I was just looking at some of the past state placers. Just wondering what were some of the top notch match ups back in the day. did Neil Keller and Corey or Cary Jones ever wrestle a match. I know they were on the same teams but that match would come to mind. Also I saw back in 1981 there were 2 drydens who placed 1st and 2nd. were those 2 brothers or cousins. Who was Todd Laytons close matches against. I remember he lost to a kid from my school due to an illegal slam. I think that was his only highschool loss. I think. Also I see Jerry Dale wrestled for Independent Ark City. Were there 2 clubs back in his day lol.

Doug Hoover and Earl Jones early 90's

wasnt jones from Coffeyville. If so I remember watching him a couple times. He was very good.

I think Corey and Cary Jones were from Kapaun.

your right but Earl Jones I think was from Coffeyville. Who wins this match. E.K Franks or Johnny McCreary.

I don't know who Johnny McCreary is, but E.K was a freak on his feat. My blind prediction is E.K.

Johnny and E.K. were both from Wellington. They were both beast.
IMO Johnny was way more technical but EK would be too strong.
Did you know what E.K. stood for?
Earnest Killer Franks
Its not a nickname!

1/8/2010 11:09:41 AM
CLEVELAND - Delta State University head football coach Ron Roberts announced the addition of E.K. Franks to the Statesmen staff on Friday. Franks, a former University of Wisconsin and Kansas State University assistant, will coach the defensive line and coordinate strength and conditioning.

"I'm excited about adding E.K. Franks to the Statesmen football family," stated Roberts. "Coach Franks and I spent time together on the Texas State staff and I know the level of dedication he brings to the table for his players, fellow coaches and the university. I tried to hire him twice before, but this time it worked out. He will be a great addition to our staff."

Franks, who spent the past few years out of coaching in the private business sector, last worked on the staff of Barry Alverez and Bret Bielema at the University of Wisconsin from 2004-2006. At UW, Franks served as a defensive assistant, working with the defensive coordinator on opponent planning, defensive recruiting, player development and camp administration.

Prior to joining the Badgers staff, Franks served as the defensive line coach on the Texas State staff under then-defensive coordinator Ron Roberts. While under Franks' leadership, the Bobcats defensive line helped the unit rank third in the Southland Conference in pass defense, rush defense, turnovers and sacks in 2003.

The Wellington, Kan., native began his collegiate coaching career as a strength and conditioning coach for legendary Kansas State University head coach Bill Snyder. Franks collaboratively managed and supervised the strength programs for over 100 Wildcat football players and assisted with the training of over 100 Lady Wildcats from 2000-2001.

Aside from coaching, Franks also served as an academic counselor for Kansas State University Athletics from 2001-2003. He monitored and tracked the academic progress of Wildcat student-athletes, while providing academic mentoring and tutoring assistance for those in need. He developed and arranged academic workshops and provided KSU student-athletes with the resources they needed to succeed in the classroom.

His coaching career got its start as the defensive backs/strength coach at Heritage Hall High School in Oklahoma City, Okla. from 1996-2000. While at Heritage Hall, Franks helped raise money for a state-of-the-art weight facility, while coordinating the strength and conditioning efforts of HHHS student-athletes.

Franks attended the University of Oklahoma and Missouri State University before completing his bachelor's degree in education at the University of Central Oklahoma in 2000. He later earned his master's degree in adult education from Kansas State University in 2002.

While at OU, Franks was a standout wrestler under former Sooners coach Stan Abel. He would transfer to Missouri State, formerly Southwest Missouri State, where he would close his collegiate career as a defensive back for the Bears.

After graduating, Franks coached and trained athletes in the Oklahoma City, Okla., area as owner/personal fitness instructor of Franks Fitness from 1995-2000. He also worked as a strength instructor at St. Anthony Sports Science Center in Oklahoma City from 1993-1995.

An active community leader, Franks serves on the board of the Kansas-based non-profit S.A.F.E., Success Achieved in Future Environments, which helps mentor youth through athletics.

During his career, Franks has coached hundreds of successful student-athletes including: Wes Welker (New England Patriots), Terrance Newman (Dallas Cowboys), Darren Sproles (San Diego Chargers), Sheldon Williams (Atlanta Hawks), Nicole Ohlde (Minnesota Lynx), Laurie Koehn (Washington Mystics), Brian Aylor (New York Yankees) and Mitch Simons (Montreal Expos).

ok here is another interesting match since we are talking about sooners. E.K Franks and Tyler Caldwell.

Here is another point about E.K. and wrestlers from the past.
E.K. was so big! So strong! Its kind of not fair to compare some of these cause of just size. Back then they could cut all the weight they wanted.

I thought "E" stood for Eugene.... I'm sure I'm wrong, but that's what I always thought.

They still can and do.

i thought you could only cut a certain percentage these days. ok here is another one but not sure anyone is in his category but aikin vs. Tristen Deshazer. Aiken vs. John Smith or Matt Hughes.

no not 2 clubs. got kicked off the team for not making weight at a tourny. and at that time you didn't have to be associated with a club to wrestle qualifiers. so i worked out on my own and made the weight and beat the kid they replaced me with at state.

by the way the drydens are twin brothers. one of them is coaching at kapaun and the other at campus now. and the were faster than crap.

SLACKER !!

Justing Thaw, State Champion from Newton beat Matt Hughes at High School Nationals their Sr. year. 1992 or 1993.

I think Justin told me that the last time we played softball. That would be cool to say after watching him on ufc.

ok who was the meanest kid in wrestling. I have a few in mind. Lance Hill from coffeyville, Matt Roark from Columbus, Lonnie Finney clearwater, Josh Gooch wellington and E.K Franks Wellington. I would throw myself in there but I was not as good as those guys but I will say if you werent bleeding after we wrestled then I must have been scared of you lol.

Michael Bradley (WW) vs. Sean Bunch
Kenny Taylor Jr. (WW)vs. The Late Great Kion Karoma (W) (spelling) vs. Jeff Urban (NW) vs. Jeff Hernandez (AC) ( All were good matches - They all wrestled each other all of the time from kids through High School)

Mark Holly (WW)vs. Biddle (W)

Charles Knox Jr. (WW) vs. Cody Garcia (H)