Further Proof ::
2007-08 InterMat All-Class
High School Rankings (NATIONAL) as in the best in the Nation
Dec. 23, 2007
103 lbs.
#17 Jeff Vesta (Manhattan, KS) Jr.
#20 Kenneth Orneleas (Chanute, KS) Jr.
112 lbs.
#15 Tyler Stokes (Gardner-Edgerton, KS) Jr.
119 lbs.
#13 Jordan Keller (Bishop Carroll, KS) Sr.
**I think that Rhyne Cokely could be added to this list after
this past weekends performance as a FR @ the State Tourney !
130 lbs.
#18 Jake Tanenbaum (Blue Valley North, KS) Sr.
135 lbs.
#19 Jeremy Davenport ? (Sallisaw, KS) Fr.
#20 C.J. Napier (Columbus, KS) Jr.
140 lbs.
#8 Aldon Isenberg (Gardner-Edgerton, KS) Sr.
#17 Philip Henes (St. Thomas Aquinas, KS) Sr.
171 lbs.
#19 Scott Elliott (Ark City, KS) Sr.
189 lbs.
#8 Romero Cotton (Hutchinson, KS) Sr
285 lbs.
#2 Elijah Madison (Oak Park, MO) Sr. (formerly Salina,KS)
#6 Atticus Disney (Andover Central, KS) Sr.
#13 Duane Zlatnik (Rossville, KS) Sr.
and of course ther are the Neil Erisman,
Tanner Gardner, Josh Baldridge, Jake Kriegbaum
Jesse Strawn, McCormicks, Cody Garcia, Danny Grater,
Ross Taplin, Marrs etc out there that are getting it done at a high level
I think its a very safe bet that we can EASILY field a top 10
Division 1 program with kids right here IN STATE! Look at all the publicity our Basketball and this year even Football Jayhawks receive for being top 10 teams. WE (wrestling) are ready to be at that level for a Div 1 program NOW and with kids in our own back yard. Do the powers that be, Collegiate Officials, Congressmen, Board of Regents and those that could help to make this happen soon REALIZE this ????
I remember taking my daughter to a Womens K-State Basketball game a couple years back and proudly being able to show her the program with all the In State talent
Kendra Wecker-Marysville
Laurie Koehn-Moundridge
Nicole Ohlde-Clay Center
& another whose name escapes me-- but the 3 above formed the nucleus of one of their greatest teams ever averaging I believe 25 wins a year over their 4 years and then all 3 went on to play in the WNBA.
It sure was great for her (my daughter) to be able to see them play together live in college and envision that level of play as a Kansas youth by seeing fellow rural Kansas young ladies who achieved that level by puting in the work. I know that the Kansas State women's program still has alot of local talent that makes up their team. How outstanding to be able to field a competitive team by recruiting solid in state athletes !
It sure would be great to take our wrestling youth to also be able to watch those they look up to in the HS level now-- to see them compete against the Iowa Hawkeyes and OSU Cowboys at say KSU or whoever has the insight and courage to see what is possible and very attainable! Someone is dropping the ball as we NEED to cut through the red tape because it seems like a NO BRAINER to me !
Well, the fact IS -that KANSAS WRESTLING has indeed arrived in a BIG way and is ready to be a Top 10 (one of the BEST) DIVISION 1 programs by using *in state* athletes NOW and can do it EVERY year. The time is NOW !
Are YOU ready to do YOUR part, however small or big it may be to see this happen ??
I really don't think there is another sport in our state that has put in the work like KS Wrestling does in gyms all across the state on weekends as many months out of the year or the time spent developing our youth in the practice rooms 2-3 nights a week. Look at ALL the effort we've as well as our fore-fathers have put into the sport here in Kansas. ...IT IS TIME !!
