Who do you all think is the most deserving of a state championship that could never finish and win one. Who came the closest the most?

andy stemm and Zach Allen where both very deserving of them but only placed third a couple of times

Mikey B

i had travis martin form ellsworth in mind...

Chris Walker Rose Hill - 3rd, 3rd, 2nd
Losing to Beau Tillman twice & Jeremy Long once.

Eric Luedke - 3rd, 2nd, 2nd - Has one more chance this year.

trevor charboneau. 3rd, 3rd,3rd, 1st. He lost to brice abbey who got beat by Devoe, the got beat by devoe in the semi's the next 2 years and finally won it his senior year. he is wrestling at Kearney in nebraska and will do great things in the next couple of years up there.

Thanks for that info but the topic is asking for people who came close to winning it but did not!

John Haussermann of Norton had 3 losses heading into state junior year, had a torn bicep, lost early rounds, but came through to get 3rd over the kid who beat him earlier. Senior year he was undefeated going into state, had some troubles making weight, so was a little weak in the semis and lost, but once again came through the backside to get 3rd.

Jonathan Walter, his big brother Kenneth, and all three Kennedy brothers. All were from Manhattan, all were outstanding. (Jonathan wrestled Brett Stewart 45 times last year, and could never get over the hump.)

phillip walker from wyndotte, if i remember i think he took 2nd his soph, 2nd his junior, and 2nd his senior year.

I'd have to go with travis martin.. if i remember right, which i'm not sure, but he got 2nd 3 years in a row, and the past year(his senior) he had beaten nick johnson like 4 times, and once in the finals at regionals and beat him like 5-1, and then lost to him in the state finals. that has to suck

Scott Lovenstein from Scott City was 3rd as as sophomore and 2nd his junior and senior year.

Steve Mesa finished 2nd three times.

Eric Stewart-Smith Center. 4 second place finishes. 2 losses to Beloit's Matt Treaster-a 4 time state champion, 1 loss to Sainty's Darrell VanDyke, and 1 loss to Mark Johnson from Flinthills (after beating VanDyke in the semi's)

Zach Allen would be a great choice.

He was a one or two time runner-up at the Jr. Nats. in freestyle as well but did manage(I think) to be the greco-roman national champ.

However, he could never win a state title in Kansas!

Brian Roberts got to the finals three times and met Beeson from Ark City all three I think. Lost good matches all three years and both went on to become college all americans. That is pretty tough shooting there. Lowry from Norton beat Lampe from Colby (one of the all time greats) 10-2 in the finals of regionals in 66 and lost in the finals of state the next week by about the same score. Lowry went to Oklahoma and Lampe to Iowa State. How tough a loss is that?

Bryce Glick from Plainville took 3rd three times. his jumior year (in 94) he actually knocked a kid unconcious in the state semis with a double to a half (he dropped him on his head)and got 5 points. The hoxie kid was revived with smelling salts and won the match, Glick didn't score another point!!!!! Probably the coolest thing I have ever seen.

Also a kid from Ellis (his name escapes me right now) took 2nd three times in 97 (145), 98 (152), and 99(152). He really choked in 99 so I am not for sure if he deserves it.
If anyone remembers who I am talking about could you let me know it is going to bug the h%## out of me now.

Thanks

I remembered the Ellis Kids name: Brandon Pfeifley. I think he got beat in 96 and 97 by a guy from Herrington named Lawrenz (spelling not sure of). I am pretty sure he had some success coolegiately,

who was the four time runner up in the 70s or 80s? cant remember his name.

What about Cody Parks from Minneapolis? He was a 2 time runner up at heavywieght losing in 96 to Jay Eillers (sp) from Plainville and then losing in 97 to Jeff Boyel from norton in the finals. He also went on to have a very succesful career at Fort Hays and is now a student coach for the college.