PRE-SEASON RANKINGS!

Wrestlers are ranked by their ANTICIPATED weights. As with any ranking system they are just my opinion, arrived at through MANY hours of research.

Many factors are considered (Not always in this order):

1. State bracket performance.
2. Performance at national folkstyle tournaments.
3. National FS/GR success.
4. Information from Coaches and Parents.
5. Competition that the wrestler has faced.


IMPORTANT:

The input must include criteria! Asking, "Why is this guy above that guy" or saying, "I can't believe you have that guy ranked" is not criteria. Just state your evidence and if found substantive, I will change it. Also remember that we are still many weeks away from the first whistle so a lot can change and surely will.

Instead of changing the rankings AS new information comes in, I plan to update them each Friday until the season starts.




TEAM RANKINGS:

1. Arkansas City - 5A
2. St. James Academy - 5A
3. St. Thomas Aquinas - 5A
4. Newton - 5A
5. Garden City - 6A
6. Lawrence - 6A
7. Andover Central - 5A
8. Junction City - 6A
9. Colby - 4A
10. Topeka Seaman - 5A


106:
1. Logan Terrill – ARK - 10 - 5A
2. Jake Goldenstein – AUG – 10 - 4A
3. Stephen Tujague – SJA – 9 - 5A
4. Christian Bowen – GD – 9 - 5A
5. Josiah Seaton – BS – 11 - 4A
6. Landon Wood – MZ – 9 - 6A
7. Khamin Crow – SEA – 10 - 5A
8. Michael Prieto – GC – 9 - 6A
9. Chance Maynard – DC – 11 - 6A
10. Levi Kester – PT – 11 - 4A

113:
1. Sean DeShazer – WH - 10 - 6A
2. Michael Lindlar – WNW – 12 - 6A
3. Joey DeFore – ARK – 11 - 5A
4. Trey Francka – CCO – 12 - 321A
5. Parker Howell – KMC – 11 - 5A
6. Kevin Perez – JC – 12 - 6A
7. Jase Stone – MH – 12 - 6A
8. Zane Baugh – AB – 10 - 4A
9. Jeff Morrow – DB – 12 - 6A
10. Tristan Star – LAW – 10 - 6A

120:
1. Zac Gentzler – AC - 12 - 5A
2. Tyler Mies – AN – 11 - 4A
3. Dakota Leach – GD – 12 - 5A
4. Reese Cokeley – SJA – 11 - 5A
5. Quinton Harrison – NEW – 12 - 5A
6. Hunter Price – HOL – 12 - 4A
7. Jake Elbrader – STA – 11 - 5A
8. PJ Cheney – TUR – 11 - 5A
9. Brett Moon – MZ – 9 - 6A
10. Armond McCray – WH – 10 - 6A

126:
1. Dustin Reed – CLB - 12 - 4A
2. Chris Burley – GB – 12 - 5A
3. Zak Hensley – SJA – 10 - 5A
4. Brandon Ball – HOI – 11 - 321A
5. Luke Henes – STA – 11 - 5A
6. John Risewick – NOR – 12 - 321A
7. Nick Haug – ON – 10 - 6A
8. Lucas Maki – AND – 12 - 5A
9. Tevin Briscoe – GC – 10 - 6A
10. Corey Spader – SPH – 12 - 4A

132:
1. Michael Olsen – LS - 11 - 5A
2. Hunter Haralson – LAW – 12 - 6A
3. Tyler Dickman – STA – 11 - 5A
4. Kyle Wilson – WAM – 12 - 4A
5. Anthony Monares – NEW – 12 - 5A
6. Trevor Kennedy – GC – 12 - 6A
7. Blake Stovall – ON – 9 - 6A
8. Jake Wilson – RH – 11 - 4A
9. Sawyer Like – BVSW – 11 - 5A
10. Chipper Jorns – SME – 12 - 6A

