Who is the best wrestler from your state?

[MizzouFan01]

Just now, bnwtwg said:

Hill didn't run into Kyle Snyder and trade titles with him at Fargo. I'd give the nod to Cox.

Cox two Fargo finals, 1-1 record? Yes a lose to Snyder, but Hill 3 loses in high school all as a freshman with 3 undefeated seasons, 4 championships. Multiple Fargo championships and runner ups. In order its Hill-1A, Schatzman-1B and Cox-2 in my opinion. This is high school only. Overall, college and post college it’s Cox hands down. 

[The_KC_Godfather]

6 hours ago, Wrestej said:

Sammy lost to the Purler brothers (Tony and Nick) every time they wrestled in high school.  Wentzville school (Purlers) was in a different class from Francis Howell (Henson), otherwise Sammy might have never won a state championship in high school.  Reason I have both Nick and Tony listed is because they alternated who wrestled Henson through out high school.

That’s skewing things a lot.

Tony and Nick were a year older than Sammie (they graduated 88, Sammie graduated 89). Sammie’s junior year was the first year they got rid of the 98lb. weight class. He was at 103, while Nick and Tony were at 112 and 119, respectively. Even if they were in the same class at state, they were different weight classes. They wouldn’t have affected his state title in 89. So two of his three wouldn’t have been affected by the Purler’s.

I also don’t remember that Tony or Nick beat Sammie in every match, but doesn’t surprise me. Interesting (for me at least), is that Chris Lantz held down the lower weights for FH prior to Sammie and I believe whipped on the Purler’s when they were underclassman. I say interesting for me because, Chris Lantz was my freshman coach in high school

[flyingcement]

22 hours ago, MPhillips said:

I enjoy the fact that you claim all of them. Got one from England?

[PortaJohn]

34 minutes ago, flyingcement said:

Is this your ancestry pie chart from 23 & me?

[ionel]

39 minutes ago, flyingcement said:

 

4 minutes ago, PortaJohn said:

Is this your ancestry pie chart from 23 & me?

Outstanding warrants pie chart?

[flyingcement]

9 minutes ago, ionel said:

 

Outstanding warrants pie chart?

Funny enough - two the four times I have been detained were not in states of my residence.  This was a chart with time-weighted percent of my life lived in each of these places.  In many of them I moved around within a neighborhood, and just kept it to the overall metro area.  I move every 18 months or so over the course of my life so far

[ionel]

6 minutes ago, flyingcement said:

Funny enough - two the four times I have been detained were not in states of my residence.  This was a chart with time-weighted percent of my life lived in each of these places.  In many of them I moved around within a neighborhood, and just kept it to the overall metro area.  I move every 18 months or so over the course of my life so far

Interesting chart, mine would be rather boring.

[flyingcement]

Just now, ionel said:

Interesting chart, mine would be rather boring.

it's a classic depth vs breadth trade-off.  I think if you stay in one place longer, you could achieve deeper and more meaningful relationships with people.  If you go around a lot, you can see lots of different types of things and meet different types of people - at a more superficial level though.  

[ionel]

Just now, flyingcement said:

it's a classic depth vs breadth trade-off.  I think if you stay in one place longer, you could achieve deeper and more meaningful relationships with people.  If you go around a lot, you can see lots of different types of things and meet different types of people - at a more superficial level though.  

Mine would be more interesting if include all the places visited from home location.  But when you only visit for a week or two you don't get the local interaction that I'm sure you were able to achieve.

[The_KC_Godfather]

2 hours ago, MizzouFan01 said:

Jeremiah Reno Liberty was also undefeated 4x. Although is college and post college career aren’t great, TJ Hill is arguably the best MO HIGH school wrestler. It’s between him and Schatzman in my book. Hill has more Fargo medals than any MO wrestler including the most championships 

Man!  You're taking me back!  TJ Hill was unbelievable. Not sure if you were ever at the MO state championships watching him, but it was tech, tech, tech, then the flip.  So awesome to watch.

I was shocked he didn't do better in college. I know he placed as a freshman, but as dominant as he was in HS, I thought he'd be a contender right away. I always wondered if he went to Fresno State due to grades (no offense to him) and didn't get the best coaching. Guy was a stud.

