It was a great tournament with tough competition from across the country. Kansas wrestlers faired well. Caldwell and Ely in the lighter weights both took 1st; Fox at 125lb (3d); Madle brothers looked great with Tylor taking 3rd; and my brother and I finished strong (4th , 3d). Sean lost his first match and had to fight his way on the back side of a 64-man bracket for 3d and 4th. Slammers even took one of our coaches down (D.J. Rainey) who took 2d in the open division at 125lbs. There were several other Kansas wrestlers but I did not keep good track on how the did.

The tournment was a great high school pre-season event and it would be nice to see some more Kansas wrestlers next year. Colorado wrestlers have a bit of advantage. Rumor was they had satellite weigh-ins and most looked heavy. Also, the announcer (each year by the way) tends to play up the Colorado studs each match (e.g. “on mat #2, three time state champion and all American….) without even considering announcing the names of the other out of state opponents. Besides that, it is a very organized and competitive tournament that I hope more Kansas attends next year.

Nick Flynn