The defending 1987 state champ at 185, Brett Bedore of Stockton, was knocked out of the regional tournament his senior year. He didn't wrestle poorly - the bracket was just that tough. The other two qualifiers from the central Kansas regional were Dan Wessel of Plainville and Chad Ditto of Herington.

Gastley won the state title; Wessel placed second - after upsetting me in the semi-finals and giving me my first loss in two years; I placed third; and Bornholdt placed fourth.

Another tough wrestler in that bracket was Jeff Vrbas of Atwood - who was just a sophomore at the time. He lost in the consolation semi-finals at state in 1988 - one win short of the medals. In 1989 Bornholdt won his state title by defeating Vrbas in the finals. And Vrbas won his state title - and placed 6th at Pittsburg - in 1990 at 275 lbs.