you have obviously been there. Have a heart men (blows my whole reputatin there with a lot of people, I will get email on that one)

Ok we are all getting punchy here Farleigh you and I lose the spelling contest. I mean reputation lol.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Westfahl:
[QB] I'm sorry but I would have to have a name on that Okie State kid. I believe a lot of things but that ain't one of them

I think the OSU kid with a losing record that won the NCAA's was Mark Branch. If I remember right, he was even a freshman. And I think it was around 1994??

Branch was a three or four time state champion in high school and a first team all american as well as a junior national champion. He was however only 12-7 when he qualified for the national tourney that may be what you are talking about. He had a knee injury throughout his freshman year but went to the finals all four years and won his freshman and senior years. He was a very accomplished kid though.

I was wrong about Branch he was a two time state champ at Newkirk Oklahoma. Here is his bio if you are interested. He was a heck of a leg wrestler.


Mark Branch

Position:
Assistant Coach







Following one of the most impressive careers in Oklahoma State history, Mark Branch begins his third season as an assistant coach for the Cowboys.

The former Cowboy great won two national titles in his career and was a four-time national finalist, one of only nine wrestlers all-time that has accomplished that feat. He capped off his perfect senior season with a 5-3 win over Brandon Slay of Pennsylvania.

In 1996 he advanced to the finals of the NCAA Championships before suffering a devastating knee injury. In 1995 he finished second behind arch-rival Marcus Mollica of Arizona State.

In 1994, he won one of the most improbable titles in NCAA history. He entered the NCAAs with an 8-9 record but marched to the NCAA title. He is one of only five Cowboys to win the NCAA title as a freshman.

He finished his senior season 32-0 and had a career mark of 99-19. He also won three conference titles.

Mark was also selected to compete in the NWCA All-Star match three times but only wrestled twice.

In addition to his prowess on the mat, he was also an outstanding student. He was named NWCA Academic All-American four times in his career. He also was the recipient of the Big 12 and NCAA post-graduate scholarship.

Mark came to the Cowboy program from Newkirk, Okla., where he won two state titles.

Branch, a 1997 graduate of Oklahoma State, is married to the former Susan Ailey . He is currently pursuing a master's at OSU.

He was 8-9 as a freshman when he won that is what you meant I think huh?

In 6a there are 33 kids wo made it to state with an even or losing record. 5a-26, 4a-5, 123a-12. What does that say for 5a and 6a state?

Well, considering the given, 5a and 6a qualify more kids.

It means that those kids will get beat out probably and then you will have the tourney you want so badly. Time it gets to the quarters and semi's only the "worthy" will survive.

what is that an average of about two per weight. Man are we worried about nothing here or what.

I can only say positive things about taking 16 to the state tourny. Why do you other guys think it is so bad.

You beat me to it, Westfahl. I knew Branch had a losing record going into the tournament. It just took me a while to track it down after you told me I was wrong. It was 1994 in North Carolina. I went to the tournament to watch Eric Akin. Akin lost to Sam Henson in the finals on a 2-2 OT criteria. If I remember right, Akin took bottom during the overtime and Henson held his legs with no attempt to move up for almost the entire 30 seconds.

Yep that was the way that went. Lots of people thought Henson stalled his way to that one. Branch was an interesting cat. I saw a kid from OU take up in the second and ride him out leading 3-0 going into the third. Branch took top and turned him three times in the Turk and cross body. He was a snake and I loved watching him. His knees were so injured it was sort of painful to watch him but he would put those legs in anyway and grimace all the way to the other guys back. I had forgotten him but he was sure fun to watch on the top.

The OU kid was Jason Leonard. Sounds like we were at the same tournament!! Surely there is a way I can make money off all this meaningless trivia that is stored in my head.

Good luck this weekend. I've gotta get some sleep now since I doubt that will happen much this weekend.

Well the solution seems to me to qualify more kids at 1-2-3A and also at 4A. What is it going to hurt to add a few more wrestlers? In football and basketball teams go to postseason with losing records all the time. Have 24 or 32 qualify and make them wrestle into the tourney with pig tail matches. One way would be for the wrestlers to wrestle off 5th 6th and qualify them. Might be diluting the thing some but it isnt any different than what 5A and 6A is doing. From what I see I would much rather wrestle 5A 6A than 4A

The answer is to do away with divsions and make it just like kids state=only one champion per weight class. Sure, some divisions and regional kids may not make it but Kansas kids are used to that format and why should placing at states be harder for kids than it is for high school?

Cokeley I get your point. I think you are trying to say that 5A and 6a is too easy to qualify for. Which I don't agree with. There are some good kids from around the state who did not qualify including some returning medalists who would also not agree with you. Many of the losing records come from regionals that are not as strong, or from regions that have small numbers of wrestlers in the brackets, like 103 lbs.

For the most part it is not harder to place at kids state than it is at high school state because of closer age divisions and more weights. For instance, you don't have to worry about 15 and 16 year old sophomores and juniors if you are a 14 year old freshman at kids state. Believe me placing at kids state is usually not as hard as placing at high school state and tons of wrestlers place at kids state and never place at high school state.

Hey Westfahl. I'm just wondering if you are still lol at me? I should give you a serious Prant Garker sized taunting for not remembering Mark Branch, but since you corrected yourself I will let it slide. Thanks for finding that bio.

Actually I do think it's harder to qualify for kids state... In high school all u have to do is place at one tournament to go to state. In Kids Club you have to place twice... so if u placing was a flook then in kids u would have to get lucky twice and luck don't have twice!!