What were some of the biggest surpises that placed?

Colin Garner (KCD 12) was unranked all year at 171 in both the coaches' and ranger rankings, but was top 10 in the state this year, losing only to the 4th and 7th place medalists.

Well i would have to go with the Whitley kid that was not ranked and made it to the finals

Ben winkler sk.... he beat chad scott and ben case and got 7th

Derek Nickel for sure was a huge under dog

moores 285 went 2-2 and he wasnt rank at all

Evans, not ranked at all - placing 2nd.

Shawn Johnson, fresh @ Lafayette, ranked lower than I felt he should be, and first year wrestler placing 5th at state...

matt bergamini 7th place 171 no one on St.X's team even though he would place. he wasnt even ranked that high.

Draws have a lot to do with how you finish really..

Well i would have to go with the Whitley kid that was not ranked and made it to the finals

If you are referring to Rangers rankings then he was ranked.

on Feb 11th Ranger had Evans ranked 11th

on Feb. 13th final ranking Evans was ranked 5th.

no the 160? or 171 from whitley that made it to the finals

Justin Davis from Eastern was also a first-year wrestler and was underrated all year. He placed fourth.

matt bergamini 7th place 171 no one on St.X's team even though he would place. he wasnt even ranked high that high.

big ups to matt

The 171 from Whitley County that finished 2nd was Jaron Singley. Ranger had him ranked about 13th.  He made it to the finals and on his way defeated the coaches association poll #8 Joe Collin of Central Hardin and #4 Curt Martin of Caldwell County in triple overtime before losing to #1 ranked Mason Reid of Ryle.  This kid had a 34-3 record going into the State and had only been beaten by Likoy of Dunbar, Benson of Dixie Heights and Pitcher of John Hardin.

Evans, not ranked at all - placing 2nd.

Shawn Johnson, fresh @ Lafayette, ranked lower than I felt he should be, and first year wrestler placing 5th at state...

i agree this was a strong showing by shawn johnson...what a job for a first year wrestler losing only to elliot martin 7-0 and tommy warren 5-1 i believe...going into the tournament he was ranked 15th

I've always thought we do a disservice to the wrestlers when we talk about a wrestler that can't be beat. The first time I noticed was when everyone said Jacob Murton couldn't be beat. And as long as he was around KHSAA wrestling he wasn't but I still think he could have been.

This year I recall a few weeks ago on this forum people said a certain wrestler couldn't be beat by anyone in his region and especially anyone that had as little technique as Justin Davis from Eastern HS. While Justin does have a lot to learn he ended up placing 4th in state and beat some very good wrestlers that probably all took him for granted. BIG MISTAKE

I'm glad Justin Davis and others paid no attention to the rankings or the banter on Kentucky Wrestling. I allowed the opinions and rankings to make me think he couldn't make it as far as he did. I hope our wrestlers learn from this years upsets that just because someone is ranked doesn't mean they can't be beat. To me there's no better sight than the happiness on a kids face that accomplished something they weren't supposed to be good enough to do. Bear Bryant used to always say he liked to take ordinary players and make them think they were great! That's what I would love to see here with Kentucky's high school wrestlers.

How about that performance Paul Marks put on at state, he showed alot of heart.

i agree this was a strong showing by shawn johnson...what a job for a first year wrestler losing only to elliot martin 7-0 and tommy warren 5-1 i believe...going into the tournament he was ranked 15th

yes i agree. Shawn Johnson has the potential for a first year wrestler to really make a run for a state title.

There is no wrestler out there that can't be beat. rankings don't mean anything, it's all on who wants it more. everyone can be beat, everyone has an off day, and everyone has an on day. as long as that keeps happening, anyone can be beat. heart has alot to do with wrestling, anyone with a big enough heart, and a big enough will can beat anyone they set out to beat.

I just saw why the evans lost to sullivan he let the leg slip out on the side of the guillotine

i agree tc125 anyone can be beat. As long has you keep your head in winning, and not losing you can beat anyone.

i agree tc125 anyone can be beat. As long has you keep your head in winning, and not losing you can beat anyone.

keeping your composure during a bad situation wins matches too, the thunamen courtney match is a perfect example. most people would have panicked when thunament hit that perfect shot, but courtney didn't and he ended up with the end. thats the sign of a champion.

How about that performance Paul Marks put on at state, he showed alot of heart.

Paul Marks shocked even his own team, Eastern. We have not seen a performance like that from him all year and it's good that he put it together his senior year at state. He managed to place one higher than he did last year and in his last match ever beat Zeppa, who beat him at the dragon and at regionals.

