I've seen a few events and while there are still some questions about final weights, I think things are starting to settle in.

70 Contenders: Pledger (River City), Holub (Turkeyfoot)

I'm not sure who may drop in from 75 by the end of the season.

75 Favorite: Yenter (Campbell Co)

Contenders: Roth (Walton) is a the top contender, Hahn (Campbell Co), Brooks (Oldham Co)

80 Favorite: Ervin (Union)

Contenders: Moore (Campbell Co), Creech (Walton), Fallon (Woodford Co), Metcalf (Larue Co)

86 Favorite: Sheffer (Union)

Contenders: Wells (Campbell Co), Martin (Walton), Kraezig (River City), Jacobs (Elkhorn), Wise (East Oldham), Roberts (Woodford Co)

92 Favorite: Bindner (River City)

Contenders: Gray (Caldwell Co), Siddens (Moore), Holub (Turkeyfoot), Smith (Walton)

98 Favorites: Wiley (Conner)

Contenders: Oxford (Union Co), Putty (Blazer), Ward (Owensboro), Floyd (Oldham Co)

105 Favorite: Erdman (Ryle)

Contenders: Hurst (Woodford Co), Barton (Trinity), Blanton (Johnson Co), Meyer (Walton)

113 Favorite: Heidorf (North Oldham)

Contenders: Spahr (Campbell Co), Kline (Trigg Co), Emerson (OIdham Co)

121 Favorite: Duncan (North Oldham)

Contenders: Smith (Union), Sutphin (McNabb), Cooper (Summit View)

130 Favorite: Rich (Ryle)

Contenders: Haven't seen a lot of depth here yet; Valentine (Elkhorn)

140 Favorite: Frankrone (River City)

Contender: Oxford (Union), Hayden (Elkhorn)

152 Favorite: Emerson (Oldham Co) - big shout out to Max, he has been on a tear, injured eye and all

Contender: Calhoun (Rivery City), Anderson (Elkhorn)

168 Favorite: Meiman (Ryle)

Contenders: McIntosh (Oldham Co)

190 Favorite: Graziani (Campbell Co)

Contenders: Haven't seen much here yet, either

230 Young (Lafayette)

Contenders: Kearns (Conner)

Top School Teams: Campbell County, North Oldham, Elkhorn

Top Club Teams: Union County, River City, Walton Verona

Thanks Ranger, appreciate the update. If I had to bet, I'd say that Young from Lafayette may be the state MOW - he was impressive this weekend.

I love to hear about the predictions, but as far as state mow, you never know until the state tournament comes! there's a lot of kids looking top-notch all over the state and sometimes by the time state comes around there's a sleeper who turns it on during the state tournament and walks away with mow award! That's usually the hardest award to predict during the regular season. Its fun to talk about it though!

I will have to say that David Rich looked tough to beat as well as a few others. The MOW this past weekend at the Bearcat Brawl in Walton Verona came down to Rich and Young. They both pinned their way through the tourney and the total time was the tie breaker, which Young had a little less of.

I would think the level of talent in a weight class would have lot to do with MOW.

It's up to what each individual coach determines what is important in their vote for MOW. Everyone is different.

Heavy weight in Middle School isn't usually the most packed talent-wise, but I haven't seen someone with the physical maturity of Young in a while. This isn't a knock at anyone, I've seen some very good wrestling this year - but Young will likely dominate through the tournament. I understand that it may be impressive for wrestler Q to win in a stacked weight class but I personally think that if a kid is head and shoulders better than everyone else in his weight class, he should get consideration for MOW. Which also tosses in Frankrone and maybe Heidorf and Oxford into the same category.

It is always interesting to see who from West KY ends up showing up, Christian County was very impressive last year with a young team and who knows what to expect from East KY. should be a fun state tournament.

yacmed, you are right. Heavy is not usually the most packed talent wise, therefore I might have voted different. I'm sure there were several coaches that thought along the same lines are you...since Young won the MOW this weekend. I personally want to see a MOW wrestle and dominate against the next best in his weight class or post a big win over a quality opponent than being dominant over lesser talented kids.

