Kansas Wrestling
I can name three. who wrestled under tremendous talent.
Even though i do not care for him, Kevin Hadley from Phillipsburg never won a state title. He finished runner-up to Barry Samuelson of Oakley his junior year and runner-up to Blake Pilkington of Oakley his senior year. Im not for sure what he placed as a Freshman and Sophmore but he was very talented and he is now a member of the Fort Hays State Wrestling Team.
Another very good wrestler who never won a state title was Shawn Otool of Norton he dominated his Junior and Senior Year.
Thane Van Eaten of stockton was a guy who could just never win it although he dominated alot of his matches
Brian Roberts of Turner, lost to Beeson of Ark City in the finals three times I think and ended up third in the nation in Juco and Division III at Wartburg Iowa later on. Is now a college assistant coach.
Eric Stewart (sp?) from Smith Center was a 4x runner-up in the mid 80's.

Mike Porsch from Hoxie beat the eventual 4A & 3A state champs - Trevor Squibb of Colby and JD Hand of Norton - earlier in the season as a sophomore but got beat out in the consolation semi-finals at state (back when only the top 4 earned honors). Placed 2nd as a junior - lost to Stefan Hahn of Phillipsburg in the finals. Was the top ranked wrestler @ 155 most of his senior year, but was upset in the first round by Podlena of Ellsworth. He won four in a row on the back side before a loss to Hoffer of Beloit in the consolation finals. A very talented wrestler with great strength, quickness and balance. Also had a relentless work ethic. Unfortunately, it just never came together for him at state.
Derek mainus never won a state title his junior year he met up with long and was leading then got pinned (of course a headlock)
but his senior year was very upseting he defeated all his competition during the year he defeated Ngo, of concordia, also derek jones of hoxie on numerous occasions. Ngo of concordia went on the win the state title and mainus fell apart first round. I just thought mainus's name needed mentioned in this topic because he was a very decent wrestler who is still at it and doin well for fhsu.
also if anyone remebers mike kersenbrock of colby he was also a great wrestler that wasn't a champion.
Mine is Seimears of Derby. Never won a championship, but pounded on many a wrestler. Good wrestler.
Travis Martin of Ellsworth was a 3 time State runner-up. He lost in the finals to 2-timer Dylan Campbell of Oakley his freshman year; possible 3-timer Eric Johnson of Norton his junior year; and 2-timer Nick Johnson of Minneapolis his senior year. Martin defeated Nick Johnson 3 times during the season and had wins over Bryce Bahe of Goodland, Shawn O'Toole of Norton and many other talented wrestlers during his career.
chris compton was a real good wrestler at 171, his junior year he beat the defending 4a state champ, amad patillo of paola, at regionals, but then lost to him in the state finals, his senior year he lost to ben ramsey of scott city, the eventual champ, in the semi's
A kid I had at Schlagle Marty Dean. Beat the 6A champ from Manhattan 9-0, beat the 4A state champion who later won the national championship at Missouri Valley (White) 7-1 in the finals of the coffeyville tourney, and lost by a takedown in overtime to three time state champion Shumer of Salina South who went to Missouri in the state semifinals after leading 2-1 on top with six seconds left in the match. Marty was one of the toughest kids I have coached and took third in the state meet. 189lber in 1992
luke page never won a title, but he was pretty good. he beat bancroft, the defending 4a state champ. then lost to him in the state finals. won 130+ matches in his career.
First of all-great topic. I think my pick would be Danny Copeland from Salina Central. I believe he was a four time placer 1984-86. Had to wrestle him a couple times. He was tough! I believe he ran into 2X champ Del Ray both his junior and senior years. I thought he was better than his little brother who was a state champ in 87. Any body else remember him?
Brad Zerr of Oakley was one of the best to never win a title. He was walking through his senior year before he broke his hand. He easily tech falled Miller of Oberlin that year and miller finished third.
B.J. MOORMAN FROM COFFEYVILLE NEVER WON
A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, BECAUSE HE NEVER
WRESTLED IN HIGH SCHOOL. HE WAS HOME
SCHOOLED. HE GAVE HANKINS ALOT OF GOOD
MATCHES IN KIDS THOUGH. I THINK IF HE
WOULD OF HAD AS MANY MATCHES UNDER HIS
BELT, AS OTHERS WHO WRESTLED ALL YEAR IN
SCHOOL, HE WOULD HAVE BEATEN HANKINS. YOU
CAN ALWAYS SAY WHAT IF, BUT HE COULD HAVE
BEEN A 4X CHAMP HE HAD A GREAT DRIVE AND
WORK ETHIC.
I want to get a list of 1 guy from every school in the NCKL on this list. I think Nigel Isom(abilene), Billy Upham(Chapman), John-Paul Shepherd(chapman), and even Chris Kidd(wamego) come to mind. I know that Coach Charbonneau and Coach Moore are probably screaming names out for Clay Center and Concordia respectively as well as the loyal Bulldog fans of Marysville, but I need some legit help with names, because I'm getting to the point my memory goes out more than I do!
Please don't get Nigel started. Are there any topics that people in towns of more than 20,000 respond to? Everyone on here wants to know what people think of their grandson or first cousin's brother-in-law in Whoville. Sorry, I'll quit wasting your time. Let's get back to coulda been Jonny who's wrestled down a job at the COOP after 2 seasons at Central Western Dodge City State University.
Scott Polley, Bonner Springs. 2x finalist. Had it his Jr year and let it slip away. Beat by Stites, a 4 timer, as a Sr. Wrestling on a ride at Stanford.
Takedowns: You get my vote for greatest
all time, were are the best. I just hope
that someday all of us can live in the
big city, and be as big a success as you.
:rolleyes:
Brian Harris, 3x state placer from eudora, undefeated last year, his senior year, untill he got beat in a very close match with matt murray in the semis at state, he came back and easily got third, he would have easily won any other bracket besides 4A that year
I never got to see him wrestle, but i heard that ronny bainum was a 4x placer. all of the finishes in the top four.
Brandon Pfeifer of Ellis was a 3x runner-up. Lost to Nate Lawrenz of Herington as a sophomore and junior (3-2 score his junior year) and then gave one a way in overtime to Tyler Grandclair of Hoisington as a senior. He was a tough one.
Brandon Pfeifer was a real good one. Brandon and Tyler Grandclair went 2-2 that year. Brandon won the first meeting, Tyler won the second, Brandon the third (regionals), and Tyler the 4th (state championship). Les, you have had some great posts but I would not say that Brandon gave away a match to Tyler. Tyler was up 7-3 at the end of the third. Brandon managed to come back and tie it up and Tyler got the takedown in overtime. It was an excellent match. Both were deserving to win but unfortunately only one can.
Certainly did not intend to take anything away from Tyler as he wrestled a very sound tactical match against Pfeifer.

