Wanted to share a website I've been working on.

http://mcbeims.wix.com/kansasstateplacers

I was working on the history of my hometown's state placers last winter in Atwood. Decided to do the whole state history on one website which has never been done. This project has taken much more time than anticipated. I'm sure there are mistakes, misspelled names, omitted names, etc. My email is mcbeims@gmail.com
I would like first names of wrestlers that are not on the site and Coaches names of State Champion Teams.
I will change state placers if you send me documented proof - most of the info I used was from KSHSAA, which I'm sure made misstakes.

Some really great stuff on our state's rich wrestling history.

A fantastic start on this Mitch. Many have commented about the need, thanks for taking the initiative!

Great Job - I can only imagine the time you put in gathering this data and putting it in one location.

Wow. Great idea and nice work!

Bump

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe 4a State in 1984 was at Russell High School. 4a went to the coliseum the following year.

Mitch,

I sent you an excel spreadsheet that has most of the champions.

Let me know if you didn't get it.

Will

Awesome Mitch! I have state and regional brackets from 1956 and 1957. They were filled out by my mom (Janet Thrasher at the time). If you know somebody who would enjoy those brackets I would be glad to send them to you. And if you were the guy my mom was watching from Oakley, go ahead and send me your address!!!!!!! Meet ya out at the shed! The brackets are cool, mimeograffed and very simple. They also have so many of the same names of kids still wrestling today!

The 1980's are finished.

Emporia, Kapaun Mt. Carmel, and Beloit all won 6 State Titles in 1980's.

Here's a quick observation about Beloit - They had a heck of a run! - LOL

Beloit won 6 titles in a row (1980-1985)
I didn't matter which classification - they dominated.
4A State Champs (1980-1984-1985)
3-2-1A State Champs (1981-1982-1983)

1980 - 4A
State Placers = 6
State Finalists = 5
State Champions = 2

1981 - 3-2-1A
State Placers = 7
State Finalists = 7
State Champions = 5

1982 - 3-2-1A
State Placers = 6
State Finalists = 4
State Champions = 4

1983 - 3-2-1A
State Placers = 8
State Finalists = 7
State Champions = 5

1984 - 4A
State Placers = 9
State Finalists = 7
State Champions = 6

1985 - 4A
State Placers = 6
State Finalists = 4
State Champions = 3

BELOIT TOTALS (1980-1985)
State Placers = 42
State Finalists = 34
State Champions = 25

That is impressive.

What makes this even more impressive is that back in those days there were only 12 weight classes, and only 4 placers per weight class!!!

Thanks Mitch for your work! Very familiar with Beloit program during the dynasty run. Had never really looked at it from the perspective that Beloit alone had almost half the state finalists (34 of 72) during that 6 yr. stretch. The 1984 team had the 3rd ever 4 time state champion in Ks. Matt Treaster. Also the 1984 team owns the largest margin of victory (team pts.) ever at a State tournament any class 193 to 81.5 over runner-up Columbus, this happening with just 12 wts., 6 state champions also still a record (almost 7, other guy lost by 1 pt.), also had there been 6 medals/wt. class all 12 from Beloit would have placed at state. We often thought that we had other potential state champions on our jv team, for sure state placers. We would send our jv to varsity tournaments and win them. Often our toughest matches were during the challenge matches in the practice room. I of many highlights in 1984 was lining up 12 wrestlers (12 wts.) at BOTH the 1984 Norton Invitational, AND the Norton 4A substate tournament, Beloit took the whole side of the mat during finals introductions, fun times! 1985 team lost a state champion from 1984 due to a knee injury, or we could have had 1 more state champion quite possibly. He won his state championship match in 1984 15-1, and the wrestler he defeated in 1984 won state in 1985 in his weight class. Many were disappointed when the 1986 team didn't make that streak 7 straight! They certainly had the potential to do that. As I recall our dual steak during that stretch was about 120-130 straight dual wins and no tournament losses. It was actually ended when our jv lost to a varsity team, which counted as a varsity match on the schedule. Again thanks for the work on this. Always wished someone would write a book about these years at Beloit! TONS of storylines!

FINISHED!

What a project...very glad it is done!

You can see many fascinating things about our state's rich wrestling history by looking at everything all together. I would really like any omitted first names on the list and ALL state champion coaches names!
Send me any corrections big or small that you see.
I hope you all enjoy.

I'll leave with this...

Schools with the most State Champions ALL-TIME (1930-now)
(Top Ten)

101 - St. Francis
95 - Arkansas City
95 - Norton
79 - Oberlin
74 - Hoxie
74 - Kapaun Mt. Carmel
70 - Wichita East
61 - Colby
59 - Goodland
55 - Newton

Great job Mitch, I know I have cruised through your site several times and really like what you did.

Thank you for taking your time to do this. This is awesome but i found one error. In 2007 at 135 lbs in 321a the 2nd place guy is supposed to be Pat Mosley from Wichita Independent not Heath May(Maley) from WaKeeney. Once again thank you and this is very cool

Fine bit of work putting this together. Not complaining here just trying to add to the posterity. Could you possibly add the other schools who attended the tournaments in the early years but were not mentioned. I think it would add to the historical aspect of the tournaments showing how the teams developed around the state. Maybe a future project? Anyway it stands tall as is, just being creative with it. Thanks, Troy Fowler

Troy,
Every team entered or recorded by KSHSAA in the state tournament is listed from 1930-1965. I switched to top ten after that to save space. I agree it shows alot about how wrestling evolved. It looks as if HS wrestling in Kansas started in two distinct areas or bubbles. One in the NW corner of Kansas (Oberlin, Atwood, , Hoxie, St. Francis, Norton, Colby) and the Wichita area (Wichita schools, Douglass, Wellington, Hutch). Then as you get into the late forties after WWII and into the 1950's, wrestling really began to spread from those two bubbles.

Great work, Mitch! I've added a link to your site on the USAWKS high school championships page (www.usawks.org/page/show/948392-kshsaa-state-championships).

1997 5a 3rd place is Brandon Engstrom I believe Brian was his twin brother. Brian might of weighed 150 lbs. Brandon was a beast his first and only loss came at state that year.
215 lbs.
1st – Andy Brenn (Winfield)
2nd – Matt Sleder (Goddard)
3rd – Brian Engstrom (Salina Central)
4th – James Kinney (KC-Schlagle)
5th – Josh Hays (Fort Scott)
6th – Jeremy Magee (Salina South)

Might check the coach for 1968. I think Dee Gard was at Heights not East.

You might also check that Dale guy from Ark City in the early 80'stages I think he was a 7x state championship and 3x world champ. Hehehe