Kansas Wrestling
Posted By: usawks1 Report from Ames! - 06/17/05 02:31 AM
I'm here in Ames, Iowa attending a Silver Coaches College along with 6 other coaches from Kansas. For those procrastinators out there, you are really missing out, we are having a great time and learning a lot of great technique!

Tonight I saw Eric Akin in the room ... and YES, he will be vying for a spot on the World Team. Also, Zach Roberson was there and will be competing.

More later!
Posted By: Curtis Chenoweth Re: Report from Ames! - 06/17/05 02:34 AM
Congrats on the 666. That is truly an amazing accomplishment. You shouldn't post on this one anymore just so you can show this to everyone. If you want to post on this one you should start a new post. This is awesome.
Posted By: Aaron Sweazy Re: Report from Ames! - 06/17/05 02:36 AM
6 coaches and the 666!?! Head spinning yet? I heard from Steph Akin a while ago and she said that Eric is only a pound over and is feeling the best he has being that close on weight. Hopefully he can get it done...yell loud for our Kansas guys Randy, and while your at it yell for Mo for me!
Posted By: Mike Furches Re: Report from Ames! - 06/17/05 04:02 AM
Tell all hey from this end, wish I was there.
Posted By: Aaron Sweazy Re: Report from Ames! - 06/17/05 04:39 AM
Who are the 6 other coaches with you Randy?
Posted By: usawks1 Re: Report from Ames! - 06/17/05 12:20 PM
Mark Stovall, Bobby Leer, Patrick Naughton, Michael Duncan, Bobby McFarland, and Ed Crouse.
Posted By: Aaron Sweazy Re: Report from Ames! - 06/17/05 04:50 PM
Ok so I actually know 2 of you guys. Heard of 1 other LOL.
Posted By: Nedly Re: Report from Ames! - 06/17/05 11:48 PM
Aaron:

Ed Crouse is the High School coach in Atchison .

Ned
Posted By: usawks1 Re: Report from Ames! - 06/18/05 01:42 AM
This evening after weigh-ins I got the privelage of driving Eric Akin as his entourage to the hydration facility.

And in a coup for the Swayz, I got to drive former Colby CC star Daniel Cormier and UCO star Mo Lawal back to the hotel! Daniel thought it was "cool" that I was from Kansas and when I told Mo that Aaron Sweazy said hey ... Mo responded, "the Swayz, he's my boy!" Further Mo verifies that the Swayz use to be his workout partner!! And Swayz, he says to email him!!!
Posted By: Aaron Sweazy Re: Report from Ames! - 06/18/05 09:39 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by usawks1:
This evening after weigh-ins I got the privelage of driving Eric Akin as his entourage to the hydration facility.

And in a coup for the Swayz, I got to drive former Colby CC star Daniel Cormier and UCO star Mo Lawal back to the hotel! Daniel thought it was "cool" that I was from Kansas and when I told Mo that Aaron Sweazy said hey ... Mo responded, "the Swayz, he's my boy!" Further Mo verifies that the Swayz use to be his workout partner!! And Swayz, he says to email him!!!
I do email him...he changes his email like some people change underwear. I will try to give him a call later on in the day tommorrow or something. See if you can convince some big guys to do that hwt camp while your there.
Posted By: usawks1 Re: Report from Ames! - 06/18/05 05:50 PM
Today, I did see the Edison's walk in. I haven't got to talk to them yet but they're here!
Posted By: Aaron Sweazy Re: Report from Ames! - 06/18/05 06:41 PM
The entire Edison bunch made it up? WOW!
Posted By: usawks1 Re: Report from Ames! - 06/18/05 07:51 PM
Yep, the whole crew. This is actually maybe the fourth of fifth time they've made the trip.
Posted By: Aaron Sweazy Re: Report from Ames! - 06/18/05 08:00 PM
Wow power to them. So Randy who are your picks in the mini tournament finals at each weight based off what you've seen today?
Posted By: Mike Furches Re: Report from Ames! - 06/18/05 08:45 PM
Listen live to the event, on air right now.

