All-Class Ranking History

The All-Class rankings started in the 2007-2008 season. I started printing shirts in the second year. Only 15 shirts were printed each year to make them exclusive awards to each #1 wrestler for that year. I will be adding to this thread as I look over the past 10 years, but will start with this list...

All-Class #1's by Team:

Goddard - 13
St. James - 11
Wichita Heights - 9
Andover Central - 9
KMC - 4
Colby - 4
Olathe North - 4
Lansing - 4
Bishop Carroll - 4
Garden City - 3
STA - 3
Ark City - 3
Gardner - 3
Valley Center - 3
Andale - 3
Hays - 2
Leavenworth - 2
Emporia - 2
Clay Center - 2
Lawrence - 2
Chanute - 2
Liberal - 2
Shawnee Heights - 2
Blue Valley - 2

42 Teams have 1 All-Class Team member!

No Hoisington, no Norton, no Smith Center. Eastern Kansas, big school biased, fake news. But thanks for the history. 😊

I have followed these rankings and assisted in providing information to assist Chief in being able to accurately rank ALL Kansas wrestlers. In that time, I don't recall there EVER being a debate or argument regarding the top wrestler in each weight class. That being said, I have been directly involved with many, many 321A wrestlers in the spring, summer, and fall. There are not as many of them as there are in the larger schools as most of the 321A athletes choose NOT to specialize in wrestling, participating in many other sports. Most of the big school wrestlers specialize and compete 11 months a year on the mat. No disrespect meant to 321A but it is simply not possible to keep up with those who specialize basically getting up to 5 or 6 seasons worth of matches in 11 months. Couple that with the lack of exposure to consistent tough competition during the season. Again, I am generalizing but over the years 321A wrestle the exact same schedule year in and year out. I don't believe ANY 321A school has ever attended The Stampede or Gardner, traditionally considered two top shelf events with some nationally ranked wrestlers from out of state. If you want to be ALL CLASS #1 you are going to have to wrestle the best, wrestle year round and expose yourself to losses.

Goddard - 13
St. James - 11
Wichita Heights - 9
Andover Central - 9
KMC - 4
Colby - 4
Olathe North - 4
Lansing - 4
Bishop Carroll - 4
Garden City - 3
STA - 3
Ark City - 3
Gardner - 3
Valley Center - 3
Andale - 3
Hays - 2
Leavenworth - 2
Emporia - 2
Clay Center - 2
Lawrence - 2
Chanute - 2
Liberal - 2
Shawnee Heights - 2
Blue Valley - 2

There are 7 schools that have been in 4A (at some point during the history of ALL CLASS RANKINGS) represented and there are 4 "western" Kansas schools represented as well. You should keep in mind that about 75% of the population of Kansas is East of the line going north/south from just west of Topeka and Wichita. The schools mentioned who don't have an All Class #1, please provide us with their schedules and any candidates you feel were shunned. I am sure there is ample data to explain. This is a FACT based ranking and NOT biased based on emotion. Perhaps your response was made purely out of emotion.

Hoisington and Norton each have one member on the All-Class team. Can you name one wrestler that had criteria to be #1, that didn't make the rank?

I don't usually chime in but since I coach in Western Kansas I think I will this time since it's relevant.

First of all, rankings are a fairly opinion based system. That's why rankings are there. Rankings are supposed to be fun. Just like any other sport. There is no "bias" or opinion in end results and that's what truly matters. How often do you hear people complain about college rankings? Almost never. The reason is because most at that level understand that it's just opinion and rankings essentially "don't matter". They are fun. Whenever a person complains about rankings the wrestling world that "gets it" or has competed at a high level thinks a little less of that person, as far as their wrestling knowledge.

Secondly, when comparing high level wrestlers you have to look at their national credentials. In the broad scope of wrestling, in state results don't mean as much, as far as deciding who is a better wrestler. That's why college coaches recruit kids at Fargo. They don't even look at their local tournament results. For certain reasons, not judging, Western Kansas doesn't have a lot of kids compete at national level competitions compared to Eastern Kansas. If we want the "respect" to be there then we need to start wrestling Eastern Kansas teams. We need to travel to Kansas City Area tournaments. Its tough, I understand budgets, but it's just the way it is. We need to start going to more national level tournaments. A lot of times there are very good small school wrestlers, many that will have great college careers, but they don't expose themselves. I understand there are reasons but the fact is still there, they don't have the exposure.

Understand this is just my opinion and it may be different. I am not saying I'm right. It's just an opinion based on my experiences and observations.

Thanks,

Lars Lueders
Dodge City HS
Head Wrestling Coach

Many good points from all. 321a budgets are generally tight, and programs disappearing in western Kansas. Its hard for the small schools with limited budgets to compete with the larger schools. School board won't pass a budget for sending a team out of state, when they are trying to figure out how to pay teachers. The participation most likely isn't there either for them to justify allotting money for it. As Lars stated, the rankings are fun. The top ten are probably as accurate as you can get without sticking them all head to head, to settle who at which place.

2011 - 321A - 130 - State Champ - Norton - Troy Bainter

Beat 4A Champ Konner Kris from Colby & 6A Champ Daniel DeShazer from Heights in the same year. If my memory is correct, he then wrestled Deshazer again after the season was over at the big school vs little school tournament in Topeka and lost by a point. (I believe they were given 5 or so extra pounds???)

DeShazer was then given back the #1 ranking.

EDIT - His only loses on the season were early to Konner Kris and in the Newton finals to Tulsa Union - Crutchmer.


.

Not only are budgets tight but taxes are crazy high out there. County consolidations are needed followed by schools. Things are so inefficient yet the various school boards and county commissions just keep spending. The family farm is a thing of the past and so should 8 man football.

Dayton Porsch, Jonathan Ball, Danny Floyd, Colt Rogers off the top of my head.

Call me at 913-484-3624 and I would be glad to have an extended conversation on all four of those decisions. Again, many Western Kansas kids have been on my traveling teams and I have awesome memories. Great kids, great families. I have no possible reason to have a bias against them.

I'm mostly just trying to stir something up. It gets boring when everyone isn't mad at Cokley for something.

Ha, I gotcha. Livening up the forum is a good thing.

just wait 'til you see this weekend's "other participant information" for the olathe north duals

Without looking I think Colt lost to Chase Nitcher who had been beaten by Taylor Moeder. It is not disrespectful to be #2. Just like "There can only be ONE Highlander!" there can only be one wrestler ranked #1.

And now back to your regularly scheduled programming......