92 looks to be really good

6 placers from last yr 86

Should be a one horse race at 92 not to put anybody down those are some good wrestlers but I do believe bindner is on a whole nother level. Now 98 seems to be pretty tough as well as 86. As far as mow goes like you said its unpredictable really.

I will never understand the MOW voteing,If a kid is expected to win,and does, coaches tend to forget about him.But if there is an upset everyone jumps on the band wagon and he useally ends up getting it.Case in point,in high school how has John Fahy never won it.(a 3-time state champ with a Div. 1 scholarship).Another case in point last year Wiley beat Bindner( and did it soundly)so everone just more or less based everything on that match.And I am not saying that match wasn't hugh but Logan Erdmen got overlooked and he dominated all his matches(even pinning Ben Barton,who beat hiedorf a couple of weeks ago).Logan just won the Raider Rumble beating a 6th ranked 10th grader so he has to be toward the top of the list if you want an early season pick.Kids like Bindner,Sheffer,Frankrone and Wiley(all 2 time state champs) will not get as many votes because coaches are expecting them to win.So I do like the way cliff keen does it, most pins in the least amount of time.Takes away coaches just voteing for their kids and kids they know or like.Just my opinion.

Actually that is how the Bearcat Brawl ended up. Most pins and the least amount of time was the tie breaker. Darn, we thought we made that up. Nope. Thunder lost again. It was a three way tie in votes, but Rich and Young had 4 pins and Young won the tie breaker. Voting is always subjective. Might be a good time for a change.

While I agree with what both of you are saying you also have to look at the competition in play. Just by looking at the current projections the winner of 86 pounds and 105 should be your frontrunners in Most Outstanding Wrestler. I think you have to look at a full body of work and who they wrestled to determine who is the most outstanding. What if Sheffer goes out there and tech's Martin, then tech's Jacob's, only to tech Wise in the semi's and pins in the finals? Since he only had one pin you can honestly tell me he does not deserve MOW?? Your a lunitic if you say so. Remember its call Most Outstanding Wrestler, NOT, Most Pins Least Amount of Time.

Actually that is how the Bearcat Brawl ended up. Most pins and the least amount of time was the tie breaker. Darn, we thought we made that up. Nope. Thunder lost again. It was a three way tie in votes, but Rich and Young had 4 pins and Young won the tie breaker. Voting is always subjective. Might be a good time for a change.

Only problem here is some kids had a bye the first round. The bye, even though no fault of their own, leaves them out of the running even if their average pin time was less than anyone else.

How can you really have a MOW State Champ, without considering his season. You can't judge it on an upset, most pins in least amount of time, or techs. IMHO, you have to consider the body of work that particular wrestler has put together throughout the entire season. I had an undefeated State Champ that wasn't even in the running in years past. Explain that! By far, that is the hardest feat to accomplish in any sport. Honestly, any Coach worth his weight, won't just scribble a kids name down at the end of the State Tournament. He will sit back and really think about who stuck out all season/career. If this things keep going the way I believe it will, it will be a 2 horse race between Binder and Frankrone. Not to ruffle any feathers, but those 2 kids are arguably the best 2 kids in middle school in the State of KY today. Just a side note, I have nothing to do with RC, as a matter of fact, they are a friendly rival. But you can't argue with what these kids have accomplished. This being said, my vote hasn't been cast, and there is a long season ahead. Good luck to all. I love the way our sport is heading!

Well it is not the most outstanding wrestler of the season it is most outstanding of the tournament

Well it is not the most outstanding wrestler of the season it is most outstanding of the tournament

Mmmmm. I disagree. If you only judge on that tournament, you are being rather narrowed minded. Let's look past the Middle School State Tournament, let's look at the High School State Tournament. Was Joe Carr, Isaac Knable, or Jacob Murton really that impressive at the State Tournament the year they won this illustrious award? Mmmmm, depends on your definition of impressive. Were they overall the most impressive wrestlers of the year, YES! smg2, you are welcome to your opinion, as is everyone, but let's be honest.....a kid that gets on a hot streak at the State Tournament is great, but does that really deserve the most illustrious award that we can offer? IMHO, No Way!

You have 4 kids going for their 3rd state championship 2 of which are consecutive .Its not mow of career it's of state tour.

DW...I couldn't disagree with you more. It's Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament. I have to say, this award has left me scratching my head many times.

