USAW-Kansas is proud of every wrestler
with the courage to step on the mat.
Every wrestler who improves his or her skill is a winner,
but some have achieved more than most.

The following represent some of the high achievements
by Kansas wrestlers during the 2005/2006 season.

 

 

There was lots of activity on the collegiate wrestling level for Kansas, highlighted by the addition of another new program.  Pratt Community College announced that they would launch their new program effective with the 2006-07 season, and named Parsons native Chas Thompson as the first head coach for their new program.  Chas wrestled at Labette Community College where he placed 4th nationally, and at Fort Hays State University, where he also worked as assistant coach.  Chas is the son of Jody Thompson, the former Labette CC coach and member of the Kansas Wrestling Hall of Fame.

 

Nebraska also benefited from our Kansas talent, as two programs looked to Kansas natives to lead their programs.  Richard Fergola (Topeka) was promoted from head assistant to head wrestling coach for the 2006 NAIA National Champion Dana College Vikings.  Meanwhile, Jordan Nichols (Garden City) was named as head coach for the York College Panthers.

 

As we saw Kansas coaches move into leadership roles at the collegiate level, we were also treated to outstanding performances on the mats by our Kansas wrestlers, beginning with nine NCAA Division I national qualifiers and six All-Americans.  Shawn Bunch (Edinboro / Leavenworth) lead the pack with a 3rd place finish at 133 lbs.  Joe Johnston (Iowa / Shawnee Mission East), came in 5th at 157 lbs, followed by Tyler McCormick (Missouri / Blue Valley North) at 133 lbs and Jacob Klein (Nebraska / Kapaun-Mt. Carmel) at 174 lbs, both of whom finished 7th.  Also earning All-American status were 8th place finishers Tanner Gardner (Stanford / Shawnee Heights) at 125 lbs and Eric Luedke (Iowa / Colby) at 165 lbs.

 

Joining their fellow Kansans at the Division I Championships were qualifiers Austin DeVoe (Missouri / Columbus), Jake Kriegbaum (Air Force / Abilene) and Justin Dyer (Oklahoma / Olathe South).

 

 

Our wrestlers excelled in the classroom as well as on the mat.  Kansas had 4 wrestlers in the top 20 NCAA Academic All Americans as reported by the National Wrestling Coaches Association.  Justin Dyer was tied for 1st place, with a 4.0 GPA in Pub. Admin & Political Science.  Tyler McCormick was 3rd with a 3.95 GPA in Business and Eric Luedke was 17th, carrying a 3.74 GPA in Health & Sport Studies.  Tanner Gardner finished in 20th place with a 3.69 GPA in Study Public Policy.

 

 

Kansans also made their presence known at the NCAA II National Championships, where three of our young men made their way to the medal stand.  Cody Garcia (Nebraska Omaha / Hutchinson) finished his season by becoming the national champion at 125 lbs.  Finishing in 3rd place were Earl Jones (Central Oklahoma / Coffeyville), who wrestled in the 133 lb weight class and Ross Taplin (Nebraska Omaha / Abilene) at 165 lbs.  Trevor Charbonneau (Nebraska Kearney / Clay Center) at 125 lbs and Aaron Meister (FHSU / Holton) at 174 lbs rounded out the Division II Kansas All-American class with a pair of 5th place finishes.

 

Fort Hays State University nearly broke into the top 10 programs in the nation, finishing in 11th place at the NCAA II National Championships.

 

 

Three Kansas wrestlers brought home All-American honors from the NAIA Nationals, including a national championship.  Curtis Chenoweth (Kansas Newman / Clearwater) took top honors at 174 lbs.  Darion Terry (Topeka West / Missouri Valley College) won the 3rd place match at 157 lbs while Greg Smith (York Nebraska / Concordia High School) ended in the 5th place spot at 125 lbs.

 

 

One area in which Kansas always seems to excel is in the Junior College division.  All three of our community colleges finished well in the top 10.  Labette Community College was the top Kansas team, finishing 3rd overall.  Colby Community College came in strong in the 6th place spot, with Neosho County Community College just a little behind them in 8th place.

 

An individual national championship was earned by Daniel Prater (Colby CC / Pratt) at 141 lbs.  Other Kansas All-Americans included Mat Gilliland (Colby CC / Hoxie) – 3rd at 149 lbs, Josh Baldridge (Labette CC / Haysville-Campus) – 4th at 133 lbs, Tim Elliott (Labette CC / Haysville-Campus) – 5th at 125 lbs, Matt Schippers (Colby CC / Hoxie) – 6th at 157 lbs, Levi Younkin (Colby CC / Oakley) – 6th at 133 lbs, and Josh Barr (Neosho CC / Eudora) – 8th at 197 lbs.

 

 

Both Kansas State University and the University of Kansas maintain club teams which compete in the National Collegiate Wrestling Association National Championships.  The Kansas State team finished 10th  in the overall standings, with Steven Kern (Kansas State / Wamego) placing second in the nation at 184 lbs.

