The rankings within this article do not necessarily reflect those done by InterMat.
Kansas saw seven of their Class of 2011 wrestlers sign with Division I programs, leaving a perceived void in 2012. A closer look uncovers some gems that are bound to make a name for themselves on the national stage. This class carries with it 128 Fargo wins and six returning All-Americans. Headlining the class are a Fargo national champion, a Fargo finalist, and an NHSCA finalist.
Matt ReedProjected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 170
Projected College Weight Class: 165/174
Analysis: Reed is a multi-sport phenom. He was a USAW Cadet National Greco-Roman finalist in 2010 and doubled his All-American status this year at Fargo. He anchored the Junior National Dual team, going 16-1 in dual matches. He brings a 98-16 record into his senior season, coming off an undefeated 35-0 junior campaign. In his two seasons as the starting quarterback of the football team, he is 19-1 while finishing as undefeated state champions last year. Reed carries a 3.4 GPA and is very active in the school Peer Leader program to acclimate incoming freshmen to the high school experience. Look for this elite athlete on the podium at Virginia Beach and Fargo next year!
2. Austin Hood (Louisburg)
Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 126
Projected College Weight Class: 125
Analysis: Hood is a two-time Kansas state champion with a career 110-13 record. In 2010 he brought home the hardware with a USAW Cadet National folkstyle title, followed by a Fargo USAW Cadet National freestyle title. That same year he was a Fargo USAW Greco-Roman finalist. His freshman season, he also claimed a double All-American status in folkstyle and freestyle. He is an unprecedented seven-time Kansas Triple Crown winner. In all, Hood has 26 Fargo wins!
Reece Wright-ConklinProjected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 182
Projected College Weight Class: 174
Analysis: Wright-Conklin is a two-time state champion and three-time placer. He is 98-6 through three years and had a dominating 37-0 junior year with quality wins over nationally-ranked Kyle Crutchmer, Willie Schwartzkopf, and Austin Coburn, among others. Wright-Conklin carries a 3.7 GPA and has many college coaches interested. I can guarantee that this athlete will have many choices!
4. Bo Pursel (Lansing)
Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 132
Projected College Weight Class: 133
Analysis: Pursel is the favorite to be the next four-time state champion in Kansas. He has a career 109-8 record and three state titles. He beat four state champions last year, including a win over our other returning three-time champion Dylan Schumacher. He has trained under national coaches at the OTC. He was a 2011 National High School Rodeo qualifier in team roping. He has won multiple buckles, and rodeos, both locally and regionally. He won a 2010 United States Team Roping Jackpot in 2010. Bo competes in both tie-down roping and team roping. His style makes him very difficult to take down and he can scramble from anywhere to a scoring position. He has chosen to stay close to home for college and is going to attend budding NAIA program Baker University and wrestle for Coach Jimmy May.
5. Javier Vieyra (Salina South)
Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 113
Projected College Weight Class: 125
Analysis: Vieyra is a four-time Fargo All-American with 23 wins on the biggest stage. He is 92-24 in high school action and a two-time state finalist. He was also an NHSCA Junior National finalist in Virginia Beach. Adding to his hardware, Vieyra was a two-time USAW folkstyle All-American. He is a National Honor Society member and was voted class president of his senior class.
6. Connor Middleton (Olathe Northwest)
Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 152
Projected College Weight Class: 149
Analysis: Middleton's career record is 128-10. He is a three-time state placer and 2010 Kansas state champion. He is an NHSCA Junior National folkstyle All-American, as well as a Cadet and Junior National All-American. Over the last two years, he has only lost to two wrestlers and capped his junior season with a 45-1 title, losing only to four-time state champion Ryne Cokeley.
Alex BontzProjected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 152
Projected College Weight Class: 149
Analysis: My comments about Bontz over the years have usually included, “He's one of the toughest kids I know.†Bontz is a three-time state placer and 2010 state champion with a 115-5 career record. He is a 2011 NHSCA Junior National All-American.
8. Dylan Schumacher (Thomas More Prep)
Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 120
Projected College Weight Class: 125
Analysis: Schumacher has had a stellar high school career! He is a three-time state champion with a record of 104-3, losing only to fourth-ranked Bo Pursel, Tim Prescott, and last year's Arizona State recruit Dalton Miller.
9. Brandon Charbonneau (Emporia)
Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 138
Projected College Weight Class: 141
Analysis: Charbonneau is a two-time Fargo All-American with 24 Fargo wins! In 2009, he was a Cadet National runner-up. He carries a 101-19 record into his senior season and is a two-time state placer, including a 2010 state championship. Charbonneau maintains a 4.0 GPA and ranks first in his class of 328!
10. Sam Son (Chanute)
Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 170
Projected College Weight Class: 165
Analysis: Sam brings a 123-11 record into his senior season and is a favorite in 4A to stand atop the podium. He is a three-time state placer and two-time finalist. He finished a stellar junior season with a 44-1 record. He also set a school season record with 180 takedowns! To crown his junior year, Sam was a 2011 NHSCA Junior National All-American at Virginia Beach. He competes as a two time starting outside linebacker in football and a varsity catcher in baseball. He carries a 3.3 GPA and has goals of becoming a math teacher and coach in the future.
Honorable Mention:
Luke Bean (Kapaun Mt. Carmel)
Ulyesses DeShazer (Wichita Heights)
Konnor Kriss (Colby)
Eric Mason (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Justin McPhail (Liberal)
Tim Prescott (McPherson)
Aaron Seybold (Pittsburg)
T.J. Stokes (Gardner)
Colby Watters (Arkansas City)
Tommy Williams (St. Thomas Aquinas)
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