138:
1. Isaac Dulgarian – STA - 10 - 5A
2. Bryce Shoemaker – BAL – 12 - 4A
3. Cody Eastman – ARK – 12 - 5A
4. Reis Humphrey – SMS – 12 - 5A
5. Dane Edwards – DC – 12 - 6A
6. AJ Hurtado – GC – 12 - 6A
7. Garrett McEachern – NEW – 12 - 5A
8. Greg Burley – GB – 11 - 5A
9. Jacob Durossette – FS – 11 - 4A
10. Jared Suppes – DB – 12 - 6A

145:
1. Brogan Humphrey – FRE - 11 - 321A
2. Andrew Millsap – JC – 11 - 6A
3. Austin Hughey – ELD – 12 - 4A
4. Taylor Watkins – COL – 10 - 4A
5. Victor Hughes – FS – 12 - 4A
6. Tanner Ogden – RV – 12 - 4A
7. Lawson Fiss – HUG – 12 - 4A
8. Jake Gehring – BUH – 12 - 4A
9. Jared Fiscus – CH – 12 - 4A
10. Michael Helms – ARK – 12 - 5A

152:
1. Jonathan Blackwell – BS - 12 - 4A
2. Tagen Lambotte – ROS – 11 - 321A
3. Wyatt Villers – ARK – 12 - 5A
4. Scott Whitson – BUH – 11 - 4A
5. Dylan Jackson – EMP – 12 - 5A
6. Patrick Weaver – HUG – 12 - 4A
7. Matt Pratt – SJA – 10 - 5A
8. Chandler Ayer – DB – 12 - 6A
9. Kalin Collins – WS – 11 - 6A
10. Derek Frost – CFK - 12 - 4A

160:
1. Dustin Williams – GE – 11 - 6A
2. Gavin Grater – RC - 11 - 321A
3. Calvin Ochs – HOX – 12 - 321A
4. Kyle Armstrong – AN – 12 - 4A
5. Noel Torres – EMP – 12 - 5A
6. Aaron Puckett – BS – 12 - 4A
7. Ben Becker – DB – 12 - 6A
8. Andrew Denning - LAW - 12 - 6A
9. Quade Woofter – CLB – 12 - 4A
10. Nick Wuthnow – SAC – 11 - 321A

170:
1. Jared Johnson – PR - 12 - 321A
2. Bryant Guillen – SEA – 12 - 5A
3. Trent Salsbury – SJA – 11 - 5A
4. Johnny Perz – STA – 12 - 5A
5. Jared Langley – NEW – 10 - 5A
6. Blake Hampton – SPH – 11 - 4A
7. Anthony Gardner – GC – 12 - 6A
8. Trevor Whittaker – SV – 12 - 4A
9. Kolby Fennewald – MUL – 12 - 4A
10. Jordan Dillard – SMW - 12 - 6A

182:
1. Levi Eck – AN - 12 - 4A
2. Nick Meck – SH – 12 - 5A
3. Ben Ewing – STA – 10 - 5A
4. Kyler Atwood – SC – 12 - 321A
5. Armando Sandoval – ULY – 12 - 4A
6. Luke Weldon – VC – 12 - 5A
7. Brandon Salmans – HOX – 12 - 321A
8. Levi Huneke – SAB – 12 - 321A
9. Andy Muehlberger - SJA - 12 - 5A
10. Rasheed Brady – SMS – 11 - 5A

195:
1. Preston Weigel – HAY - 11 - 5A
2. Dillon Archer – NEW – 12 - 5A
3. Chad Blair – VC – 12 - 5A
4. Dalton Rodd – AC – 12 - 5A
5. Tanner O’Donnell – SS – 12 - 5A
6. Skyler Hittle – CON – 11 - 4A
7. Gavin Houser – COL – 12 - 4A
8. Austin Tillman – TOP – 11 - 6A
9. TJ Martin – BVSW – 12 - 5A
10. Nate Stanley – SEA – 12 - 5A

