Who was the best state champion in ky and who was the worst/luckiest?

Best one I personally witnessed was Knable but I think Joe Carr Jr would be the best based off his performance nationally and in college. Worst - there is a long list of 103's or 112's and Hwt's who come to mind as far as wrestling skill is concerned. But I remember 2001 the 152 from St X that had like 15 losses on the year and won it. I think his name was Will Steinbach or something like that. At the time I thought he was the least talented guy that had won it all.

103s and 112s are usually very talented strange they would be considered worst

best state champ well people can say what they want to, but since Austin myers started his freshman yr. here i would say hes the best state champ. At the 2012 state tournament not only was he the only freshman in the finals, but everybody that placed in 220 was a senior. He also beat a returning state champ who won state by a pin. There no argument

Trying to figure out who the best state champions are is like asking who were the best wrestlers in KY.

Being an old fart I still look back at Jerod Trice from Hop-town and think he was the best wrestler I have ever seen. The kid could/would hit any move that coach Ploesser told him to hit and just dismantaled everyone he wrestled. To bad he didn't finish his career.

Hop-town had some dominating wrestlers in the 80s and 90s. Livington and Miguel Merritt were beasts, Willie Ennels, Hank Pinner. All just scary to wrestle.

I would agree best ever in ky would have to go to Willie ennels. He would dismantle and this is my opinion any state champ any year in his respective weight class. And possible alot of additional weight classes. And just to say the has been other wrestlers to win state as a freshman. Even in 8th grade and there will prolly be some that win in 7 th grade down the road. That don't make ya the best knable and Carr where 4 timers and they ar not my top pick carr is right up there but not my number one.

I've got to agree about Willie from Hoptown. From what I have been told he was an absolute monster.

The worst? I personally wouldnt care, they were the best in their class that weekend. Thats all that should matter, some kids get better towards the end of a season, some stay the same, and some even seem to lose some intensity. Let's congratulate our champions, not look for the worst in them.

The only reason I don't give it to Ennels is because in tight situations he would always take the "Time out" breather. Using his knee as the reason for the injury time out. On several occations I saw the match was close in the 3rd period. He would take his 2 minute (They use to give you 2 minutes) time out, then come out and dominate agian.

GOO who is the best Hoptown wrestler in your opinion?

The only reason I don't give it to Ennels is because in tight situations he would always take the "Time out" breather. Using his knee as the reason for the injury time out. On several occations I saw the match was close in the 3rd period. He would take his 2 minute (They use to give you 2 minutes) time out, then come out and dominate agian.

I have no idea who the best ever in ky is I do have an idea of who it will be but I can say with about 99 .99% accuracy that you will not see a 7th grader win 220 at state or an 8th grader any time soon if at all .I did not know all the placers at 220 were seniors except Austin and I do not know if they all were.

I never saw the older Reuchell wrestle In HS but judging from his college performance he would have to have been something special in High School.

I saw some kids dominate classes at state like I never thought possible this year . I'm not sure if that means there is great separation in talent levels or that the top kids are just excellent this year in ky there are a lot of good lighter weights but seeing Fahy Canter Stephen Cooper Polly Hamilton Hitchings the Jones bros and Troxcell and some of the others their were plenty of talented middleweights as well .I just think the better kids got separated and had very good days at state .Brock looked great and won a tough class he looked very impressive to me probably the funnest for me to watch since I had never seen him ,other than my own boys of course for me .

Don't like the worst part of this thread state champs are state champs no kid needs blasted for taking advantage of his class call or situation I'm sure every single champ did his work at some point.

J Jaggers lost a dozen or so matches enroute to his second national title. Guess what? He won when it mattered most. Same goes for the "less accomplished" state champs in HS.

He was 28-7 as a defending national champ.

Trying to figure out who the best state champions are is like asking who were the best wrestlers in KY.

Being an old fart I still look back at Jerod Trice from Hop-town and think he was the best wrestler I have ever seen. The kid could/would hit any move that coach Ploesser told him to hit and just dismantaled everyone he wrestled. To bad he didn't finish his career.

Hop-town had some dominating wrestlers in the 80s and 90s. Livington and Miguel Merritt were beasts, Willie Ennels, Hank Pinner. All just scary to wrestle.

