1988 3-2-1A 185 was pretty tough. Sounds a bit self-serving here, as I competed in the weight class so I am probably a bit biased. But it was pretty competitive and I felt it to be worth mentioning.

Champ - Paul Gastley, Beloit (senior) - 3-2-1A Champ as a senior - 4A 185 runner-up as a junior - NJCAA All-American at Colby CC - went on to wrestle at UN-Kearney

2nd - Dan Wessel, Plainville (senior) - 4x qualifier (155,167,167&185) - runner-up as a senior - played NJCAA (?Dodge City?) football until he injured both knees

3rd - Les Brown, Hoxie (senior)- lost to Wessel in the semis - 24-1 as a senior - undefeated 167 pound champ as a junior - 4th @ 167 as a sophomore - wrestled at Colby CC until he injured his knees

4th - Ryan "Boomer" Bornholdt, Lyons (junior) - lost twice to Brown - 3x medalist (1st,4th,3rd)- state champ as a senior - earned numerous accolades in juco football at Garden City -started in the backfield at FHSU

Did Not Place - Jeff Vrbas, Atwood (sophomore) - lost to Ditto and Brown - placed 2nd as a junior (lost to Bornholdt) - champion as a senior - placed 6th in the NHSCA Senior Nationals in 1990 - played NCAA DI/DII football (Western Kentucky and a school in Idaho)

Did Not Place - Chad Ditto, Herington (senior) - 3X qualifer - lost to Gastley and Bornholdt

Did Not Place - Todd Staerkel, Royal Valley (senior) - entered the state tournament undefeated - lost to Wessel and Bornholdt.

Did Not Qualify - Brett Bedore, Stockton (senior) - defending 185 pound state champ was beaten out at Regionals (Gastley, Wessel, Bornholdt, Ditto), tremendous football player and great wrestler - wrestled at Colby CC and qualified for NJCAA nationals in an exceptionally tough weight class

Four champs in the bracket and a defending champ who did not qualify for the tournament as a senior.