What about Arthur Ohmes from Meade County?  He went 2-2. His two losses were to the number #2 and the number #5 placers at state. Oh buy the way he's from a first year team.

What about Arthur Ohmes from Meade County?  He went 2-2. His two losses were to the number #2 and the number #5 placers at state. Oh buy the way he's from a first year team.

arthur ohmes is NOT a first year wrestler

John Thomas (Central's 140) really surprised me by making it to the finals.  He definitely peaked out at state.  I also have to say that Ben Winkler was a huge shocker.  He was ranked 25th and beat both Chad Scott and Ben Case to get 7th place. It's not like he got lucky pins on them, he beat them both by points.  I was very impressed!

I just saw why the evans lost to sullivan he let the leg slip out on the side of the guillotine

  its called a guillotine switch,Travis had it locked in and hit it to win the title, but your probrably right the three time State Champs leg just slipped and he got lucky.

   its called a guillotine switch,Travis had it locked in and hit it to win the title, but your probrably right the three time State Champs leg just slipped and he got lucky.

No one said anything about luck.  I think most of us would agree that Evans went for the pin rather than riding it out.  And as he was trying to squeeze the most out of the guillotine he lost control of the leg.  If he had been pinned on the reversal I think some could argue that he had some luck to catch Evans on his back.  But when Evans bellied out and Sullivan forced him over with the wing (and I mean forced) he won the title.

Here is my list of kids that really stepped it up.  I won't call it a surprise, because I'm sure if you asked their coach they all had it in them.

103

Shawn Johnson - very bright future ahead for him and the team

112

DC Evans - not a big shock, but I think there were a lot of doubters; not anymore

Terence Demery - not a surprise in the finish, but he really came out of nowhere this season; another very bright future

119

none

125

Paul Marks - shocked a lot of people by beating Lewis and kept it up all weekend

130

Darwin Perez - really stepped it up to another level the last 2 weeks

135

Johnivon Oggs - seemed to slump mid-season

Luke Ervin - got better and better as the season progressed

140

Ben Winkler - biggest surprise of the meet

145

Jamie Pile - young guy, could be Nelson's first real shot at a state title?

152

none

160

Dakota Choate - not surprised by the finish, but impressed by the way he handled the spotlight.

171

Jaron Singley - expected to be close to a medal, but really showed some heart to get to the finals

Matt Bergamini - second biggest surprise of the tournament

189

Will Hogben - young guy should only get better wrestling with Reid next season

215

Jacob Bradford - same as Hogben

285

none

Ranger,

Nickel wasn't a surprise to you?  I think you had him picked to finish sixth, the same as you had Perez. 

Ranger,

Nickel wasn't a surprise to you?  I think you had him picked to finish sixth, the same as you had Perez. 

Yes, but Nickel had shown he could compete with anyone at 215.  I just wasn't sure he would handle the pressure of the state tournament, but he handled it like he had been under the lights before.  Perez on the other hand seemed to me to be one step behind the top 4 or 5 at 130.

shawn johnson wasnt a surprise to me, i told you guys he would place.

I think the Bear also used to say he liked to take great players and make them feel ordinary,, in the same sentence,,,,,,,,,

Ben Winkler was the biggest surprise by the people, not by me, he was underrated all year!

steven bodnbender was ranked 2nd and i dont think he even made it t saturday

Since you are on, what happened to him?

Yes, but Nickel had shown he could compete with anyone at 215.  I just wasn't sure he would handle the pressure of the state tournament, but he handled it like he had been under the lights before.  Perez on the other hand seemed to me to be one step behind the top 4 or 5 at 130.

Derek Nickel lives to compete under the bright lights.

I think the Bear also used to say he liked to take great players and make them feel ordinary,, in the same sentence,,,,,,,,,

Ben Winkler was the biggest surprise by the people, not by me, he was underrated all year!

I was sitting with SK most of the time and I can tell you one thing, Ben Winkler is one of the most humble, modest, appreciative kids i've seen step on the mat. Especially one that could be considered one of the "higher level" wrestlers. He just couldn't wipe that smile off his face after his match with Case. From what he said, I understand that he was and alternate the previous 2 years? What an accomplishment. Good job Ben!

Go Ben Winkler!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who gave the only thumbs-up in the place photos?

Go Ben Winkler!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who gave the only thumbs-up in the place photos?

Yea he sure is a goofy little ginger. lol. You know i'm just jokin' Ben. I would never call you by your doragatory spice name unless I thought you could handle it. :-D