Wait a minute, Sanderson did go to Utah. But his 4 state titles would mean nothing even though he won 4 National titles and an Olympic gold. My question is, how did he ever get recruited?
Second, if kids in Kansas or anywhere for that matter want to be really recognized/exposed, they can go to Sr. Nationals, Fargo or the National duals. Take for instance Erisman who was already pointed out. He has not even won a "class" state title let alone a "grand state" state title and he is heavily recruited and tabbed for O'State because he went to the National duals in Enid and kicked some rear and then went and placed at Fargo.
Third, I can guarentee you that people are looking at Kansas because of our success at Sr. Nationals and the National duals where we almost always place in the top ten in folkstyle, freestyle and greco. In fact, the year that Kansas placed third in the National duals in freestyle, who did they beat for third and forth? That's right, your beloved California. Plus we have had great success recently at the DI's.
Forth, I do not give a rat's patootie about wrestlers in Califonia. They already have everything, mountains, beaches, canyons, waterfalls, giant forests, volcanoes, deserts, Disneyland, Hollywood, Seaworld, the Golden Gate Bridge, Pro football teams, Pro baseball teams, Pro basketball teams, etc., etc., etc. Do they really need more than one state championship. Whereas our poor miserable wrestlers in Kansas have nothing. Aren't we at least entitled to more than one wrestling class. I will certainly not feel bad for California wrestlers, they should be very thankful.
And I am sorry, I mispelled can.
In all seriousness though, I am more upset about the comment made by someone else that the big schools in Kansas did not win state titles until the classes were split. This historian needs to check the history. Of the first twenty state championships held in Kansas under one class, 12 titles were won by two Wichita schools, that's dominance. In the fifties, the district's two schools were broke up because they were too big and more emphasis switched to basketball. At the point, the tide turned somewhat. And also, up to that point, Topeka and Kansas City did not even care about wrestling, they were into the more popular Basketball. In the fifties, after Wichita was broke up. Saint Francis, Colby, Oberlin and Norton took the reigns for the time. And furthermore, the last two state titles won in 1964 and 1965 right before "the split" were won by Newton and Ark City (5A schools presently), not a "small school". At that point, KSHSSA in their infinite wisdom probably saw the writting on the wall. Did you ever think that one of the reasons that the small schools might have been so "dominate" in the 50's and early 60's was because most of the best athletes in the bigger schools were playing basketball and not wrestling. Perhaps the small schools put more emphasis into wrestling because they could not beat the "big schools" in football, basketball and baseball. Do you believe that kids in small schools in Western Kansas are inherently tougher, more athletic or better suited for wrestling than kids in larger schools. If you do, you had better think again. If that were the case, the small Western Kansas schools would still be "dominating" today and that is not the case. It will always be a number's game. Yes you will always have small schools like Norton, etc. that will compete with the big schools because of their tradition and the "individual sport" nature of wrestling but overall, as the bigger schools emphasize wrestling more and more, I only see that gap widdening.
Of course, I guess that it is all just my opinion.
