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Pretty good thread on here ealier with their story on it just gone now? What gives?


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No kidding.... It was a good thread, nothing was wrong w/ it


Alex R. Ryan
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Posted on Fri, Jan. 13, 2006

Street tough:Two of 6A's best 103-pounders are neighbors

BY DUANE FRAZIER The Wichita Eagle

In a typical neighborhood, Dante Rogers would easily be the toughest 103-pound wrestler on his street. But Rogers doesn't live on an average street. Two doors down is Nate Furches. And Furches could easily claim that he's the best 103-pound wrestler on Crawford Street in southwest Wichita.
It would be difficult to argue with either person. The neighbors are two of the best wrestlers in Kansas.
Furches, a freshman at Derby, is ranked No. 1 in Class 6A at 103 pounds, the lightest weight in Kansas high school wrestling.
Rogers, a Northwest senior, is No. 2.
And this weekend, the close friends may finally get to decide who's better. Both are competing in the Newton Tournament of Champions today and Saturday.
But meeting on the mat doesn't seem to mean much to these two right now.
They're quite happy spending time playing video games together, listening to music and hanging out at the mall.
A battle on the mat isn't so important.
"We don't really talk about it much," Furches said. "Lately, we've heard about it a lot more. But, whatever happens, we'll still be friends off the mat."
Furches and Rogers have been friends for nearly a year. The two met at a tournament after the high school season ended, and they realized they had a lot in common.
Along with being in the same weight class, both had similar interests.
Furches, whose father, Mike, often transports wrestlers to out-of-state meets, invited Rogers to a tournament in Iowa.
All Rogers needed was directions to Furches' house.
And that's when their common bond became even greater.
"When I got directions to his house, my mom said, 'That's the street we're moving to next month,' " Rogers said.
Only one house separates to them. And not much has separated them since Rogers moved in in May.
"It was really unbelievable," Mike Furches said. "Nate and Dante hang out all the time. I have full confidence that they'll always get along."
Furches and Rogers live in the South High district, but Rogers preferred to complete his final year of high school at Northwest.
Furches moved to Wichita four years ago. He attends Derby, where his mother is a teacher at the middle school.
Despite their similarities, Furches and Rogers have different wrestling backgrounds.
Furches began competing as a 5-year-old. He has traveled to tournaments across the country, and he has won six national titles.
In his first season at Derby, he is 14-1 with eight pins. His only loss is to an out-of-state wrestler.
"He's very technically sound and awfully quick," Derby coach Bill Ross said. "And the really good thing about Nate is that he really doesn't know how good he is. He still gets nervous before every match."
Rogers' wrestling career isn't nearly as long. He joined Northwest's team as a freshman after hearing an announcement at school.
After one season on the junior varsity, he was promoted to the varsity. Last season, he won the City League title.
This season, he is 15-1 with 13 pins.
"He's becoming more of a technician wrestler," Northwest coach Eric Prichard said. "But his strength and his mental toughness are still the most important parts for him."
There is a chance Furches and Rogers could meet for the first time this weekend. If it doesn't happen, the two could still meet at next month's state tournament.
And that's one meeting that seems to interest these two friends.
"I still think other people talk about it more than we do," Rogers said. "But it would be fun to meet. From what I've heard, we're both pretty fast and aggressive. It would be a good match."
Mike Furches would certainly like to see it.
"We hope they're in the state finals together," he said. "And both families can sit together and watch it.
"Of course, I'll be pulling for Nate. He's my son."


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The Swayz
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Thanks Swayz


Alex R. Ryan
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That was an excellent story, thanks to Swayz for bringing it back. Dad ought to borrow some of Nathan' hair, especially this time of year. Alas, it would just be wishful thinking...


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I looked all over the place for a Wichita Eagle for a solid copy, but up here in Chapman you get either the Salina Journal or the Topeka Cap-Journal.


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The Swayz
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I wasn't going to comment but heard some things through the grapevine while in Newton that I hope aren't true, but suspect they are. I have always tried to follow a policy that if you can't say something positive about a high school wrestler on the net it is good to keep your mouth shut. I would also recommend to various people in the stands, that if you are going to start trash talking kids it might be a good idea to look around to make sure that parents or team mates are not there. I know I personally had a difficult time with some parents this weekend that decided to talk about how the article was a waste of time and didn't deserve to be in the paper. Thankfully, I had several parents tell me about those comments as opposed to hearing them myself. Dante is a great kid, and he and Nathan did not get to meet this weekend, that don't change my respect for the young man. I am grateful that some saw something positive in the article, for those that didn’t you obviously don’t understand the concept of a “human interest” story. Thankfully, I and Nathan know, this is a small number of people who were critical, and not brave enough to post their name.

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Not a good story? How is that not a good story? New kid on the block (Furches Freshman) takes the #1 ranking from a a veteran (Rogers Senior) and they only live a house apart and are still friends... almost best friends... yet on the mat are the fiercest of competitors. How could that not be a great story?


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sounds like a good story line for a made for TV movie to me!


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Thanks a lot everyone i caught a small case of the newspaper jynx. Me and nate will get to meet at the big tournament. There will always be someone who does not like a certain topic because there kid or wrestler i like to just let them think what they want. Yeah it makes me mad but i'm used to being talked down on. A lot people think that i'm not a top class wrestler compared to nate but that doesn't change who i am as a wrestler. I appreciate the ones who do believe i am a good wrestler and shoot for me. Mike i know u stick up for me a lot and i give thanks. Me and nate did not ask to be in the paper we were chosen. They believe it was a good story so they printed it.


Dante Rogers

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