But...there are three other wrestlers that I've seen in my time, in MO HS wrestling, that I think would have given him a run. Dustin Brewer (now the coach at Liberty HS in MO), Zach Bailey, and Mac Bailey. Brewer was one of the fastest wrestlers I've ever seen (and that includes Nahshon and Vito). I don't know that I've ever seen a better lightweight wrestler than Mac Bailey, to be honest.  Anyone who knows MO wrestling history, and hasn't seen it, should google "Tony James vs. Mac Bailey". I believe James was a one or two time state champ at the time, and Mac made him look like a middle school wrestler.

Edited February 21 by The_KC_Godfather

[jross]

Here are the best high school states since 1928 according to the NWHOFame's records of college All-American status. 

Disclaimer: 18% of wrestlers are not mapped to a high school state, mostly from the past decade

 

Feel free to explore and crowdsource at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vgX3g7u-2cCkdRIAlcP9VBNnmBWRrrrz/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=107168228938966863530&rtpof=true&sd=true

[Crotalus]

I remember in high school the best wrestler on our team lost in the finals to J'Den. I was so confused how a freshman beat this senior who I thought was unstoppable. In hindsight the loss makes so much more sense.

I grew up wrestling with his older brothers. J'Den was born a monster. Wrestled up in age groups and weight class in youth tournaments to try and get competition (and the parents of the bigger, older kids would complain). I don't think he ever lost a state tournament after his first year of wrestling. He also had endless energy, at least as a kid. The bouncing around he does in the mat would continue all day long.

No surprise J'Den is my pick for best from Missouri when looking at the full career, followed by Henson. High school-wise, I definitely got to see some incredible wrestlers in the late 90's- early 2000's, but TJ Hill was legendary (those Farmington kids were takedown machines). I believe he teched or pinned everyone his last 2 (or more) seasons.

[Crotalus]

Man!  You're taking me back!  TJ Hill was unbelievable. Not sure if you were ever at the MO state championships watching him, but it was tech, tech, tech, then the flip.  So awesome to watch.
I was shocked he didn't do better in college. I know he placed as a freshman, but as dominant as he was in HS, I thought he'd be a contender right away. I always wondered if he went to Fresno State due to grades (no offense to him) and didn't get the best coaching. Guy was a stud.

TJ's grades were the problem. He was only able to get academically eligible for that one season (as heard through the grapevine). His size cost him in his two losses at NCAA as he couldn't escape from bottom. I heard he weighed in ~120 lbs, and he might have been 5' with shoes on. His arm spin was ridiculous. He would have been a contender if he could have stayed eligible.

[Crotalus]

Since I currently live in Maryland, I'll add the obvious choice: Kyle Snyder.

[Antitroll2828]

11 hours ago, jross said:

Here are the best high school states since 1928 according to the NWHOFame's records of college All-American status. 

Disclaimer: 18% of wrestlers are not mapped to a high school state, mostly from the past decade

 

Feel free to explore and crowdsource at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vgX3g7u-2cCkdRIAlcP9VBNnmBWRrrrz/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=107168228938966863530&rtpof=true&sd=true

This seems to be an old list or I’m just misinterpreting it but atleast 10 ncaa champs from NJ aren’t on the list 

[OMW]

21 hours ago, Jim L said:

New Hampshire's best is probably Eric Bradley who won 2X Big Ten title ands was 2X AA (4th and 8th) for Penn State in the 2000s 

EB was also a fairly good boxer.

[KLCarnegieTech_1969]

22 hours ago, The_KC_Godfather said:

Yes, he was unbelievable. 2x NCAA champ at Clemson and won a world title. I have to put J’Den ahead of him though based on J’Den’s 3 NCAA titles and 2 world titles.

Interesting, though, that Sammie was the assistant at Mizzou when J’Den was an incoming freshman. As soon as they were able to start practicing during the summer, Sammie was working with J’Den on his top game, getting him ready to win a natty as a true freshman.

If we’re looking at whole body of work, it has to be J’Den. If just high school, we’d have to look at Schatzman and Eierman as the only undefeated 4-timers.

You helped me recall Shaon Fry from Oak Grove, Nick and Tony Purler and of course TJ Hill.  I think all went on to receive All-American honors.  Tony won it at 126 and went on to win a World Silver Medal.