"If this things keep going the way I believe it will, it will be a 2 horse race between Binder and Frankrone. Not to ruffle any feathers, but those 2 kids are arguably the best 2 kids in middle school in the State of KY today."

Who's being narrow minded? Cmon man...while these two are definately two of the top wrestlers in the state, there are several others equally as dominant. This is coming from someone who is personal friends with the dad of one of the forementioned, and he would agree with me. Are you paying attention to the entire state or just Louisville?

See how everyone already has disagreements on who it should be.If we all were in the same room and got to watch each and every match and break down the brackets most of us might come up with the same wrestler.But coaches are to busy to watch other matches but their own.Case in point, 2 yrs ago when Frankrone won his first state title,our head coach did not have him on his ballot.When I reminded him that Frankrone(a 6th grader) just beat a kid that finished 4th at 103 in high school state he changed his vote.He was just so busy with his own wrestlers he overlooked it. I did it at cost of takeing away a vote for my son.I just think doing it the way the Bearcat Brawl and Cliff Keen do,we would not have any arguments.That being said, there is so many good wrestlers doing great at the high school level(that we don't see each week) it is a crowded field for MOW and that is a good thing.

That is a great thing and I'm impressed that you would sacrifice a vote for your son to let another kid have the vote. As others have said..."it's not always about your kid."

Pinandwin, its ok that you disagree with me. I guess until we have criteria to go by, we will have to vote how we individually see things. As far as asking if I'm watching the whole State or just Louisville, I'm going by what I've seen thus far. I don't even Coach in Louisville, so I certainly don't play favorites to them. If someone else that I SEE, is worthy, they will be considered. Like I said, my vote hasn't been cast yet, and there is a lot of wrestling yet to happen. Once again, good luck to all this year.

I feel much better knowing it's ok if I disagree. Thank you for that.

It's common knowledge that coaches are supposed to be voting based on the tournament, not the entire year. If we're going by your criteria, how can it be a 2 horse race if you haven't seen all the horses? That's my point.

Glad you feel better with my approval. If it is such "common knowledge" why all the arguments. By your criteria, one of my former wrestlers should have been the hands down winner. If an undefeated season, 3 first period pins and a tech fall at the State Tournament don't win it, what does? I have no sour grapes over this, truly no big deal. All I'm saying, is you vote your way, I'll vote mine. Period.

Just one more little tibbet,Any parents or wrestlers that feell shorted by not getting an MOW,just tell the wrestler he is in very good company.Brock Ervin,Kevin Cooper,Caleb Ervin,Myron Bradbury,Brad Hitchings,Josh Johnson and John Wolsiefer.Now that is a list that anyone would be proud to be part of.I don't know for sure but I would be willing to bet there are more high school state titles on that list than all the MOW's in middle school have gotten.

Just one more little tibbet,Any parents or wrestlers that feell shorted by not getting an MOW,just tell the wrestler he is in very good company.Brock Ervin,Kevin Cooper,Caleb Ervin,Myron Bradbury,Brad Hitchings,Josh Johnson and John Wolsiefer.Now that is a list that anyone would be proud to be part of.I don't know for sure but I would be willing to bet there are more high school state titles on that list than all the MOW's in middle school have gotten.

Wow! I was unaware that those guys never won it. What a list! Hopefully nobody gets too torn up over this award. I don't see too many kids walking around saying, I hope I win MOW. They are all saying, I hope I win State.

You said "using my criteria", then you included the an undefeated season..lol!

The only one that had 3 pins and a tech fall was Corey Jacobs (pin, pin, tech, pin). I would say he would've been in the running for MOW. However, most coaches I know think the 70 division should be eliminated, because its filled with alot of kids that aren't even in middle school and or it waters down the lighter weights. Me personally, I wouldn't have argued that choice. The only other 2 that had similar performances would have been 105lbs and the150 lbs champs. As far as an undefeated season, while impressive, some of the kids who spend half or more than half their season in OH or surrounding states with one or two losses might argue that record is much more impressive. That being said, very impressive non the less.