I will have to agree that Trice was one of the best wrestlers to step on the mat in KY. For example, when was the last time that any of the state qualifiers or state champs had the mat cleared for them by their peers so that they could warm-up/ work out with Ken Chertow during the intermission at the state tournament at Atherton in the 90's. Man this was an incredible moment!! I recall Chertow praising him on his Greco -Roman skills and offering him an opportunity to wrestle in college and keep in mind that he was able to put on such a performance after taking some time off due to personal reason. Not only was Trice a hell of a wrestler he was also a outstanding coach as well! We all know the story and I'm glad to see that the wrestling community still remember great wresting from the 90's.

Ennels was amazing to watch on the mat and a definite beast. The Western Kentucky District was stacked around those weights in 1992. Ennels won State at 160 with Corley from Fort Campbell finishing 2nd (if I remember correctly). Joey Roby from Caldwell County won state at 152 that year as well.

yoU know what was amazing about the hoptown group is they all had the same blood line, poindexters herrings, merritts, But I have to give Trice, the cousin the edge, If he doesnt get shot in the stomach, he probably is the best all time. I saw him destory an indiana state runner up like he was nothing.

I would like to see a fat man, Austin Meyers match, at any grade level

I hope I misread your post , and I did . Lol sorry big Ed

I would have liked to have seen what Austin could have done in KY last yr he wrestled everywhere from 146 to 209 weighing close to 190 he had 49 pins all before the third I think and had a 10 1 or 10 0 win in the finals against another wrestler who pinned out for the year and he also beat the third place finisher at districts who had pinned out till that point , he could have wrestled 195 but probably would have went 171 or whatever the heck it was last yr ,

Either way if you see a 7th grader or 8 th grader win an upper weight something is probably wrong with your state Austin was an older 8th grader last yr and I think the worst he would hav done against the same kid he wrestled wrestled this year is third he would have placed for sure at 220 he was smaller and weaker but probably sharper , I actually think he would have pulled it off and won . And I have heard of Livingston Merritt you threw me on the fat man I apologize .

Wow. Fatman is the nickname of one of the Hoptown wrestlers in the 90's. I actually forget which one but BigD, is not insulting Austin.

If you read the sentance it says a FATMAN "comma" Austin Meyers match.

Much like you would say a Fuzzy, Giggles match.

HHH.

As I mentioned Trice in my opinion is the best wrestler I have ever seen and probably the best I will ever see.

However comparing older wrestlers to new wrestlers is hard. Much like comparing Babe Ruth (Greatest of all time baseball player) to Willie Mays. Different situations, eras, rules, and training.

Remember back in the day, there was no optional start, or starting in neutral position after the 1st period. You had to choose top or bottom. You were forced to wrestle on the mat. not many let em up, take em down wrestlers. Except Troy Cole (Conner), who between him and Curt Zinga (Campbell) the best two I have seen in NKY.

Since when is a state champ a bad thing. I dont think we should be looking at the worst state champ

GOO- Livingston Merritt was AKA "Fatman". I think he placed at state as an 8th grader as well. Correct me if I am wrong. Maybe around 145 or so. I can remember watching Trice, Ennels, and all the Merrritts wrestle. Very talented group, but of course I might be a little west Kentucky biased.

What the heck is up Fussy Giggles , never heard of him and the CC kids call Austin Bo Bo and there is a Fatman in the past I assume P Hamilton is Fussy Giggles , correct,I guess the silly nicknames are the best imagine how many EARS are out there .

Just a personal observation and totally off topic but most kids and people judge a wrestler by his ears I look at their nose , my oldest son would shoot as a youth wrestler and get cross faced to hell and back and never never let go I know it smashed the cartilage in his nose giving him that boxer / old school football player nose I know a ki from SK that has that same look as well .funny seeing all the older coaches look at a little kids ears when dad start telling wrestling tales about them , little kids hear it and choose never to wear headgear again till puberty and girls are like Wth is up with your ears then it's to late .

I wasn't sure which Merritt was "Fatman"

As for Livingston Merritts credentials.

1992, 7th grade 140 5th

1993 8th grade 152 4th

1994 9th grade 189 3rd

1995 10th grade 215 1st

1996 11th grade 215 1st

1997 12th grade Hwt 1st

Nice ,

Now you see why BigD would like to see a "Fatman" Vs Austin Meyers match any age.

Austin Myers . Yes , I still take Austin he has had the better schedule came up on the better era and had better coaches , and I don't even know who coached Merritt , two of Austin's former Prodigy coaches just made the O team Ware and Hazewinkel , and his main jr high coaches Root and Lowe were better coaches than the first two mentioned as far as working with the kids .