 

[Fadzaev2]

21 hours ago, NewYooper said:

For South Dakota - already mentioned:

Randy Lewis

Lincoln Mac

Jim and Bill Scherr

Some high school greats:

Logan Storley 6 titles

Kirk Wallman 6 titles (his dad Gary "Smokey" also won 4 as did his brother Troy and brother Cory) not quite the Peery's from Oklahoma, but better than my family...  Gary AAed twice at Iowa State. I think one of the boys AAed at Iowa State and one at Wisconsin.

Lincoln Mac 5 titles

Some great names there!

[TylerDurden]

On 2/20/2024 at 9:03 AM, Southend said:

H.S.- Alex Tsirtsis hands down

 

college and beyond, who you mentioned. I like to add Jason Tsirtsis here because he might have been a multi NCAA champ from Indiana. 

Adding a few whose names I haven't seen for Indiana, in recognition of their HS careers:

Chad Red

Blake Mauer

Reece Humphrey 

Lance Ellis - a somewhat mythical wrestler in-state. Was 177-0 with an insane pin rate and would throw you from anywhere. Was a bit small/injured for college wrestling, but was as entertaining as they came. 

And even though he's still active, Jesse Mendez has the potential to top Indiana's best list when he's finished. 

[Fadzaev2]

16 hours ago, The_KC_Godfather said:

Man!  You're taking me back!  TJ Hill was unbelievable. Not sure if you were ever at the MO state championships watching him, but it was tech, tech, tech, then the flip.  So awesome to watch.

I was shocked he didn't do better in college. I know he placed as a freshman, but as dominant as he was in HS, I thought he'd be a contender right away. I always wondered if he went to Fresno State due to grades (no offense to him) and didn't get the best coaching. Guy was a stud.

 

Actually, TJ Hill went to Cal State Fullerton.

[Jim L]

34 minutes ago, OMW said:

EB was also a fairly good boxer.

National college champ! It seems like he would be a great MMA guy. I know he started and had a few matches but never really made it. Maybe the competition for collegiate boxing is not all that fierce. I doubt too many college even have a boxing club team.

[bnwtwg]

1 hour ago, TylerDurden said:

Adding a few whose names I haven't seen for Indiana, in recognition of their HS careers:

Chad Red

Blake Mauer

Reece Humphrey 

Lance Ellis - a somewhat mythical wrestler in-state. Was 177-0 with an insane pin rate and would throw you from anywhere. Was a bit small/injured for college wrestling, but was as entertaining as they came. 

And even though he's still active, Jesse Mendez has the potential to top Indiana's best list when he's finished. 

Indiana:

Steven Micic, world champion and NCAA finalist. Division 1's first wrestler with a TUE for viagra and Centrum 50+

Mason Parris, world bronze and NCAA champion. Jim did you know that he also was a football player and track star in high school? I'm sure you didn't before but you do now.

 

And I don't care what anyone thinks. Gable Steveson spent his kids club years with the Harvey Twisters and therefore the Illinois delegation has concluded legal precedent exists to claim him rather than northwest Indiana which is just where people go when they want to leave the city. There will be no further arbitration on the matter.

[The_KC_Godfather]

1 hour ago, Fadzaev2 said:

Actually, TJ Hill went to Cal State Fullerton.

Yep, you’re right! Thanks for the correction!

[headshuck]

Minnesota - Verne Gagne

[TNwrestling]

Here's Tennessee. 

 

1. BILL HARLOW ... St. Andrew’s ... ’62 state champ at 171 ... also won Mid South and national prep titles in ’62 … OW in all three tournaments … defeated ’61 national prep OW in ’62 finals … 5x Mid South champ … 80-1 career record … At Oklahoma State was 1966 NCAA champ … 3x All-American (2-2-1) … 3x NCAA finalist … 2x Big 8 champ … career record: 54-5-2 … 3x National AAU champ … 1x OW … World Silver medal … Tblisi Bronze medal …

 

2. JORDAN LEEN … Baylor … 4x state champ ; 2001-04 … ’04 OW … 214 career wins … national high school champ … … At Cornell, 2008 NCAA champion … 3x All-American (8-1-3) … 2x EIWA champ … 2008 EIWA Wrestler of the Year … career record, 118-29.

 

3. PHILIP SIMPSON ... MBA … 4x state champ (1998-01) … 2x OW … 176 career wins … national high school runner-up … At West Point, 3x All-American; 2003-04-05 … 2005 NCAA runner-up … West Point’s only 3x All-American … 3x EIWA champ …134 career wins

Edited February 21 by TNwrestling