What were the best matches at 321a 5a and 6a?
In 4a the best match was hands down the rematch between Jesse Strawn and Chris Sutton-Kearns. Strawn won again, but I really feel that Chris out wrestled him. There was what will be a contraversial call made a couple of times, but all the calls were called the way they should have been. Definitely the best match I've watched in a long time. Congrats to both wrestlers.
deffinately the 4A state best match was 189lbs... i do believe everyone in the stands were on their feet at the end of 3rd period when refs were determing or not sutton-kearn had in deed fact got 2 points to tie it..
That was pretty exciting, and when it sounded like the entire crowd was chanting for the 2 for takedown at the end of regulation. Awesome match and an incredible atmosphere.
Jesse Strawn and Chris Sutton-Kearns
I agree! Best match of the tournament.
Not saying this is the best match, but another good one was Kyle Allen vs Scott Elliot
Altman V Perez
Ely V Shumate
Furches V Rogers
The match starts and Sutton-Kerns scores a quick take-down. Strawn fights back and soon regains the led. Points start to accumulate but Sutton-Kerns won't go away. He keeps coming through at the right time to keep the match close. Strawn maintains a 1 to 2 point led most of the way through the match. Both guys are just hitting beautiful moves. People are standing mid aisle watching. Grandma's who have come only to watch their grandson's receive a medal are on their feet. Mid way through the third Strawn is warned for passivity. With just seconds to go in the 3rd and Strawn leading by 2 Kerns lunges for a headlock. There is a scramble and Sutton-Kerns comes out on top. But had time run out? Had Strawn countered well enough for it not to be a take down? Was anyone watching the clock? The ref's confer and give Kerns 2 to tie it. Overtime. They circle. They tie up. Strawn is trying to force the action. He is moving forward and trying to engage Sutton-Kerns. Sutton-Kerms (perhaps aware that he scored first and would get down in overtime, perhaps waiting for the right time to attack, perhaps just trying to figure out his best options) is cautious. Strawn pushes again and Kern allows himself to be pushed off the mat (or was Kerns backing up and Strawn following?) BOOM!!! The ref calls fleeing the mat and gives Strawn 1 pt for the win. Then in probably the classiest move all season - Kerns shakes hands, shakes the refs hands, hugs his opponent, and walks off the mat. He forgot to remove his leg band so at the corner he comes back to center takes off the band and walks to the middle of the mat and gently lays it down.
This match and Sutton-Kerns composure when it was done should do more for hooking him up with a college program than anything he had done before. College coaches -- don't let this guy slip by you.
And Strawn - what a great guy - no show boating -simply returns the congratulations and hugs and walks off the mat.
Wow, can we get a pay per view of these two going at it. It sounds like from Regionals and here that these two have set an example for all to observe.
One of the matches which was a combination of both "gutsy performance" and "best match" was the 215 final between Racette and Foster. Just a few seconds into the match, both wrestlers went down and they landed with Racette's ankle pinned awkwardly underneath him. He was obviously in pain but kept going. He basically wrestled with only one leg the entire match because he could not push off with the injured one or support any weight effectively. The match ended with a score of 8-6 with Foster winning. Several people, including a wrestler who battled Foster the day before and Racette twice during the year, said Racette is the better wrestler and would have won if not for the injury. For him to keep the match that close with that type of injury is remarkable. He's only a Soph and Foster is a Junior. They should meet again next year.
Originally posted by NWK Lifer:
One of the matches which was a combination of both "gutsy performance" and "best match" was the 215 final between Racette and Foster. Just a few seconds into the match, both wrestlers went down and they landed with Racette's ankle pinned awkwardly underneath him. He was obviously in pain but kept going. He basically wrestled with only one leg the entire match because he could not push off with the injured one or support any weight effectively. The match ended with a score of 8-6 with Foster winning. Several people, including a wrestler who battled Foster the day before and Racette twice during the year, said Racette is the better wrestler and would have won if not for the injury. For him to keep the match that close with that type of injury is remarkable. He's only a Soph and Foster is a Junior. They should meet again next year.
Regarding "one-legged wrestlers", did anybody happen to watch the 171 pounder from St. Thomas Aquinas who wrestled from his knee, for the duration of the tournament, because of a broken leg? He is an impressive kid who displayed what competitiveness is all about.
couple of notes-- Strawn and Sutton-Kern are the sterling example of the universal admiration that arises from sportsmanship as it is supposed to occur. Strawn has been on the losing end before in that situation, and is in a unique position to have experienced less gracious behavior. That to me is what makes his maturity all the more remarkable. I wonder about the 321A match between Nash Burtin and Freshman Sensation Zach Bainter-- was the posted score of 16-15 correct? if it was, 31 points in a state finals match must have really been something to watch.
both 6 and 5a 119 finals were exciting.