 

 

A pair of Kansans wrestled well at the FILA Junior, Senior & Veterans National Championships.  Zach Roberson (Overland Park) won the Senior Freestyle Championships at 132 lbs, while Brooke Bogren (Carbondale) finished 7th at 130 lbs in the Senior Women's Freestyle Championships.

 

 

National High School Senior Championships

To earn the right to compete in this tournament, you must be a graduating senior and a finalist in your state.  There were more than 800 entries from 47 states at this year’s event.  As a team, Kansas finished in 9th place.

 

Four Kansas wrestlers earned All-American status at the tournament:

  Name

High School

Wt

Place

Tristen DeShazer

Wichita West

130

4th

Dante Rogers

Wichita Northwest

103

5th

Cole Garcia

Colby

140

8th

Jesse Strawn

Holton

189

7th

 

 

National Duals Teams

Kansas sent teams to the Schoolboy (13 & 14), Cadet (15 & 16) and Junior (enrolled in high school) Team Duals, and were very competitive at every level.  The Cadet Dual Team earned a 5th place finish in Greco Roman competition.

 

 

Kansas State Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame Board of Governors selected the following men for induction into the Kansas State Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum.  They were presented with a plaque and their names are permanently displayed in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in recognition of their service to our great sport. The award recipients were James L. Beltch (Lawrence), R. Ben Bennett (Junction City), Chas (Chuck) & Cherie Elvin (Lenexa), Fritz G. Knorr (Manhattan), Larry R. Tilton (Effingham), Gary D. Ulmer (Olathe), Donald W. Vest (Topeka) and C. Lee Woodford (Manhattan).

 

 

Junior/Cadet/Womens National Team

Team Kansas had a great showing at the 2006 Freestyle and Greco-Roman Championships in Fargo, with Kansas wrestlers making a total of 22 trips to the medal stand, including three Freestyle Cadet National Champions, one Greco-Roman Cadet National Champion and one Greco-Roman Junior National Champion.  Romero Cotton became only the third double national champion in Kansas history by winning the Cadet National Championship in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman at 171 lbs.  Cadets are wrestlers who were 15 or 16 as of December 31, 2006, while Juniors are wrestlers who attended high school during the 2005/06 school year.  The team coaches were:

Mike Garcia, Junior Director

Cody Garcia

Tom Peterman, Cadet Director

Russ Hermreck

Ed Edison, Womens Director

Jason Ogden

Jason Blanding

Chad Parks

Brooke Bogren

Scott Rieck

Dennis Charbonneau

Chas Thompson

Lance Engel

Beau Vest

Richard Fergola

 

 

Junior National Freestyle All-Americans:

  Name

Hometown

Wt

Place

Nathan Furches

Derby

98

3rd

 

Junior National Greco-Roman All-Americans:

  Name

Hometown

Wt 

Place

Nathan Furches

Derby

98

1st

Brandon Goodwin

Lawrence

98

7th

Larry Perez

Topeka

119

2nd

Tyler Caldwell

Wichita

125

8th

 


Cadet National Freestyle All-Americans:

  Name

Hometown

Wt 

Place

Jeff Vesta

Manhattan

84

7th

Sharky Slyter

Paola

94

2nd

Jake Tanenbaum

Leawood

119

6th

CJ Napier

Columbus

135

1st

Tyler Koehn

Pittsburg

140

7th

Romero Cotton

Hutchinson

171

1st

Atticus Disney

Andover

215

2nd

Stephen Andrus

Manhattan

275

1st

 

Cadet National Greco-Roman All-Americans:

  Name

Hometown

Wt 

Place

Jeff Vesta

Manhattan

84

2nd

Tyler Koehn

Pittsburg

140

5th

Cameron Riojas

Arkansas City

152

6th

Romero Cotton

Hutchinson

171

1st

Atticus Disney

Andover

215

2nd

Stephen Andrus

Manhattan

275

7th

Bobby Doxon

Goodland

275

8th

 

Women’s Freestyle All-Americans:

  Name

Hometown

Wt 

Place

Randi Beltz

Wellington

128

3rd

Beth Johnson

Garden City

128

4th

 

 

Kids National Folkstyle Championships

 

Midget (born 1996-1997)

  Name

  Club

Wt 

Place

Tanner Madl

Paola

55

3rd

Hunter Roberts

Doniphan Co. Grizzlies

55

4th

Zak Hensley

Pittsburg

60

7th

Dalton Rodd

Haysville

75

2nd

Isaac Dulgarian

Paola

75

5th

 

Novice (born 1994-1995)

  Name

  Club

Wt 

Place

 

Austin Hood

Paola

60

3rd

Cullen Hood

Paola

65

1st

Bo Pursel

Leavenworth Co.

