For me, this is really a no brainer. I do not see how anyone could be selected for this award over Beard and/or Caldwell. No doubt, as I have indicated in the Fab 5 thread, Maple is super fabulous. So fabulous is he that I would have a man crush on him if I were prone to such things. Maple is as slick as they come possessing tremendous D-1 talent. Perhaps if the award was for OW of the tournament, Maple would be a candidate, but the award is not. Even if it were OW for the tournament, you would have to consider Caldwell and Beard as they smashed all comers as well. Beard even pinned a very worthy opponent in the finals. That is another issue though and the award is not OW for the tournament. The award is 6A Senior OW of the Year. With that in mind, yes Maple still had a great year and is a worthy candidate, but two things stand out in my mind with regard to the award. I was a head coach for 18 years, 10 years in Kansas. The ten years that I was a head coach in Kansas, I think we all know, at least the coaches should, that the award went to someone not just based on their senior year but their 4 year career. If that is still the case, then the award choice is, as I said, a no brainer and it goes to Beard and/or Caldwell. If you just focus on this year alone, how could you select anyone other than Beard and/or Caldwell. Beard smashed everyone in Kansas by pin or some form of bonus points. Additionally, he won a National Level Tournament in the KC Toshiba. Caldwell also won "Toshiba". Caldwell probably had the toughest competition as he also defeated Nelson and Detmer, two other Fab 5 candidates. As far as I am concerned, Means who has two titles like Maple is just as worthy as Maple. His only loss was at the "Toshiba" and he crushed everyone else other than Crank and that was Crank's only loss. Means would have been a three timer if he had not lost last year by one point to Fab 5 candidate Nelson. Means also has off season wins over Fab 5 candidate Watson. When I consider all of this, you can see why I believe there is no other choice besides Beard and Caldwell. Justice would be served if they were Co-OW. These are my thoughts with no hating intended. Of course you are welcome to disagree but please be non-derogatory.