Moses and Hurd was good
Naccarato and Sparks was good.
Payne and Bruce was good.
Hurla and Grape was good.
Foster wrestled with a fractured ankle
I enjoyed in 4A the following...
Judd Schroeder vs. Scott Elliot- 152 Semis
Blake Fisher vs. Tanner Dawson- 125 Semis
Cole Garcia vs. Lorenzo Mundy- 140 Championship
Tait Weatherbee vs. CJ Napier- 130 Semis
But my two Favorite matches were..
145 Championship: AJ Heckel vs. Taylor Finely
189 Championship: Chris Sutton Kearn vs. Jesse Strawn
I like watching Trent Cox from Andale wrestle, He is an amazing wrestler.. and I have a feeling he could be a 4Xer!
I'm not saying Racette's injury caused him to win or lose his match w/Foster (no one really knows). I do know Foster had a fracture in his ankle from a week or 2 before regionals. To go through the wrestlers he did, and still come out on top, I say kudos to you Foster. Hopefully we'll see these two great young wrestlers meet up again, if we're lucky.
The semis match between Nathan Thibault, Maize and
Taylor Sibala, Blue Valley Northwest was a very
close and exciting match. The final score was 14/13 Thibault. Thibault went on to the finals to Tech and then pin RJ Johnson. Sibala went on to win 3rd.
I believe that the Bainter-Norton and Burtin-Eureaka was an awesome match to watch..It looked like Bainter really showed up to wrestle in the 3 period..scoring several takedowns
I have to agree that the finals match at 189 was the best natch between 189 pounders that I have ever seen. It's a shame that it ended by an officials decision. Both wrestlers showed trememdous class at the end. I also agree that the final at 145 was outstanding. Kansas could be well represented at Nationals this year if all of the kids decide to go.
Question? Does anyone know how that kid that was injured in the finals at 103 is doing? That had to be one of the most scary situations that I have witnessed on a mat.
321a Zach Bainter and Nash Burtin
i think the best match was 6a rodgers vs furches but i think those two should have been in the finals. it was stupid to put them on the same side of the bracket.they have both beat the second place guy and they have the best records.
strawn and sutton-kearn was by far the best match of the tournament
The Score between Zac Bainter-Norton Freshman and Nash Burtin-Eureka Senior in the state finals was 15-16. Burtin led 12-5 after 2 periods, scoring 9 points on three seperate tilts. But Bainter stormed back in the final period scoring 5 takedowns to make it interesting. Great experience for my little freshman. Never, Never, Never, give up.
I have to agree with you Bill. I was in Hays and saw that match. That had to be the match of the tournament.
I think the finals match in 3-2-1A 125lbs was pretty exciting, especially since Bechtel wasn't even a thought, for some, to be in the finals. Bechtel only lost by 1 point(final score 9-8), it was apparent he showed up to wrestle.
The best matches in 4A were as follows:
Kearn vs Strawn (9-10)
Allen vs Elliot (7-9)
Schroeder vs Elliot (1-5)
The best team, without a doubt was Andale this year. It seemed that Abilene, Clay Center, Colby and Goodland were a little down that first day.
The best match at 4A was the 189 pound match. Too bad it was ruined by the most pathetic jobs of officiating that I have ever seen. Take that guy's whistle and never let him work again!!
I would like to commend both Sutton-Kearn and Strawn. That was the best finals match I have ever seen. Very entertaining to say the least. I don't think I have ever seen a crowd as into a match as everyone was. Very hard to believe that stalling was ever called in a match like that.
There were several good scrambles in the 145 4A match. Were not alot of points scored but great action. Too bad that he got booed after match.
Yes the score was 16-15. Burtin cheap-tilted Bainter 3 times in the second period. In the third period Bainter had about 5 take downs but couldn't get the lead. It was a very exciting match.
Cheap-tilted? Last I knew those were called MONEY-TIPS!!
By the way, in Eureka's other finals match, if Bechtel hadn't made the mistake of trying to turn a cradle when your opponent has his arm out and behind your back... he wins. Hibles ought to make that the first thing he shows next year.
i think one of the best maches at 6a 125 was the semis between ely and shumate. a awesome match no giving up in either