http://www.takedownradio.com/audio/tdr_livestream.asx
Posted By: Mike Furches Re: Report from Ames! - 06/18/05 09:25 PM
Akin wins the last match and is in the finals against Henson wins fairly easily in the finals.
Posted By: usawks1 Re: Report from Ames! - 06/19/05 02:43 AM
Just back from the tourney ... after a somewhat brief stop for a little refreshment ... and all I can say is WOW, the old man did it! I seem to recall the vision of Rocky, saying "yo Adrian, I can't believe I done it!" But believe it you should!! Akin, essentially walked through the mini-tournament to the finals. There, it will be a rematch of the 2000 Olympic Team Trials, with Akin facing Henson.

On a positive note, Roberson did end up taking third in the tourney.

I can't wait till tomorrow! I am predicting it will go three matches!
Posted By: CoachEd Re: Report from Ames! - 06/19/05 02:45 AM
Akin wrestled Nick Simmons and won in the finals of the challenge tourney. He looks excellent! Can't wait for tomorrow. Also, tell Mini Me that we saw T.C. at dinner and told him we know little Furches. He looked great as well. We had a nice talk with him. More of you should take the time to come to the trials. It is awesome.

Ms. Jenni
Posted By: usawks1 Re: Report from Ames! - 06/19/05 02:58 AM
Second to what Ms. Jenni says! True wrestling fans ought to be here. It is only 4 or 5 hours away, tomorrows session starts at 10 am, enough time for a few of you to make the trip!!!

Not that I am challenging you guys ... heck, I guess I am. Get your hind ends up here!!!!!
Posted By: Aaron Sweazy Re: Report from Ames! - 06/19/05 03:00 AM
So if Sammie Henson is "the bull"...is Eric Akin "the matador?"
Posted By: Mike Furches Re: Report from Ames! - 06/19/05 03:29 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by CoachEd:
Akin wrestled Nick Simmons and won in the finals of the challenge tourney. He looks excellent! Can't wait for tomorrow. Also, tell Mini Me that we saw T.C. at dinner and told him we know little Furches. He looked great as well. We had a nice talk with him. More of you should take the time to come to the trials. It is awesome.

Ms. Jenni
Man oh man. Tell T.C. great job and that me and Nate are yelling for him. Ought to get all of the guys like Eric, TC and others together before the matches and have a little prayer for Tylers memory.
Posted By: Isenberg133 Re: Report from Ames! - 06/20/05 12:00 AM
Anyone know how eric has done against henson?
Posted By: RichardDSalyer Re: Report from Ames! - 06/20/05 12:09 AM
55 kg/121 lbs. Freestyle

FIRST MATCH OF BEST OF THREE SERIES
55 kg/121 lbs. Freestyle
Sammie Henson, St. Louis, Mo. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Eric Akin, Gardner, Kan. (Cyclone WC), 1-0, 6-0
1st period
Henson, one point on Akin step-out, 1:48 left, 1-0 Henson

2nd period
Henson, one point low single takedown, 1:14 left, 1-0 Henson
Henson, one-point ankle lace turn, 0:59 left, 2-0 Henson
Henson, two point ankle lace turn, 0:55 left, 4-0 Henson
Henson, two point ankle lace turn, 0:46 left, 6-0 Henson (tech fall for period)

SECOND MATCH OF BEST OF THREE SERIES
Sammie Henson, St. Louis, Mo. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Eric Akin, Gardner, Kan. (Cyclone WC), 4-0, 4-1
1st period
Henson, single leg takedown, 1:12 left, Henson 1-0
Henson, two point tilt and one point hold, 1:04 left, Henson, 4-0

2nd period
Akin, one-point low single takedown, 1:39 left, Akin, 1-0
Henson, one point spin behind takedown, 0:59 left, 1-1
Henson, two-point tilt and one-point hold, 0:50 left, 4-1 Henson

HENSON WINS SERIES, TWO MATCHES TO NONE
Posted By: Chase Re: Report from Ames! - 06/20/05 03:41 AM
Man he is always soo close...
Posted By: Aaron Sweazy Re: Report from Ames! - 06/20/05 04:16 AM
I heard from Eric tonight and in his usual humble manner gave credit to Sammie Henson in being the better man today. He said Sammie has to be the strongest guy that he's wrestled and he just had a hard time matching the strength.