I don't think people understand yet just how good Austin is and how much Stephen is slacking . But they will no way Austin should even be wrestling 220 yet and he is hanging very well , I would not want to wrestle him by his jr year no matter who I was saw him throw a 315 lb wrestler straight over his back last night at Walton and Cameron beat him every go but they were goes for sure he's a great coach by the way,Walton has the tools to be great . I doubt any coach in the state will hang with him in two yrs let alone any wrestler I know he's my son and I have already blew my horn but he's a beast And I doubt anyone ever in Ky Will become as dominant as he will become of not already is .

I coach Hoptown now, graduated in 1998, was on the 96 team that came up short and placed 2nd. I must say ( as I always do ) there was probably only a handful of people in the nation that couldve beat Miguel Merritt his senior year.He was dominant and embarrassed some really good kids. Didnt wrestle in college, played football 2 yrs out west and 2 years starting LB for Alabama. Fatman I believe is 1 of only 2 wrestlers to place 6 times. Austin reminds me alot of him with his athletic ability. He moved like a 112 pounder. My assistant Hank Pinner was nasty on his feet and I owe alot to him for taking me under his wing in High school.Still can hit a duck with an inch of daylight. Willie was nasty and still is to this day. He still can roll with anyone. Never got to see JT wrestle but his legend is bigger than life haha. You are right GOO, I hear Trice was a sponge for knowledge and had nasty throws. I talk to Ploesser 2 or 3 times every year. I swear I could sit on his couch, and listen to his stories for hours. I cant pick a favorite but watching those guys wrestle was truly a blessing and would still win their titles in this era. As well as some old buddies from across town. I WILL SAY.. Dont take a kids moment away by saying he may have been the benefit of a weak weight class and won a title by default. I was never that great but ended up placing pretty high 3 times. Pretty proud of em.

The late 80s teams of Christian Co and Hoptown were loaded with talent. Jimmy Perrin, Tom and Andy Lee I wrestled with then across town Eddie Person, Steve Bailey and Gartha Herring. Hoptown brought home the title my senior year of 85 but both squads had great runs. Incredible wrestling here back then.

Austin is no where near or has not been no where near top shape he has a lot of stuff no one has seen I think he I hesitant to hit his throws because of the sise he I wrestling I think he starts hitting more and more of his normal stuff as he grows into a real 220 or maybe drops to 195 which I doubt . Not sure what constitutes best but by his jr and Definatly his Sr yr people will only be watching his matches and trying to guess when he gets the pin or tech not if he will win or by how much . Mayb if h goes hvy next yr someone can last a match with him or even catch him but I doubt it h would pack on 3o lbs and throw them around to .

#1 If I were Austins parents I wound never drop him to 195 even for fargo, He moves better than most 220's , If He has a couple more good growth spirts and get some huge thighs he would make a heck of a D1 HVY

#2 Miguel Merritt I dont think was as great as Livingston, Matter of fact I coached a kid who moved away his senior year that split with Miguel that won state in North Carolina

#3 GOO who beat Livinston his freshman year? was it a Stepp?

#4 Bruce Stepp from Sheldon was a fun 185-HVY to watch , but I dont thing he was as good as the 2 that carry this conversation

I had to do some research for that one BigD.

Livingston was 2nd out of Wky to Junior Brown (Union)

Livingston lost in the 1st round of State to David Ketchem (Scott) 10-9

Livingston came back through the conso's. Defeated Ketchem in conso semi's 22-9 and beat Brown 13-5 for 3rd place.

Jody Burke from Danville defeated McKinley Stepp in finals. (Livingston was on Stepps side of the bracket)

Big Ed , nice point but it goes 195 285 and that's an awful big jump. I think Austin is thinking hvy now for college he may grow a little in height and certainly will grow and fill out probably more than anyone expects but 285 is pretty big why they have such a huge jump is beyond me it's insane . He Is a running back "the rest of the world says he's a fullback but he says running back "he wants to play in college I'm not sure how it goes he looked good last yr running the ball and very good blocking "full back "and he really needs to be a linebacker which he was , but I see him at full back somewhere If he chooses to just wrestle it will get very interesting he stays busy all the time as far as training he doesn't go 100 % all the time but he goes all the time he has it down his style and gameplan fit the weight he entered as of last yr if he can find fast and agile coaches and partners like he has with some coaches at Cc and Cameron whom he wrestled with last week he will improve and reach his potential if he get lazy and starts playing around he falls behind his pace .