Does anyone know for sure what year the FIRST Kids State Tournament was held? We are thinking prior to 1978.

If so, please post or send me a message at leanngrater@twinvalley.net


Thanks,
Leanna

I wrestled in a kids state championship in 1968 in Manhattan when I was 8 years old. I still have the medal and local newspaper article (Augusta Gazette) about the tournament.

Dan Gentzler-Andover Central

The first one I went to was in 1973 in Wichita at Henry Levitt Arena.

Some of my fondest memories of wrestling are the State Tournament at Manhattan with KSU Coach Fred Fozzard. Went 70', 71' and finally in 72' when I was named Co-O.W. with Kendall Hershberger.

I think the first "OFFICIAL" kids state was in Manhattan in 1974. That was when the Kansas Kids Wrestling Federation was organized and recognized, through the efforts of men like Ben Bennett, Mr.Bontz, Lawrence Alley, Gus Garcia, Mr. Faust from Derby, with a little help from Fred Fozzard.

The tournaments in Manhattan prior to that, while maybe not official, were some of the toughest in memory (I am old, and my memory is slipping a little) but is seems like 60 was a small bracket in those days. A lot of fun in Ahearn! I think at that time they were called the Kansas Kids Olympics or something like that, and it got more organized every year.

Sam McFee

Wow Tommyboy, I didn't realize you were that "old", you certainly wear it well.
I saw my first "state" action in 1970, OKC.

I was talking to one of my friends today and the first one we went to was in Manhattan. It moved to Wichita and then later to Hays. We think we went in 1973 but it could have been 74. He is going over to his moms where the bracket he won is still up on his wall. Funny stuff.

why I am thinking it was '74 was I remember going to Brookings, SD for the Northern Kids regional that year, and the training camp they had at Manhattan prior to leaving. It was a bad thing to qualify in April for a late June tournament-I grew about 2 inches and 15 lbs inbetween the two dates, but made weight-while everyone else between practice sessions was resting and playing, I got to make trips to the stadium stairs.

I am pretty sure Dan made that trip too, although he was a year older than I was. The other kids from Kansas in my weight (12U 105) were Jon Ritter from GC and Ralph Hoyt from Eldorado. We finished 1-2-3.

The next two years state was in wichita, and the regionals in Minnesota and St. Louis. The '76 training camp was held at a boy scout camp or something, we slept in teepees. A lot of good times!

Sam McFee

"You can ignore reality, but you cannot ignore the consequences of ignoring reality."-Ayn Rand

I still have the letter Ben Bennett sent after we got back-I will have to see if I can find it, scan it, and post it-I bet you will recognize a lot of the names!