75

7th

Aaron Puckett

Bonner Springs

80

8th

Hunter Stalford

Caney

85

4th

Jake Beecher

So. Central Strykers

95

4th

Laine Herl

Goodland

130

2nd

James Contreras

Scott City

Hwt

8th

 


 

Schoolboy (born 1992-1993)

  Name

  Club

Wt 

Place

 

Zach Hoehn

Wellsville

80

7th

Ryne Cokeley

Paola

90

1st

Parker Madl

Paola

95

7th

Bryce Hood

Paola

110

6th

Sean Gaither

NW Jr. Grizzlies

130

3rd

Trey Page

NW Jr. Grizzlies

205

1st

 

Cadet (born 1990-1991)

  Name

  Club

Wt 

Place

 

Jeremiah Breen

Wellsville

84

2nd

Sharky Slyter

Paola

91

1st

C.J. Napier

Columbus

135

3rd

Evan Johnson

Greater Gold

145

2nd

 

 

Kids National Greco-Roman Championships

 

Midget (born 1996-1997)

  Name

  Club

Wt 

Place

Zak Hensley

Pittsburg

65

4th

Jared Langley

Newton

95

1st

 

Novice (born 1994-1995)

  Name

  Club

Wt 

Place

 

Zac Gentzler

Wichita (WWC)

60

5th

Austin Hood

Paola

65

7th

Cullen Hood

Paola

70

5th

 

Schoolboy (born 1992-1993)

  Name

  Club

Wt 

Place

 

Ryne Cokeley

Paola

90

3rd

Bryce Hood

Paola

110

4th

 

 

Kids National Freestyle Championships

 

Midget (born 1996-1997)

  Name

  Club

Wt 

Place

Hunter Roberts

Doniphan Co. Grizzlies

55

5th

Zak Hensley

Pittsburg

65

7th

Jared Langley

Newton

95

7th

 

Novice (born 1994-1995)

  Name

  Club

Wt 

Place

 

Zac Gentzler

Wichita (WWC)

60

4th

Austin Hood

Paola

65

2nd

Cullen Hood

Paola

70

6th

 

Schoolboy (born 1992-1993)

  Name

  Club

Wt 

Place

 

Ryne Cokeley

Paola

90

4th

Bryce Hood

Paola

110

3rd

 

 

Junior Regionals (1st Place)

 

Tournament

  Style

  Name

Hometown

Wt 

Southern Plains

Freestyle

Brandon Goodwin

Lawrence

98

Southern Plains

Freestyle

Nathan Furches

Derby

105

Southern Plains

Freestyle

Donny Altman

Derby

119

Southern Plains

Freestyle

Sean Flynn

Lansing

152

Southern Plains

Freestyle

Neil Erisman

Olathe

171

Southern Plains

Freestyle

Jarrett Edison

Wichita

215

Southern Plains

Freestyle

Alex Thomas

McDonald

275

Southern Plains

Greco

Brandon Goodwin

Lawrence

98

Southern Plains

Greco

Donny Altman

Derby

119

Southern Plains

Greco

James Fox

Rock

130

Southern Plains

Greco

Jarrett Edison

Wichita

215

 

 

Southern Plains Kids/Cadet Greco Roman (1st Place)

 

Midget (born 1996-1997)

  Name

  Club

Wt

Dylan Eck

Brawlers

70

Jared Langley

Newton

95

 

Novice (born 1994-1995)

  Name

  Club

Wt

Levi Eck

Brawlers

80

 

Schoolboy (born 1992-1993)

  Name

  Club

Wt

Ryan Cokely

Paola

90

Jason Lewis

Manhattan Optimist

105

 

Cadet (born 1990-1991)

  Name

  Club

Wt

Tyler Koehn

Crawford Co. Crew

140

Gage Deere

Topeka Terminators

189

Stephen Andrus

Manhattan Optimist

275

 

 

Southern Plains Kids/Cadet Freestyle (1st Place)

 

Midget (born 1996-1997)

  Name

  Club

Wt

Dylan Eck

Brawlers

70

Jared Langley

Newton

95

 

Novice (born 1994-1995)

  Name

  Club

Wt

Zac Gentzler

Wichita (WWC)

60

 

Schoolboy (born 1992-1993)

  Name

  Club

Wt

Ryan Cokeley

Paola

90

KC Mullin

Manhattan Optimist

130

 

Cadet (born 1990-1991)

  Name

  Club

Wt

C.J. Napier

Columbus

135

Tyler Koehn

Crawford Co. Crew

140

Gage Deere

Topeka Terminators

189

Stephen Andrus

Manhattan Optimist

275

 

 

For more information, go to the Kansas Wrestling website at
www.usawks.com

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 


USA Wrestling – Kansas, Inc.

Board of Directors

 

State Chairman

Mike Juby

Secretary

Pam Ulmer

Membership Director

Kathy Juby

Coaches' Certification

Randy Hinderliter

Officials Director

Mark Anderson

Tournament Operations Director

Jeanie Dey

Kids Director

Greg Grater

Cadet Director

Tom Peterman

Juniors Director

Mike Garcia

University Director

Cody Bickley

District I Director

Henry Gallet

District II Director

Jess Keith

District III Director

Lance Engel

District IV Director

Steve Woody

KWCA Representative

Gary Ulmer

Women's Director

Ed Edison

Club Representative

Rob Brewster

Club Representative

Bob Phillips

At-Large Representative

Chuck Elvin