Taking a look back, these two teams were the first to compete for Team Kansas back in 2006. Many of these wrestlers just completed their senior year.

70 Hunter Haralson Sunflower (State Runner-up as FR and counting)
75 Tre Humphrey Renegades (State Qualifier and placer)
80 Taylor Moeder Colby (2x HS State Champ and counting!)
85 Blaine Smith Salina (2x HS State Champ)
90 Ryne Cokeley Paola (3x HS State Champ and counting)
95 Josh Hanson Sunflower (4x HS SQ, 1x State Placer)
100 Parker Madl Paola (2x HS State Champ, 4x placer, OU signee)
105 Tyler Roth Silver Lake
110 Chase Nitcher Brawlers (2x HS State CHamp, 4x placer,HS career win record holder)
115 Martin Buck Bonner
120 Zane Perez Gray Co. (HS State qualifier and placer)
125 Jake Walker STA (3x HS State Placer)
130 CJ Stallbaumer Paola
135 Tanner Johnson Renegades (3x HS State Qualifier)
140 Nick Thibault Halstead (HS State Champ)
150 Evan Johnson Great Gold
160 John Hambleton Parsons (2x HS State CHamp)
175 Mark Kolmer Emporia (HS State Champ)
190 Josh Hicks NW Grizz (HS State Placer)
215 Tyler Gjerstadd Abilene
275 Lucas Vincent Olathe (HS State Champ)


70 Bryce Shoemaker Baldwin (1x SC and still counting)
75 Michael VanderLinden Burlington (HS State Qualifier and Placer)
80 Tyson Schmidtberger Russell (HS State Qualifier and Placer)
85 Derek Weller Piper (3x HS State Placer)
90 Zach Tanenbaum STA (2x HS State Champ, 3x placer and counting)
95 Levi Flohrschutz Sunflower (multi HS State Qualifier)
100 Cody Shavlik Derby (multi HS State Placer)
105 Koty Russell Sunflower (HS State Runner Up)
110 Chad Macy El Dorado
115 Cade Blair Brawlers (3x HS State Champ)
120 Codie Bontz WWC (4x HS State Placer)
125 Benny Armstrong Brawlers (4x HS State Placer)
130 Joey Dozier Gray County (HS State Champ, multi placer)
135 Sean Gaither NW Grizz (Multi HS State Placer)
140 David Blazevic Turner (Multi HS State Placer)
150 Jonathan Truman WWC (HS State Champ and multi placer)
160 Garrett Mitchell Rose Hill
175 Kyle Caylor TOHK (3x HS State Champ and runner up)
190 Gage Roberts El Dorado
215 Brock Heithaus NW Grizz (HS State Champ)
275 BJ Finney Clearwater (HS State Champ)

I just pulled this extra information from memory so it might be off. Ricky Bobby could do it more justice. I just wanted everyone to see where the middle school duals can help take your wrestler. At least 29 high school state GOLD medals! Awesome!

I remember that trip well.

Add:
140 Nick Thibault Halstead (HS State Champ)

If I recall correctly, that was my sons first expereince dodging a tornado.

Lots of great memories and great wrestlers/young men that were part of this first trip! Will has provided LOTS of great memories for many young men in the trips that he has organized for Kansas Wrestling!! Thanks Will!!

Michael and I were visiting after reading this post. Danville, IL was the home of actor Dick Van Dyke. We remember Michael sitting in the back of the van (on the way home) doing his math homework and asking about the next hotel we were going to take cover in along the road home. I remember in the middle of the storms, Coach Matt Collins (Emporia Coach) saying, "Doug go back to sleep, we'll be just fine!"

Great Times!
Doug Vander Linden
Burlington Wrestling

I will always remember that trip also. That Nebraska dual where we had to win the last 6 matches by falls and we did it, only to be dinged a team point by the ref from Mars. Johnson, Hambleton, Kolmer, Hicks, Heithaus and Vincent was a nice way to end every dual. Having the Heithaus and Hicks dads as our loudest front row fans didn't hurt either! I still thank God that I kept that van on the road all night with the ditches full of overturned cars from the wind. Look at all those kids that we had and their accomplishments. Thanks to Will Cokeley for keeping the tradition going. These kind of events change kids lives. Let's do it again this year!