Not sure how many people while facing debt and poor health (even advised not to go to certain events because of his poor immune system)have done as much for the sport overall as The Swayz.

I know he's mentioned how he was blessed while battling cancer to see Slippery Rock University wrestle this past year, unbeknownst to him that he would outlast their program to see them lose a great wrestling team that wasn't given a chance to succeed and was climbing back up only to get axed.

He went to DII Nationals and was a guest of Hall Of Fame Coach David James at the NCAA DII Hall of Fame banquet and sat beside the legendary coach. Speaking of Hall of Fame, how many people do you honestly know that have visited the Hall more in 1 year living a couple hours away, than some people have in a lifetime that live within a 30 minute drive of Stillwater? Swayz was there in a span of a year 8 times at least! Many times driving out of the way for no reason except that it was "on the way" home when indeed it was off the path back to Chapman, KS.

Do you think while battling cancer still making it to tons of wrestling events including High School and Kid's state, Tagging for Tyler, and Freestyle/Greco State as an "ambassador/fan". Volunteering his time to take a group up to the 2005 Mid America Nationals and coach them, then having wrote ups features on intermatwrestle for Cadet duals is enough to qualify him for man of the year for WUSA?

Or do you think the time spent with helping get kids placed into various colleges via contacts from schools from coast to coast and multiple divisions will do? Maybe it's the many behind the scenes letters written to Athletic Directors about saving programs or thanking them when they add opportunities in wrestling...then again how about promoting the sport in general, especially those from the state?

Don't foget he also officiates, and keep a good contact base with coaches nationwide on the college and high school level as well when it comes to them trying to land an athlete in college or a college trying to sign the next Shawn Bunch or Joe Johnston out of our great state.

Respected to the point that even college coaches have allowed him to sit in a corner in an open tournament or two to coach their wrestler (UCO and Newman both have done it) Asked to hold the Kansas flag at the Kid's state tournament too (ok that's getting deep) Don't forget he has also been named the official's liason for the 4a state tournament and also an assistant to the tournament director and assistant technology guy for the Chapman regional.

#1 in posts on Kansas forums and 4th on themat.com means more than just time on his hands...it means love of the sport. Also asked to help with editing and maintaining the upkeep of the Kansas Krusaders website, not to mention the "thorn" in the Wichita Eagle's side by pushing the button to get coverage for the sport which resulted in some prompt results such as the Furches and Rogers front page article. Also remember trying to get the KSU v. KU dual set up prior to the DI Missouri v. Stanford dual? SWAYZ!


Invited into the homes of great wrestlers such as 1996 Olympian Lou Roselli and Kansas' own Eric Akin, he has proven he's well respected in the wrestling world even if his record on the mat was far from good.

I could go on and on and I'm sure there are others, but I sure think The Swayz is worth mention. Didn't mean to write a novel, but his track record of genuine love for the sport speaks for itself.

To be something that you have never been, you must be willing to do something that you have never done.