Kansas Wrestling Forums General Discussion Kids Folkstyle Manhattan Tournament

This was a very well run tournament...lots of kids and was done early...thank you

I agree with you bodhi. I know that tournaments that have used Track Wrestling have had some trouble starting on time, but in the U14 gym, we were wrestling before 9am! One of our wrestlers had three matches and was done by noon. Job well done Manhattan.

One side note - I had the wonderful experience speaking with an older gentleman who was behind the microphone in the U14 gym. He said he had been around wrestling for 50 years and had wrestled for Kansas State. He knew both of my coaches that I wrestled for in Kids and in high school (my high school coach also wrestled for Kansas State). During the brief time I had talking with him, I failed to find out his name. Can anyone tell me who he was? I would appreciate it.

Probably Coach Dean Sheets from DeSoto, if he was wearing green.

It wasn't coach Sheets. I have known him since I coached the Lawrence Kid's program back in the late '80s when I was in college. I was glad to see that Desoto has named their Novice tournament after him. Speaking of coach Sheets, I found this really neat article about him online. I had no idea he wrestled for Kansas State or that he wrestled in the Sunflower State Games at the age of 81 last year. For anyone interested, I copied the link below. Great little article. If the link doesn't work, just type in Dean Sheets Desoto into Yahoo search and the link is right there.

http://www.desotoexplorer.com/photos/2008/jul/23/25230/

The gentleman announcing in the south gym was Ron Tacha. He is a very big kids wrestling supporter from Manhattan.

Thank you mandmmom. He seems like a great guy and I am sure that you are proud to have him backing your program. I checked online and saw he wrestled for Norton in high school (State Champion in 1967). I really enjoyed speaking with him during the tournament.

Good Job Manhattan Just one thing though I heard about 120 or so participants didnt weigh in if that is true then next time could we pull the lower bleachers out in the gym you had the little kids in we was all pretty crowded but for a good tournament and match its to be expected. We come to Manhattan cause we always know its gonna be good competition and this year was no different..Good Job to all the Wrestlers in Manhattan You all did exceptionally well..

Couldn't agree more. I was very sceptical prior to the tournament starting due to the very large crowd, but as I was heading home at 3:00 (the mats were rolling up as I was leaving) I was very satisfied. Great job Manhattan.