Kansas Wrestling Forums General Discussion High School Soul Searching, and my true thoughts on Abilene.

Call it soul searching if you will, on my way back home from the D2 Midwest Regional I had a lot of time to think about stuff in general. One of the things that kept playing in my mind was of Ross and Jake (Taplin and Kriegbaum), at the state tournament. I got to thinking on how much I love the sport of wrestling how much we all in some way or another are leading to a demise of it in the sportsmanship category a lot of times on this message board.

I don't know Jake, but I know he's a dam good wrestler and people will be watching his every move because of the fact of just how good he is. As for Ross, I've seen him out there wrestling for quite some time. I've talked to him on many occasions and he is nothing but kindhearted. Maybe it's the fact that when you are from Abilene more eyes will focus on you, but even though something was said (which I may/may not like) it started a huge fuss.

I wanted to be one of the first people on here to share that I didn't mean to put a dent into these young men's seasons. Kriegbaum without a doubt will be doing great things next year at the Air Force Academy and I'm sure we will all be excited just to see how far he can soar in the college ranks in the next couple seasons.

Ross has got to be the most agressive high school wrestler I've seen in about 5 years. He goes out there and gets the job done on the mat and 99 out of 100 times leaves himself out there. Jake has already signed with a school, but Ross still has one more year and to think that I may cost him an opportunity with a team he wants to be with, because a recruiter reads just the bad things on the message board...now that would kill me. I was given an opportunity and although I only won 3 matches in college, I lived a dream...why shatter someone else's?

Some things got very heated and I spoke out before I thought, therefore, in closing I'd also like to apologize to Coach Stout, Tom Taplin, Lucas Baker, Nate Smith, Jake, Ross, the Abilene wrestling community, the families of all involved, and finally the Kansas Wrestling family for the shame of tearing down this sport in a moment of stupidity.

These message boards do have many good things about them, like keeping us up to date on our Kansas college kids and such, but when it comes down to the bickering and names are dragged through the bathrooms of the Kansas Collesium (thought that would be worse than mud) then we are doing a disservice to a sport that prides itself on being united as a community. No other sport can boast of the bonding of the wrestling community, and for causing a chaotic splitting of that unity I for one am very apologetic.

I am really glad for your comments Aaron. You are one of the nicest people I have ever met. I took some of what you had wrote about me out of context and I am sorry for my comments, even though I would be willing for a match if you'd like some time. Keep up the good work supporting this great sport.

Nate...I wouldn't mind a match, just as long as I don't have to make your weight class...dam, I'd be looking thin.

Aaron, I'm at about 190-195 right now. I wrestled intermurals a couple of weeks ago against guys weighing up to 220 and it didn't bother me at all.

I don't even know what I'm weighing...I'm falling apart from the inside out health wise...I was 245 at the beginning of December but I'm probably near 200 now if not less...and all I do is stay on the computer...maybe I'm burning calories on here?

Swayz, from what I saw last Saturday, you're not going to touch 200 for awhile.

Oh man....Bob, you're killing me man! LOL that was great. You are the Kansas man of media...you were fun to visit with...by the way Silvis looked awesome this weekend, as for Saferite, maybe next year.

How refreshing! A sign of positive growth!!

Sometimes it seems that a combatant’s heart is hard to temper. That heart is the very fiber that makes a wrestler. But, it is that "positive growth" that tempers that steel.

Aaron, what a nice revelation! Perhaps it will encourage a few more to make those strides to wisdom!

Oh my Kriegbaum, err...I mean God!

It's Hinderliter!!!

Thank you sir, you have been one of my favorite wrestling people I've yet to meet. (Sounds kinda weird huh) I appreciate those comments from you and for those people who realize my passion for the sport and being caught up in the minute. I thank you all, like Coach Moore put it we are all apart of the greatest family there is.

A WRESTLING FAMILY!

Please ... NO NO NO!!!

I just had this vision of Swayz in a big purple dinosaur suit. And he was singing ... I love you, you love me, ..............

Good stuff...sad thing is I've been 3 different mascots.. I was the Chapman Irishman, the Butler County Grizzly and I was paid really good money to be the Energizer Bunny.

Please ... NO NO NO!!!

I just had this vision of Swayz in a big purple dinosaur suit. And he was singing ... I love you, you love me, ..............