Originally posted by LancerM:
I also think that eastern Kansas is more known for producing individual stars rather than full teams of them, predominantly because wrestling's not a big sport around here. Therefore, despite the larger amounts of kids in each school, very few actually give the sport a chance. Hell, I know I didn't until high school. But if you take a look at some of the top collegiate wrestlers from Kansas recently, a lot of them are from the Kansas City area, or at least the Eastern half. Joe Johnston, Justin Dyer, Shawn Bunch, Zach Roberson, Chris and Tyler McCormick...all were from over here. Even Tanner Gardner was from Topeka. Basically my point is that it's not a lack of talent over here, it's just an overall sense of apathy towards wrestling.
Very well said Lancer M. That has been my observation at the larger schools, it just isn't "cool" to wrestle, and not as many kids (porportionally) wrestle when they are young.
I think another reason larger colleges recruit wrestlers from the larger schools, especailly the KC area, is the exposure to freestyle tournaments in the summer which allows the college coaches to come watch the wrestlers. On any given weekend in KC you can find a tournament to compete in that is not very far away, where as out west, the tournaments are a lot more spread out. Also freestyle tends to be more popular/emphasised in the east.
Just a thought.