220:
1. Justin Scott – JW - 11 - 4A
2. Tyson Toelkes - SH - 11 - 5A
3. Jesse Colver – LV – 12 - 5A
4. Caleb Franklin – WN – 11 - 6A
5. Ray Gallegos – NEW – 11 - 5A
6. Dylan Cox – ARK – 12 - 5A
7. Ramiro Gatica – SMW – 12 - 6A
8. Jordan Drybread – CH – 12 - 4A
9. Ryker Greenbaum – DOU – 12 - 321A
10. Michael McEachern – SC – 12 - 321A

285:
1. Will Geary – TOP - 12 - 6A
2. Nathan Butler – LV – 12 - 5A
3. Clay Wilcox – CHP – 12 - 321A
4. Dylan Hall – SEA – 12 - 5A
5. Garret Lee – NEW – 12 - 5A
6. Nadir Zayyad – BVW – 12 - 6A
7. Don Fowler – BVNW – 12 - 6A
8. Aaron Rafalko – JC – 12 - 6A
9. Zell Bieberle – CLB – 12 - 4A
10. Shannon Meck – SH - 12 - 5A

Thanks for posting Chief.

126 looks stacked this year if they all stay at that weight.

5A/120, 6A 113 and 5A 126 are really loaded.

Overall breakdown:

6A - 35
5A - 53
4A - 37
321A - 15

What about 4A 145? 7 of 10!

Wow - If Shawnee Mission South had not dropped to 5A, they would have had two top ranked wrestlers in 6A.

True!

Noticed Spencer Wilson was not ranked. Is he wrestling this year?

Dont know, he hasnt been cleared by the docs.

Bummer - always enjoy watching him compete

132 lbs. 1-Michael Olsen – LS - 11 - 5A, 2-Hunter Haralson – LAW – 12 - 6A, 3-Tyler Dickman – STA – 11 - 5A.

Can't get much tougher in weight in any class. Olsen and Haralson might get back at each other in the Leavenworth Challanger. Think Haralson won last year.

Don't know about 285 lb #1 Will Geary–TOP-12-6A and #2 Nathan Butler-LV–12-5A. Shame they won't meet at State.

120:
1. Zac Gentzler – AC - 12 - 5A
2. Tyler Mies – AN – 11 - 4A
3. Dakota Leach – GD – 12 - 5A
4. Reese Cokeley – SJA – 11 - 5A
5. Quinton Harrison – NEW – 12 - 5A
6. Hunter Price – HOL – 12 - 4A
7. Jake Elbrader – STA – 11 - 5A
8. PJ Cheney – TUR – 11 - 5A
9. Brett Moon – MZ – 9 - 6A
10. Armond McCray – WH – 10 - 6A


I might be bias but it looks like, to me, that 5A 120 is one bad a$$ weight class. 6 of the top 10 from 5A? A 3xer and two returning state champs. Multiple state placers. Should be an interesting season.

Welcome to STA Tyler Dickman. First week of the season he has both Haralson and Olsen. STA, Lawrence and Lansing are all in the LV Challenger tournament.

I love my man Olsen and think he wins it. I also gotta agree with Cokeley (as much as I hate too...) 5a 120 is nasty!

285 - Will Geary over Nathan Butler 4-3
@ Rocky Mountain Nationals 03/18/2012

285 - Nathan Butler(K) dec over Will Geary 4-0, 1-1
@ Wrestling Central Freestyle Duals 05/19/2012

Both 2012 high school 6A state champions Butler @220 and Geary @ 285.
Butler
2012 ASICS FILA freestyle National Champion @ 275
2012 ASICS FILA Greco National Runner-up @ 275.
2012 ASICS/USAW Folkstyle Nationals 3rd place @ 285

So a 1 point victory in folkstyle supersedes not only a pretty impressive freestyle victory but also all of Butler's National accomplishments?
Is Butlers #2 ranking simply because he was 220 last year and Geary was 285? Seems to me that Butler has had more National success and has faced better competition.
Using the 5 factors you listed at the top of this thread,
1. is a tie
2,3,5 go to Butler.