Pinandwin, you make great points. I'm glad that this side of the message board doesn't get too tore up over disagreements like the other side. I've looked at some of your previous post and determined that you obviously care for and love this sport, as do I. You also care about sportsmanship. Thats a biggie in book as well. So, although we may disagree on this particular subject, I believe we both have the best intentions for this sport. Good luck to you and the team you represent.

If we all saw things the same way, life would be boring. Thanks and you as well.

I disagree with the fastest pin thing what if you have a 2 time state champion up aginst first year wrestlers he will pin all of them quick that is what you are saying the most outstanding wrestler should be

Here is my argument: A pin is the ultimate in wrestling. Not a tech, not a major, not beating the subjective best kid in the state...ok, maybe. You score the most points for your team, it leaves nothing to question, it is what it is and it gets you the most bonus pts in a tourney. If you are trying to make the MOW a non-subjective award, go by the most pins in the shortest amount of time because it is the ultimate win in the sport then go down the line for criteria if need be. Just saying!

So it official...MOW is now a non-subjective award Most pins in the shortest amount of time

Lol! You guys win. I would rather see most techs in the least amount of time. A pin is great, but a tech is domination.

DW. My son would agree with you. He gets yelled at by his coaches all the time because they want the tech fall instead of the pin.

Seems like lot of tech falls are kids that could be pinned in first period anyway . I'd rather see quality wins regardless of score .

I can not speak for the whole state but in NKY, our most outstanding wrestler would probably be Logan Erdmen if the post season were to start right now. I believe he won this award last year at regions but I am not sure. He seems to be having an increadable year at the high school level and I'm sure that will translate very well for him at the middle school level as well.

In regards to a comment someone made earlier, I have coached 4 state champs in the past 3 years and all but one (that one infact won MOW) had a goal of winning MOW and not just being a state champ. Granted those three boys were all very dominating throughout the season and knew they were going to win the state tournament, it was something they expected and confidence level that grew over the course of the season. One of those boys infact wanted to tech fall his way to a state title cause he believed it would win him MOW. It didnt. The other boy wanted to first period pin everyone, he did all but the semi's where he won 13-0, and he didn't. The other wanted to not get scored on, he didnt, but he still didnt win.

I dont think you can have one criteria for MOW, such as most pins least amount of time. I think it comes down to who was the best wrestler pound for pound in the state on that day! Was it someone who won the most competitive weight class? Maybe. Was it someone who pinned all of their opponents? Maybe. Was it someone who went un-scored on? Maybe as well. Thing is we wont know until the dust settles and that day is upon us. Until then we can have a great time speculating and imagining all different possibilities.

Voting is always subjective and it will always be decided by a popularity contest. However, who decides in a tie.....some sort of criteria?

Austin Sutphin (McNabb) competed in Cleveland Ohio this past weekend and placed 3rd in the 13-15yr old 119lb weight class. A very tough tournament with approximately 600 wrestlers competing.

Nice job Austin.Did he move?

No, we were just visiting family so the timing worked out perfect.

Any updates to the list?

I am very happy we still have a 70lb weight class. We have three 70lb’ers and all of them are in middle school. As a matter of fact, two of them are 7^th graders. As it is, I’m not sure that they will be at 100 lbs going into HS. I think the greatest thing about our sport is the ability to do it, no matter what size each wrestler is. I think the more difficult discussion is whether or not youth kids should be filling out a roster to make a complete team. I do think that as long as kids from middle school are competing in HS that we should continue to allow the youth kids to come up to fill in rosters. My guess is that as long as the kids are getting the experience the sport will continue to grow. That can’t be anything but a positive for our sport.

I know PinandWin said that if Jacobs had won the MOW last year, he would not have questioned it. I too thought the same thing. Perhaps we should have another award at state for the Wrestler of the Year. But, I too believe that the MOW award should be based on performance at the state tourney. Both of my sons have the goal of being a Kentucky State Champion, but both understand that the MOW is an award based on coaches voting. Therefore, I told both of them to handle business on the mat, respect the sport and more importantly to respect their opponents and their coaches as well. To me, that is the measure of not just a great wrestler, but a fine young man.

Bryce Sheffer wrestled against Dylan Gray last night and won 7-0. It was an exhibition between the Union and Caldwell High School duals. Sheffer gave up a few pounds as you can see.