WOW!

When the RMN announced their new date in June, I thought our consecutive run was over. Knowing that we are in full FS/GR mode I was hesitant to take teams this year. As this is my favorite wrestling trip of the year, I had to take at least one team. My initial focus was to invite our folkstylers that were not attending Southern Plains. The guys that committed to this trip flat out left it on the mat! We brought home huge individual trophies and two team trophies. The light show, elevated mats and best intro I've seen at any wrestling tournament are trademarks of the Rocky Mountain Nationals and Ed Gutierrez and his sons Adam and Josh. That family is PASSIONATE about wrestling!

Many "Thank You's" to be handed out. Conor Fitzgerald and Jake Carroll coached our guys like they were their own kids. Awesome work! Thanks to Ray Cooper for the travel package! Thank you to all of the supporting parents, many of whom made the trip to Denver. That drive back from Denver was a minor miracle in driving rain and contruction, arriving back in KC at 3:45 AM!

In our 11th trip to the RMN, Kansas had won 8 of 10 team dual titles, placing 2nd in those two. This year they published an amazing article in WIN Magazine titled, Kansas Boys at RMN to Take On All Comers. That certainly put a TARGET on our chest. While many of our top All-Class guys declined due to FS/GR action, I could not be prouder of this team.

We finished 2nd in the RMN Tournament on Friday/Saturday and 2nd in the Dual event on Sunday. POWA put together an All-Star team made up of several state champs and nationally ranked guys including Fargo Champ Daniel Cardenas. We had an open weight due to injury at 195, our 160 was not 100 percent and our 170 was injured during the dual. Add in three really close losses, they beat us 41-24 in the final. It was simply NAILS TOUGH KANSAS kids!

Final Totals: All matches and place in RMN tourney (champs in bold)

106 - Grayson Hagan - 7-3 - 5th place in RMN
113 - Nolan Bradley - 5-4 - 2nd place
120 - Jon Morrison - 6-3
126 - Braden Tatum - 8-1 - 1st place
132 - Eddie Hughart - 4-6 - 6th place (several one and two point margins!)
138 - Kolton Field - 8-2 - 3rd place
145 - Gabe Maki - 9-0 - 1st place - Outstanding Wrestler at the RMN!
152 - Xerarch Tungjaroenkul - 5-0 - wrestled duals only
160 - Dylan Elmore - 6-1 - 1st place
170 - Aidan Boline - 3-1 - wrestled duals only
182 - Garrett Davis - 6-2 - 2nd place
195 - Blake Jouret - 4-0 - 1st place
220 - Bronx Wood - 9-0 - 1st place
285 - Brett Carroll - 7-1 - 1st place

The 2023 RMN has a new date in early April! A challenge to all Kansas wrestlers..... CAN YOU MAKE THIS TEAM NEXT YEAR?????


-Chief