Gee whiz, it looks like we have a lot of work to do. Looks like a lot of exciting matchups to come! I can't wait!

I love to watch both of these guys wrestle. I hear what you are saying but I must point out a few things. Nathan's National accomplishments are in the international styles and they were in the FILA Cadet age division which excludes many juniors and nearly all seniors. Will has very little, next to none, experience in the international styles. These rankings are for FOLKSTYLE and they are VERY different, especially for the big guys because of the push out rule. And yes, Nathan bumped up. I think these guys are VERY, VERY even but I too would have to give the ever so slight edge to Geary at this time.

Dickman won't be eligible the first week of the season, I don't believe.

Be careful to. Olsen is out for blood this year, and hopefully will bump up and meet with Dulgarian in a few of these tournaments, so maybe we won't see as many Olsen to Haralson to Dickman meetings this year. However, I don't think anyone will complain about an Olsen Dulgarian showdown. Sounds about as explosive as a Will Geary Nathan Butler state final.....

However, props to Chief. I couldn't have ranked this year in any way shape or form, but I think these are some legit rankings, setting up a sweet year for Kansas wrestling.
Don't forget about that college scene either

2. Performance at national folkstyle tournaments.
3. National FS/GR success.
From the original post on this thread


Nathan's 3rd place finish WAS at a folkstyle tournament, 2012 ASICS/USAW Jr/Cadet Folkstyle Natls, which includes both Jrs/cadets. So this alone should give him the nod. Look at the competition
Junior - 285
1st Place - Adam Coon of WOW
2nd Place - Cole Johnson of De Soto Wrestling
3rd Place - Nathan Butler of Leavenworth County Spartans
4th Place - Jeremy Brazil of ISI
5th Place - Riley Delzer of Oconto Falls
6th Place - Nathan Jackson of Tuttle High School
7th Place - Donte Winfield of Perry Meridian
8th Place - Collin Jensen of South Dakota
If you want to say these are folkstyle rankings then FS/GR should not be factored in at all. Are these rankings for the best FOLKSTYLE wrestlers in the state or the best WRESTLERS in the state? Like I said if this is all about folkstyle than summer wrestling shouldn't be considered, Because Nathan is clearly the BEST ALL AROUND 285 wrestler in the state.

Again Nathan wins 3 of the 5 so called factors used to determine the rankings out right. But of course you are going to side with Chief, it's what everyone on this forum expects.

powercat1,

We are still just over two months from the start of the season. I think that it is great that someone devotes their time to compiling these rankings for all of us to debate. I have seen both Butler and Geary wrestle high school and they have different wrestling styles. Geary looks like a beast and wrestles like one. Butler is probably one of the best high school (big men) wrestlers I have seen from the technical standpoint. Butler is well respected by those who have seen him wrestle as is Geary. I don't know either one of them personally, I can only speak from what I have seen on the mat.

Powercat,

You misunderstand the rankings.

I don't give the nod to the highest number of the criteria points that I stated. They are weighted. Many times the National FS/GR results break ties.

The two most influential points that determined my rankings with these two elite athletes were:

1. In the only Folkstyle match that they have ever wrestled each other, Geary won.
2. Geary is the defending 285 State Champion. Butler is the defending 220 State Champion.

I know both of these wrestlers very well and I am jumping up and down in their corner. We have two of the finest HWT's in the country. I was really bummed that they were split in the classes and that due to changes in the schedules, that they will not meet at the SM North tournament.

To be clear, had they never wrestled each other in Folkstyle, I would have ranked Nathan #1. Understand also that the Oak Park FS Duals were the first FS matches in Will Geary's life.

I sure hope they both plan to join my teams in Denver again in March 2013!