I just heard that Dean Sheets found out on Thursday that he has colon cancer. He will be going in in the morning for surgery at Lawrence Memorial, where he'll remain for at least a week, They think the cancer is contained in the colon.

Dean has been a major figure in Kansas wrestler for a long time and I know he has lots of friends out there. I'm sure that he and his family would appreciate any thoughts and prayers from the wrestling community.

we heard the same today. our thoughts and prayers go out to Dean and his family in your time of need.
the Creach family

God bless Dean and family.....only guy I ever had trim his ear hair (jokingly) prior to a match.....he is a true icon

Godspeed recovery in this life journey. Thoughts & prayers to family & Coach Sheets during this time of diagnosis and recovery.

Get well Dean. I was visiting with him yesterday at the Shawnee Mission Northwest Cougar Tournament. He was coaching yesterday
at the Novice Tournament. The man has many amazing stories and has given thousands of kids and their families his time.

This is from July, 2008 a little bio.

Dean Sheets retires from active wrestling
S. McDonald
Member

Registered: February, 02 2006
Posts: 34
Dean at 81 wrestled at the Sunflower State Games this past weekend. After winning his second match and taking first place. Dean reached down and untied his wreslting shoes and left them on the mat.
Dean started wrestling 60 years ago at K-State. He wrestled 4 years at K-State never being pinned and always promoting sportsmanship. After 60 years he has only been pinned twice once at an Olympic Trail i the 50's and at the Sunflowers Games one year, and to this day he still promotes sportsmenship.
To any of you that were at the Sunflower Games it was an amazing moment.
My Dad loves this sport, although he retired from activly wrestling, he will I'm sure coach as long as there is an ankle to grab and a half to sink in tight.

this article is from the Capital Journal. I hope you all will enjoy it.




Linwood's Sheets walks barefoot into wrestling retirement

Adam Sacasa / The Capital-Journal

By Rick Peterson Jr.
The Capital-Journal
Published Sunday, July 13, 2008


Dean Sheets knew that wrestling in the Sunflower State Games might not have been the smartest thing he ever did, but the 81-year-old Linwood man was willing to give it a try anyway.

Sheets, who hadn't wrestled competitively since the 2001 Sunflower State Games, was one of about 200 participants in Saturday's event at Seaman.

Dean Sheets, 81, coaches one of his wrestlers on Saturday at Seaman High School. Sheets competed in the Sunflower State Games for the first time in seven years, winning the gold medal in his weight class and age division.

"I might not get off (the mat), but I'll get on," a smiling Sheets said before his first match.
And he did get on. But before he got off, he removed his shoes and set them on the mat, which in the wrestling world signals retirement.

Sheets was still smiling at the end of the day. The former Kansas State grappler — he competed for the Wildcats from 1949-52, placing as high as third in the Big Eight — won the gold medal in the 190-under weight class in the 50-and-over age division.

Sheets has been involved with Kids Wrestling since 1963 and coaches the DeSoto wrestling club, which brought several competitors to Saturday's SSG competition.
"I started the Linwood team in '65 and we went to the first kids tournament that Fritz Knorr had, and I've missed one state tournament since then," Sheets said.

Sheets said he was willing to compete one last time to identify with the kids he coaches.
"I still coach the kids so I thought I'd give it one more try. This is it," he said. "I (was) kind of iffy about it. I haven't been practicing too much."

Sheets provided the perfect ending. Following his gold-medal win, he removed his shoes and placed them on the mat to officially announce his retirement. The crowd roared.

And with that, Dean Sheets walked away a winner.




Edited by parkwayred (Today at 05:40 PM)
_________________________
I’m not very smart… but I can lift heavy things!

We want to thank everyone for your thoughts and prayers.
Dad is doing great. He is already been flirting with the nurses.
He is ready for a steak.
He is at Lawerece Memorial in room 376 the address is 325 Maine
Lawrence, ks 66044 his phone is 785_505_4376 he would love to hear
Fromy you
They still think it was contained and they got it all. We will know Wed or Thurs
What his next steps are. But all looks good.
Thank you again he is already to get back on the mat.

talked to Dean this evening and sounded good. he said everything went well and that he wants a steak. sounds like he might get out on by friday. god speed in his recovery.

Great news! I didn't think a little thing like cancer could keep Dean down for long!

This is very good news. Wishing you the best on your road to full recovery Coach Sheets.

Dean is the Ultimate Warrior!!