AC_Wrestler -

You should be proud of your school's accomplishments. Coach Jackson jump started a program that had already earned recognition on the state level as early as their first state team title in 1964 and 3 additional titles in the late 60's. And he had an incredible run of success that has continued through the current day. Congrats on the fine wrestling heritage your school holds.

But surely you realize other wrestling programs also have outstanding heritages too.

Take St. Francis, for example. They already had 8 state team titles before Ark City scored their first. And have 16 total.

Oberlin had 5 before AC's first.

Heck, Wichita East had 10 before AC's first.

Kind of taints your and Hovpen's previous comments about how it will be a long time before another team catches Ark City, doesn't it? I mean, wasn't it Ark City who took 50 years to catch up with these teams?

And how could you ignore Beloit's success? They rattled off 6 titles in a row (3 in 4A and 3 in 321A) at a time when there was little doubt which divisions were the premier classifications in the state.

And on three of those occassions, they scored in excess of 180 points (181.5 in 1981, 189.5 in 1983 and 193 - with 6 state champs - in 1984) at a time when the KSHSAA only medaled 4 placers in each weight and had 12 weight classes instead of 14. Which I find equally as impressive Hoxie's 218.5 or AC's 214.

And how about those great individual season performances from Atwood, Abilene, Clay Center, Effingham, Leoti, Norton, Goodland, Manhattan ..... teams from years gone by.

Or how about 1951 when Colby won the state title and placed 10 wrestlers - w/ 9 placing 3rd or better - in 12 weight classes only to be awarded a whopping 37 total team points for the entire tourney.

Then, the team who I root so loudly for, Hoxie who won their 10th title this season - and who has placed 2nd on 9 other occasssions.

Not to mention the powerful teams from Kapaun (who won the only two grand state meets) that had noteworthy success in the 70's and 80's.

Or the countless other teams deserving of recognition here too.

Point is, you should be proud of your team's success - as should every fan should, whether they be cheering for Abilene..... Deerfield .....Wellsville or Ark City.

But, it too would be nice if you would at least show the maturity to recognize that Ark City is far from being the sole mecca of high school wrestling in our great state. Because it is just one of many schools with a noteworthy wrestling tradition.

P.S. I'll hold you to your comment on a separate post about Hoxie not having any All-Americans or 4x state champs on their current team - because I think you are wrong on that prediction too. But, only time will tell on that.