What I intended to say - and should have said in a more precise manner - is that I felt Brandon lost the killer instinct that had made him successful all year and wrestled not to lose in that match and it cost him. Of course it could have been Tyler's previous win that caused him to wrestle that way.

Thanks for keeping me in line and sorry I did not phrase the last post better.
I was coaching Brandon at Ellis when he lost the first two finals matches to Lawrenz. Both were one/two point matches. I moved on to a new job before his senior year. What an awful feeling seeing him lose in the finals as a senior. Brandon was an awesome athlete to coach. As a sophomore, he beat Tyler Samuelson(2X defending state champ) in the semi at the Hays Invite (Praire Classic). He really developed from that point on.

I talk to Brandon offen. We have often talked about the match with Grandclair. He didn't have that same "killer instint" in that match. He handled Grandclair in the regional finals and was confident he could do it again. When Grandclair started to struggle with the asthma, Brandon should have put him away, but was unable to. He didn't attack as he usually does. Grandclair showed alot of heart to take that match. It was an excited one, but a disappointing one in may eyes. Brandon is certainly worthy of mention in this group of "Best to never win the big one!!"
Ian Bork is a great wrestler, who never won a state championship, freestyle and greco all-american, but no state championship.
A pick of mine would be Chance Humble of Coffeyville. Chance beat Beau Tillman in the finals at Bishop Carrol in 1996. Tillman was pinned by Long in the finals the same year after leading by 7 points. Unfortunatly, Chance liked wrestling better than going to class and didn't made grades. Outstanding wrestler though.
Jim Ziegler from Coffiville I believe he was a four time state placer and three time college all american
Coffeyville
Gene "Red" Curry from Atwood (class of 1989) was one of the best wrestlers I have ever seen. Placed 2nd at 119 as a freshman, 3rd at 126 as a sophomore, 3rd at 133 as a junior, and 3rd at 140 as a senior. Red's best shot at a state title was his junior year when he soundly defeated Lance Shephard from Hoxie in the NWKL finals, and then again in the Regional finals. Shephard was a senior and the defending state champion after beating Wes Harding the previous year. Curry was upset in the quarters at state and Shephard went on to repeat. Curry's senior year he lost 1st round. Curry's 1st round loss was a blessing in disguise as he pinned every opponent through the backside which propelled Atwood to win the state title in 1989 by 2.5 points over Plainville. Red was definitely one of the best wrestlers to ever wrestle in Kansas, just never won the big one.
Scott Polley from Bonner Springs was a very good one. Bonner also produced Matt Biles, who was a 4-time semi-finalist & 2-time runner-up to Chris Hernandez. I believe he was also a 2-time All-American and National Champion in Greco-Roman.

