We had two wrestlers from Junction City place. Mike Mancuso cut down to 119 and finished third. His loss was to the eventual champion (who won 13-2 in the finals). Jason Lacer also went down from 171 during the season to 160 for nationals, and placed 7th with a 3-2 record. The Kansas boys performed very well, and really seemed to stick together as a group supporting each other. There was a lot of great wrestling. Congratulations to all.

John Steiger-Junction City High School

...what a tough tournament! yeow! lots of unbelievable and incredible matches and talent!alot of kansas guys lost some very close heart breakers, ours included, i know our guys just got out horse powered. there were some unbelieveable specimens there, made you really wonder if they were in the right clasification...i know some guys sucked quite a bit of weight to make weight, i think to really make it fair, they should have only given a 1 pound allowance for the second day, i know some of those 30 pounders had to to be 15-20 over on sunday the second day! (and weigh in was friday evening) and that wasnt the only weight that was like that....but that's what the rule was so we just dealt with it, and did our best...i know smull (6th), loyd (8th), richard (dnp), and brown (8th), were not happy with thier perfomances, which is good, i hope it drives them to become better wrestlers

the winners got a singlet from brute/adidas, an adidas watch, a shirt, and a trophy. the 2nd and 3rd place finishers recieved medals. the 4th through 8th just got a "coupon" with thier name wrote in pen saying congrats yer an all american, -love brute.

...now it was a good tournament, with lots of excellent competition, high caliber, high quality kids, but after wrestling your heart out, and paying a $40 entry fee, you think you would have recieved a medal for making all american status, not a coupon with your name written in ink, it could have had a little more class.

but nonetheless, i think we'll be headed back again next year...we didnt go for medals, we went for competition, and thats what we got..

Abilene is having a good week....

Taplin 1st
Peterson 3rd

Tovar at NCAA II 2nd

Heck of a weekend huh?

Pursel(Jr.) from Effingham got 5th at 171.

Twister

Boy I would have loved to see Irivine from Chapman go at 152 along with Arveson at 130 or so for freshman...but maybe next year. Where will it be next year?

Congrats to the Topeka placers. Perez (T-High) 3rd, Malloy (Shawnee Hts.) 7th, Hoffman (Shawnee Hts. 4th. Gonzales was one match from placing in a stacked wt. -Parks

Congrats to Zach Hentzen for being the Freshmen National Champion at 140.

I see that the kid from Oklahoma that teched me 21-6, teched the next kid, and then he went on to get pinned in the semi's?! holy jebus! that must be one hell of a man!

Norton High School Placings. Western Kansas
Freshmen:
Kent Mann-112 lbs. 6th
Nathan Broeckelman-119 lbs. 8th
Blake VanEaton-130 lbs. 5th (JV all season)

Sophomores:
Lance Roe-135 lbs. 4th
Davvid Stanley-171 8th (JV all season)

Junior:
Michael Sprigg-275 lbs. 2nd

why do they call the champ of theis tourn. a national champion, when about 6-7 states are represented?

are all invited? not to take anything away from the kids, but some of those brackets were small and i know that the best wrestling is back east and in the ohio valley.

i guess what i'm saying is when i hear that someone is national champion during the year, is that a brute national champion, or a true national champion (senior nationals for example)?

Every wrestler that fit the age category around the nation was invited. The tournament was promoted nationwide.

I feel those who chose to find the time, resources, finances, etc., to attend the event deserve the honors that come with it.

As far as the Kansas kids go, we are fortunate the tournament is only one state away. There are certainly a lot of California or Eastern U.S. wrestlers who could not attend. But, again, I feel those who chose to make the trip work deserve the recognition. They can't help who else does and does not show up.

Congrats to the Kansas placers!

kit, i totally agree. it just makes sense now that i hear about all these "national champions"

it is nice to see a national tournament that all grades can compete

Vikes- 40 states were represented at this tourney. I'd say the winner at each wt. should be given much respect. -Coach Parks(T-High)

Brackets may not have been full but still quality competition: At Junior 112

Kyle Reeve-WI (42-0) Wisconsin State Champ
Cory Borgess-CA -State Runnerup (CA has only one
state tournament)
Dru Kastler-NE- State Champ
Josh Statum-AL- State Runnerup
David Acosta-SC- Two time 3rd place
Matt Groepel-MO- 5th place

I am sure all the brackets have similar situations.

For those that went I think it was a great experience and exposure. Hopefully, for those that did not place it will become a motivator to work to get to the next level.

This tournament had some of the best kids in the U.S. there. I for sure will be going back there next year!!!!

Larry(T-High)

I do not see T J Sebolt from Centerville, Iowa at this event ?

That's great Perez! I'm so happy for your enthusiasm!! For sure!!