After attending the Junior College Nationals I had my eyes opened about junior college wrestling. I have always thought of the Junior college as a place where wrestlers could go and wrestle that maybe could not wrestle in Division 1-3 or the NAIA levels. The quality of wrestlers at this level was as top notched as they come. For example at the 141lb weight class the Chris Nedens, North Idaho College, had a High School record of 141-1 a two time state champion from Washington and I believe he was the outstanding wrestler of the tournament. At 157lb Muzaffar Abdurakhmanov of Tashkent, Uzbekistan who wrestling for Colby is a three time Junior Freestyle World Championships. That is just some of wrestlers at this level and there are others. But for a Kansas High School wrestler that is interested in wrestling at the next level whether he is a state placer or a three time state champion, our Junior colleges in Kansas are some of the best. Junior colleges are a great place for a wrestler to go who wants start wrestling in duals and tournaments and make an impact at the college level. Most 4-year colleges want you to red shirt your first year, wrestle your freshman and sophomore years at open tournaments at your own expense, and then hopefully you can step in to the varsity level. At the Junior college you could jump in and make an impact in the college ranks and if you are good enough major college schools will be looking at you. If I was a senior and wanted to wrestle next year, I wouldn’t sit by the phone and wait for a college coach to be calling. I would be giving Joe Renfro of Labette or Terry Pack of Neosho, or Steve Lampe of Colby a call. They would glad to hear from you. I know which school I would pick but I am bias. These are just my thought on Junior college wrestlers.

I totally agree with the Junior College Theory. I attended Labette Community College, but I know that LCC, Neosho, and Colby both pretty much follow a Div I schedule. While attending these schools, we seen OU, OSU, U of I, ISU, Neb., etc. Heck, the only difference is the conference championship and Nationals. But yes, many great Div. I wrestlers came out of JUCO. Brock Lesnar, Tony Davis to name two National Champions as of recent years.
I am partial myself, but JUCO is definately a great place to start athletically, and acedemically. Especially a less expensive way to stay in school in compete as well.
Lampe and Renfro are great men. I dont know Pack as well, but he obviously has a good program. Take a look!

God Bless,
Michael R. Church

I too wrestled in Junior College at Garden City. I think it is great and would be even better if they all had a three out of state limit put on them. Pretty bad when community colleges have more out of state wrestlers on them than they do in state let alone "community". I think the Kansas wrestlers get the shaft and it has gotten worse for years. Maybe if they would hire in state coaches they might get the instate kids Lampe being the exception to that rule.

By the way Steve whats up with the Soviet connection? I just can't see it, especially in Kansas after the big schools dumped on us to give Kansas money too foreigners when Kansas kids go unwanted. It makes no sense.

I can't speak for coach Lampe but I don't think there aren't any wrestlers in the state that go unwanted. I know Labette started out with about 50 wrestlers and not all of then are even Kansas state placers. I would be interested to know if there are any wrestlers can not find a place in Kansas to wrestle if they really want to.

Well I think in my experience there have been tons of them that are really unwanted. They can beg their way on but they arent recruited by them and I don't think they are really wanted by them. They can go alright but they arent going to wrestle ahead of some out of state guy that they really wanted or were put there by OSU, ISU, OU or some other school. I don't think the Kansas kids are appreciated by them to any great degree at least not in my experience in wrestling coaching.

Nedens started out at U of Nebraska-Lincoln last year but he didn't make the grades or something happened and that's why he's at juco now...but still a stud

We are going to try the Juco option but for baseball. I agree Juco wrestling is very good. Most of the Juco wrestlers are state qualifiers.

How did Nedens win 2 state titles and only have one loss??? I would think he would need 3 titles or 2 losses.

Nedens was a 4x champ from Montana and transferred to North Idaho after a red shirt year at UN-L. He won the title over Bryan Miller at 141.

But every champ was well credentialed. 125 was a 4x champ from Nebraska - Brett Allgood.

149 was a 3x runner-up and one time champ from Montana - and returning runner-up from last year's championship.

184 pound final featured Colby's Dollaway (5th, 2nd, 1st in Ohio plus a 4th at NHSCA nationals) vs. Bergin's Mike Massenzio, who was a 2x NJ state champ and won NHSCA senior nationals. Massenzio signed a national letter of intent at North Carolina State. Then transferred to West Virginia's roster, before again transfering to Bergin CC at x-mas break. He was actually denied eligibilty by the NJCAA, but the decision was appealed and overturned by the appeal board. Both are considered big-time NCAA DI talent. Dollaway won the match.

Point is junior college is incredibly tough. Prop 48 has caused many DI talents to go the juco route and international students are becoming increasingly common.

And Lampe has not turned away an in-state recruit. Quite to the contrary as has has wasted scholarship money if he does not sign in-state because of Colby's scholarship rules (half of the allowed scholarships must be in-state and the other half may be out-of-state). This past year only one incoming Kansas wrestler felt as though Colby was the right place for him, the rest -of the many- passed on the opportunity Lampe provided them.

Lampe has defininetly not turned away from in state wrestlers. Jones from Hoxie,Miller from Oberlin,Prideuax from Atwood,Murray from Colby Shannon Ford Garden City,Gabe Jenkins St.Francis and Jack Dennis from Oakley just to name a few and all except for Prideaux and Ford are All Americans

After looking on the internet Chris Nedens was 135-1 in his High School career. His only loss was his Freshman year. He was a four time state champion.