Kansas finalists info @ 75th Annual NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in St. Louis, Mo., at the Savvis Center.

Shawn Bunch, 133 pounds, Edinboro:
-from Leavenworth High School
-entered tournament as #2 seed
-def. Mark Moos, Michigan, 9-8
-def. Sam Gray, Navy, 6-3
-def. #7 seed Nathan Morgan, Okla. St., 13-7
-def. #3 seed Mack Reiter, Minnesota, 6-4

Will take on #1 seed and 2003 national champion Travis Lee of Cornell.

Bunch Bio:
2001-02 = 22-6 record, EWL champ, NCAA Qual.
2002-03 = 30-14 record, EWL champ, NCAA Qual.
2003-04 = redshirt season

Lee Bio:
2001-02: 33-9 record, 7th at NCAA @ 125 lbs.
2002-03: 34-0 record, NCAA Champion @ 125 lbs.
2003-04: 39-3 record, 5th at NCAA @ 133 lbs.


Joe Johnston, 157 pounds, Iowa:
-from Shawnee Mission East High School
-entered tournament as #8 seed
-def. Kevin Ward, Okla. St., 18-8
-def. CP Schlatter, Minnesota, 5-3
-def. #1 seed Alex Tirapelle, Illinois, 5-3
-def. #5 seed Jake Percival, Ohio, 9-8

Will take on #2 seed and 2003 national champion Ryan Bertin of Michigan.

Johnston Bio:
2001-02 = redshirt, 16-7 record unattached
2002-03 = 33-15 record, 5th Big 10, NCAA Qual.
2003-04 = 27-11 record, 4th Big 10, NCAA Qual.

Bertin Bio:
2000-01 = redshirt, 25-2 unattached
2001-02 = 37-8 record, 2nd Big 10, 6th NCAA
2002-03 = 21-6 record, 3rd Big 10, NCAA Champion
2003-04 = 28-4 record, 2nd Big 10, 3rd NCAA

Bunch vs. Lee - 133 lbs. final

It is Bunch'2 22nd birthday today. Also, in the stands is his sister who has just returned from service in Iraq.

FIRST PERIOD
Bunch shoots quick low single before whistle, given a caution.....Bunch again shoots in, Lee counters with front headlock, Lee spins behind, Bunch stands up, Lee takes Bunch to mat for takedown points (Lee 2-0, :51 remain).....Bunch issued another caution for jumping the whistle.....Bunch earns escape (Lee 2-1, :38 remain).....period ends in neutral.

SECOND PERIOD:
Bunch wins toss, chooses down.....Bunch quickly out for another escape (2-2 tie, 1:49 remain).....Lee in on deep single leg, takes Bunch to mat for another takedown (Lee 4-2, 1:05 remain).....Bunch earns escape (Lee 4-3,period ends).....Lee has 1:27 of riding time.

THIRD PERIOD:
Lee chooses down, earns escape (Lee 5-3, 1:39 remain).....Lee still owns riding advantage.....Bunch in to quick double, very deep, but Lee counters, two tremendous athletes going at it, a lot of quickness, great wrestling, great scrambling.....still 5-3 Lee with riding time also in favor.....:45 remain.....Lee nearly scores takedown on edge of mat, wants the call, ref says no points.....Bunch makes last attempts at takedown points, Lee counters and circles, match ends, Lee wins national title by 6-3 score. Lee is now a 2x national champion.

Congrats to national runner-up Shawn Bunch of Leavenworth, Kansas!

Johnston vs. Bertin - 157 lbs. final

The official for this match is Kansan Jim Ramirez of Ark City. These two wrestled in a dual this season, with Bertin winning 14-9. Johnston is the lowest seeded wrestler to make the finals this year.

FIRST PERIOD:
Both wrestlers seeking offense, Johnston in front head position, ref calling stalemates for fresh starts, 1:30 remaining.....Johnston in on great single leg, takes Bertin to mat, but Bertin holds onto Johnston's leg, after much scrambling, Bertin comes up with takedown (Bertin 2-0, :39 remain).....caution called on Bertin, false start.....Johnston sitting out, looking for escape points, turns in, Bertin holds onto legs, ref calls stalemate, :17 remain.....Johnston scores an escape as time expires (Bertin 2-1).

SECOND PERIOD:
Johnston wins toss, defers, Bertin chooses bottom.....Johnston riding tough on Bertin, Bertin finally works to feet and earns escape point (Bertin 3-1, 1:27 remain).....Johnston warned for stalling, Bertin in on legs, Johnston fighting, holding, Bertin finally scores takedown (Bertin 5-1, :39 remain).....Johnston kicks away for escape with :10 remaining (Bertin 3-2).....period ends.

THIRD PERIOD:
Johnston chooses bottom, Bertin owns :58 riding time.....Bertin now owns riding time, Johnston still working to get to feet, Bertin called for stalling (each wrestler has now been warned).....Johnston turns in, breaks lock for escape point (Bertin 5-3, 1:06 remain).....Bertin in on deep shot, dumps Johnston to hips, Bertin scores takedown (Bertin 7-3, :41 remain).....Bertin riding with leg in on edge of mat.....Johnston works to kick out, Bertin holds onto foot, called for stalling again, point to Johnston (Bertin 7-4, :15 remain).....Johnston earns escape, shoots one last double attempt on edge of mat, ref rules out of bounds, time expires, riding point added to Bertin.....Bertin wins 8-5, he is now 4x All-American, 2x national champion.

Congrats to national runner-up Joe Johnston of Prairie Village, Kansas, and Shawnee Mission East High School!

Thanks Kit for the awesome recap, You'll be glad to know that Baldwin did a fine job with the District Kids Tourney. A few suggestions have been made by posters regarding improving logistics, time arrangements, and overcrowding but I would have to think that all in all most were well pleased with things and would like to see your nice community and facilities host again. I think that its safe to say that the future of Baldwin wrestling looks to be extremely bright. You've got some fantastic kids to look forward to having in High School and I would not be at all surprised to see a couple of your current 10 & Unders Mitchell & Shoemaker as High School Champs for you. As I exited your fine community after taking the time to eat at the Pizza establishment downtown that left a flyer on my windshield, I was thinking how beautiful of a community you have there and how nice it would be to have my son running Cross Country and Wrestling there. Hats off to you Kit and Thanks for being such an advocate for Kansas Wrestling. I'd like to see you get a Team Championship someday right there in Baldwin.

Thanks for the comments.

We do have a lot of awesome people in Baldwin that have worked really hard with wrestling, I feel lucky to live in such a great community and see nowhere else where I want to live, work, and raise my children.

Those two wrestlers you mentioned are tough little dudes and we also have a lot of other youngsters that are coming around and have a great future.

And yes, the cross country program here is outstanding due mostly to coach Mike Spielman, a Sabetha and KU alum. He is an outstanding coach who I have learned a lot from.

Take Care and thanks again for your kind words,
Kit Harris
Baldwin City, KS
GO DOGS!