2005-06 KWCA Award Winners to be honored at the Awards Banquet luncheon on Saturday, October 28, 2006, at the Salina Holiday Inn.

COACHES OF THE YEAR
6A - Mike Church, Wichita South
5A - Brian Shelton, Valley Center
4A - Rick Rivera, Andale
321A - Brock Hutchinson, Smith Center

ASSISTANT COACHES OF THE YEAR
6A - Eric DeYoe / Steve Jaso, Olathe North
5A - Joaquin Zapata / Kevin Knapp, Bishop Carroll
4A - Tim Fisher, Andale & Tom Taplin, Abilene
321A - Rusty Emling / Tim Johnson, Burlington & Terry Keating, Hesston

SENIOR WRESTLERS OF THE YEAR
6A - Nathan Thibault, Maize (State champion, runner-up)
5A - Tristen Deshazer, Wichita West (4x State champion)
4A - Jesse Strawn, Holton (2x State champion, 2x State runner-up)
321A - Clay Madden, Norton (4x State champion)

MEDIA OF THE YEAR
Chris Wristen, Lansing Current
Jason Nichols, Leavenworth Times
Nick Bratkovic, Louisburg Herald
Jim Emrick, Times Sentinel
Bob Latta, Hesston Record
Ryan Noonan, Manhattan Mercury
Jimmy Gillispie, Baldwin City Signal

OFFICIALS OF THE YEAR
Kevin Hewitt, Beloit
Bill Kausler, Junction City
Kevin McCullough, Lawrence

CONTRIBUTORS OF THE YEAR
Greg & Leanna Grater, Clay County

COLLEGE SENIOR WRESTLERS OF THE YEAR
Shawn Bunch, Leavenworth HS / Edinboro University (2x NCAA Div. I AA)
Joe Johnston, SM East HS / University of Iowa (2x NCAA Div. I AA)
Jacob Klein, Wichita-Kapaun HS / University of Nebraska (2x NCAA Div. I AA)
Aaron Meister, Holton HS / Fort Hays State University (NJCAA Champion, 2x NCAA Div. II AA)

KWCA HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Eric Methvin, Chanute
Dale Samuelson, Oakley

This award-winner selection will be honored by the Kansas Coaches Association in August in Topeka at the KSHSAA Coaching School.
KCA Coach of the Year
Kirk Baker, Hoxie

These award-winner selections will be honored by the National Wrestling Coaches Association. They are also eligible for national awards by the NWCA.
National Wrestling Coaches Association
NWCA Head Coach of the Year – Wayne Jackson, Ark City HS
NWCA Assistant Coach of the Year – Tom Taplin, Abilene HS
NWCA Wrestler of the Year – Tristen Deshazer, Wichita West HS

We should send a poll out to the coaches to nominate match of the year and award the 2 wrestlers involved in that match. I think it would be a great award personally.

That would be cool, there were a lot of great matches this year to choose from.

i would nominate chris sutton-kearn and jesse strawn state finals match

As I think most of the state would that saw it, I think it would be a great recruiting tool too, especially if it's announced early and we can somehow put a tape together of the best matches 3a-6a for sell for the KWCA as a fundraiser.

Maybe take the Finals Matches and put them on video, then out of the 56 total finals, vote it down to the Top final in each weight class for a video: Thus 103 from all divisions through 275 from all divions would be voted on with 4 per matches per weight. Majority rules and only KWCA members could vote on what should make the cut (have a Coach's clinic day to decide) then have the video all fixed up and voila the 14 best State finals matches of the year and sell it for $35 with video commentary on it or something.

That would be awesome. I would buy one for sure if someone did it.

No radio in the "Media of the Year"? Weeeeeeeeak!

Mike, you dont deserve it, cause you didnt pick me to win it. Haha im jk. I'd say that you were on top of things at state pretty good. So you would have my vote.

I don't think I'm worthy although next year Michael Malay is my State Champion prediction - at 275. JK. I think Adam Kadavey from Oberlin and Fig Milan from Norton are certainly worthy. KFNF in Oberlin covers play by play wrestling - not just Regionals and State, but every freaking tournament Oberlin is involved with. Most tournaments include other teams from Northwest Kansas, so many fans got to listen throughout the season.

Norton radio breaks in on regularly scheduled programming to bring the hometown folks wrestling coverage. I know Fig has won the award before, but is certainly deserving again.

Again, I don't think I deserve an award. All I do is jump in at Regionals and State. But since the media award is something voted on, I encourage Northwest Kansas coaches to vote for Adam and Fig in the future.

The Media of the Year awards are based on nominations from coaches. Each head coach is sent a letter in February asking for nominees for Media of the Year, amongst other awards.

Unfortunately, there were no broadcast nominees this year. Hopefully next year.

Fig Millan of Norton won a KWCA Media of the Year award two years ago for his services covering HS wrestling.

Who picks wrestler of the year? I mean Kellerman with two undefeated back to back State Championships in 6A would be more obvious choice I would think. Just my opinion.

Each KWCA member coach turns in a ballot at the conclusion of the tournament with their selections for coach and senior wrestler of the year.

With a name like Fig he should win Name of the Year.