No, I did not get to seen Lankis and Austin wrestle but I was wrestling during that time. I think it is easy for us all to agree that folk style wrestling has changed dramatically since the '60's to now . My point is that it is difficult at best to compare styles. The '60s had little free-style influence and there was still an emphasis on control and mat wrestling and high school still had riding time. Shoot, in those days if you took someone down and let them up repeatedly you ran the risk of being penalized for unsportsmanlike contest! So to compare wrestlers of the 60's to those of the 90's/current is difficult; to me it is much like comparing an Indy car of the 60's to one today--they both go fast but . . . .

Boyle was well schooled and proficent in Greco & Free Style and you could see this in his folk style wrestling. The closer starting position was definitely to his advantage due to his incredibly strong grip--the farther starting position of the 60's probably meant that Lankis and Austin's matches lasted 10 - 20 seconds longer as it was harder for them to catch their opponents.

No, I did not get to see Lankis and Austin, but I caanot imagine either of them being better than Jeff Boyle--I have told people and I will make the same statement here, Jeff Boyle was a once in a generation athlete--Incredibly talented, off the chart work ethic, his strength was such that really is no good way to describe it, a good student and one of the nicest people (thank goodness) that I have ever had the privelege of knowing.

TRUE STORY: After a dual one night I helped the Norton team move a mat back to their wrestling room; I partnered with Boyle; when he grabbed my wrist to lock under the mat the circulation in my hand was immediately cut off; by the time we had got the mat to the wrestling room (two minutes at the most) my hand was numb and blue.

Westfahl, Get out the old yearbook or make a call to Kinsley. I'm sure you're wrong on this one. Lon wrestled 180 in 65 and hwt in 64.lol

Who is this lol you must be someone I know?

By the way I will work on it here I am on my free period so i will do some research. Are we betting cokes on this lol?

Westfahl, If you're right I will start a new topic about Westfahl having the best momory of any old guy I know. If I'm right, you start the topic. Danny is 1 yr older than Lon and Lon wrestled 180 his Sr. yr.

Without a doubt, Jeff Boyle. My only complaint with him was that he didn't wrestle in college somewhere. Yea, maybe sometime I'll see him in a dark alley and give him a hard time about that --- NOT!! I did see him playing football on ESPN one night. The announcer said his teammates called him a "freak of nature." He really was unbelievable. Nice guy, too.

Fan67 you would be lying about me having that good memory and all lol. In this case Lon worked for my Dad on the farm and I knew him pretty good so I think I am right but hey it was a long time ago and I been wrong quite a lot in my life (don't tell anyone) ).

And who are you stranger, your face is hidden but I know that wit?

it is still possible to see Boyle on ESPN--he is a strength and conditioning grad assistant at Marshall University , working with the baseball and football teams. In football he is also their "Get Back" coach--the one responsible for keeping players (and sometimes coaches) off the playing field and behind the sidelines.

I am going to list one that while he may not be the best ever was pretty darn good and for sure the funniest and that is my old buddy Wayne Woofter from Colby. He told me before he wrestled Tom Hazzle from Okie State that "that sucker is going to break my legs" and sure enough he did. Only one though. Wayne was darn good though and for sure had the finest sense of humor. Tip of the hat.

And Wayne's son Tucker is one heck of a nice kid--first year teacher and coach at Liberal.

Tucker was one heck of a good wrestler too and he didnt stink as much as his pappy. Course he got out of Colby early and moved to civilization lol.

yeah, Tucker must have taken after his mom! ;-)

Well he looks like Wayne which is a handicap that he has overcome nicely I think. We all have our crosses to bear in life and Tuck overcame his well. Everyone should have it so tough lol. His Pop is a good one.

Westfahl, Yes old Buck Buck Woofter was a good one. Tuck was tough also but not the big chest of Buck Buck. My $'s are on Tuck, if Buck Buck is your age, he won't be able to get in his stance anymore.

Wayne had many stances. He had one where he put his left foot up on the bar rail and one where he put his right foot up on the bar rail other than that, his stance is still the same as it always was. Tuck is way coooler lol.

Jeff Boyle, hands down.

Buck Buck is younger than me I was one of his role models.

Westfahl, Was your stance the same as Woofters? Left foot on the rail or right foot on the rail.
Did he ever have a grin on his face? By the way, Lon graduated in 65 and did not win state his Sr year. Humphrey won hwt and Lon didn't win 180. You need to put a new topic, fan67 has thebest memory.

WESTFAHL--Hemmerling of Hutch is the son of HWT Hemmerling that you added to your list of KS HWTS who were good.