Overall he seemed like he was pretty pleased due to the fact his whole family went up and saw him and that he wound up as runner up. Not to shabby especially when a lot of people weren't giving him credit.
Posted By: Chief Renegade Re: Report from Ames! - 06/20/05 01:13 PM
I would say that the guy has earned the right to be fresh. Makes sense to me.
Posted By: usawks1 Re: Report from Ames! - 06/21/05 12:35 AM
Well, I arrived back in Kansas at 2:00 pm and had some honey do's to tend to! Ames was great! The Silver Coaches College was great! The Kansas wrestlers performed great!

Personally, I am so proud of Eric! He battled like a warrior. Clearly was the dominant man on Saturday and Sammie was the man on Sunday. A bit of a sidenote ... in Eric's first match with Sammie he suffered a dislocated finger. He took a few seconds and had the doctor reduce it and returned to action. In true Akin style, he never complained about this or tried to make any excuses. Henson beat Akin and the amount of respect each showed the other (they are both 34) was truly heart-warming!
Posted By: Mike Furches Re: Report from Ames! - 06/21/05 01:45 AM
Eric Akin is a class act! He wouldn't complain and I found out this evening the only time he ever quit or forfeited out of a tournament was against Zach Roberson. Eric had already secured a spot at the Nationals and wanted to give Zach an opportunity so he could also experience it. Eric Akin won't complain, because he has learned something from wrestling. Know what he was doing today? Back on the job working like a regular guy.
Posted By: steph Re: Report from Ames! - 06/21/05 01:54 PM
Hi !

I just wanted to say a huge "Thanks" to you guys for all your support this weekend, and all the other "weekends" Eric has wrestled! The Kansas Wrestling Community is just awesome. You all don't even know how much your support means to me, Eric and our children. We had a good time in Ames watching Eric, our daughters thought it was cool when some kids wanted Eric's autograph I also want to say "thank you" again to Neil Erisman for making the trip w/Eric, and taking good care of the "old" guy this weekend.


I was thinking the other day about Eric's "age", I honestly believe that wrestling has kept him "young", he's still "got it" and we are so proud of him.... and like Mike mentioned, he was back at work Monday morning, battle wounds and all.

thanks again!
steph akin
Posted By: usawks1 Re: Report from Ames! - 06/21/05 02:52 PM
... and I was already to get my tickets for Budapest! Like I've said, I can't tell you how truly inspirational Eric's efforts were.

And, Neil's efforts too! It was kind of a "vu ja de" experience hearing Neil coaching from the corner.

And, Zach!

I spent the entire weekend with a smile on my face and a tear in my eye watching the Kansas guys compete!!!
Posted By: Scott Fausset Re: Report from Ames! - 06/22/05 03:26 AM
Eric will always be the best in my (and Garret's) book!
Posted By: Aaron Sweazy Re: Report from Ames! - 06/22/05 05:42 AM
Now it's time for an Olympic run in 2008!
Posted By: cyclops Re: Report from Ames! - 06/22/05 02:55 PM
Eric has always been a great inspriration, and mentor to all our Kansas kids. Zach has always looked up to Eric, and has a great relationship with Eric and his family. Eric is a true proffesional in all ways, and as we know, all of Kansas looking up to him, and all his wrestling knowledge and abilities. Eric has always been what I call a blue collar wrestler, working regular jobs just like a great deal of us, and still having a close and loving family. Steph and the kids can be very proud of Eric, like everyone here in Kansas is proud of Eric. Go Kansas Wrestling, Fantastic job Eric, see you at the next event. Tim, Zach & Mel
Posted By: TCarmona Re: Report from Ames! - 06/22/05 05:55 PM
Bobby Leer?!?! Good gravy I didn't know he was around wrestling any more. Who does he coach for. Wasn't he from Kapun High School
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