Does anyone know what happened to Biles?
Brian Melchoire from Coffeyville never won state but was a 2X NCAA national champion for UCO and pinned his way through both years. He's got my vote. He really stepped up after graduating from Labette.
Good call Travis, Melchiori was a stud, he
was just always in loaded brackets. He didn't
have very many matches his senior year, because
he had a broken leg. I'm not sure but I think
regionals was his first tourney back.

P.S. Travis hows your fighting career going, I
had heard you were giving it a shot but hadn't
heard any results. GOOD LUCK!!!
Matt Davidson from Smith Center is a good one who never won a state title. He won regionals 4times and 3 of those he beat the state champion at the regionals. Another one is Brock Hutchison from Smith Center. He was undafeted going into state got caught on his back and lossed. The eventual state champion he beat 4 or 5 times throughout the year.
Without a doubt, Matt Biles of Bonner Springs...Lost to Chris Hernandez of Ark City twice...Was screwed in finals by officials in his senior year, I think...Was a cadet and junior all-american and took 4th in greco Worlds...Went to Univ. of Pennsylvania on scholarship, but blew out knee...
Of course Melchiori was a stud, he went to UCO. GO BRONCHOS!!!
GorillaHawk-
Do you have any idea what Biles is up to these days?
Is this Phil?

I'm KCMO sales manager for Boulevard Brewing Co.
Drop me a line sometime...instead of dropping my name..hehe
I would like to mention another wrestler from Ellis.....Ryan Augustine.
He really deserved a state championship but fell short a couple of times.... runner up this year & 5th place last year..... Won state as a 7th grader in kids, runner up the following week at nationals to Luke Paige. Had a great career in high school. Hats off to Augustine!
Thanks aaron, I needed that! Takedowns, you know where you can go. Lets see, I think David Karnowski of wamego should have won a state title but now that hes a national champion, who cares about a state title. Maybe Seth Lytle of Abilene, he was one of the hardest workers I knew in the wrestling room and had ne not had to face Brandon Phizenmaier in the finals his junior year he probably would have won it. And forgive me if im wrong cuase I don't think he ever won state but a guy named Destrick Lee from Junction City, he was a great guy I htink he should have won it.
Hey, I couldn't help to see that one of my high school coaches was talking about me. His name is Scott O'Hare. He him self was deserving of a state championship losing short to Jason Gager from Ellis who went on to win state. Scott is now coaching at Hillsborrow and has taken 4-6 kids to state each year that he has been their. That is pretty good also noting that when he moved their that was the first years of wrestling for the school. Scott did have some college success in wrestling. It was a great lose to Ellis when they lost him as a coach.

I am now coaching at TMP and use many of the skills in my wrestling room as was taught by Scott. Not trying to sound cocky because we have some tough years yet to come, but we took four kids to state and placed two. One kid taking 2nd place and another placed 4th. I want to thank all that pushed me in high school and made me be the succesful person I am now. To all you high school kids that read this stuff, "Take every opportunity that you can in high school and give it your best shot, because you will remember those days and you will grow and learn from those opportunities that you took."

Brandon Pfeifer
You've got to include two sets of brothers on this topic.. Shane Cruth lost in the finals to Rusty Roark and Brandon Cruth lost to Randy Roark in the finals. They were both undefeated until then and Brandon was a high school all american his senior year, just never could beat Randy. The Stockton boys, Thane and Trent Van Eaton, also were great wrestlers that never could win it.
Mikey B
kaito miller of paola was a great wrestler placed a number of times but never got himself a title
charlie fritz of great bend lost to bill brine 2 times in the state finals
Derek Wendt from Osawatomie placed all four years with a 4th,4th,2nd,5th. He beat numerous state champions throughout his years but always choked at state. He pinned Scott Polley from Bonner Springs.
Amen to that...Derek was a great wrestler and deserved to win a championship.
Heres a few garden city wrestlers from the early 90's. Tim Polson, 3 time state runner up. Steve Mesa 3 time runner up 4 time placer, Myron Ellegood- 2 time runner up 4 time placer(All American at Ft Hays I believe)
Myron Chase from Osawatomie was a great wrestler who never won a state title he was 4th, 3rd, 3rd in his career...Nicest guy every too
How about Phil Ruffin.
Now there is a stud.
Had matt biles running scared.
Mike Scott from Heights, beat Dusty Spaulding twice, lost to him in the finals his junior and senior year. He started wrestling as a freshman.
Nigel-
Destrick Lee won state his senior year in 2001.
I thought so, I wasn't sure. I knew he lost to the big guy from Manhattan my junior year, anyway thanks for the info
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