Cougar05

Is it Zac or Max? I remember watching the one that's was a freshman 112 pounder and sophomore year a 170 pounder. I remember Brakemen said he had never seen a jump like that from a kid and him still be considered one of the best in the state. I think he was a two timer? We talking bout the same kid mpire?

In my opinion Felipi's best year was his freshman. Beat out Tucker Armstrong for a starting spot, he was a defending state champ, and first weekend of the year Felipe beats Tony Romos with a 5 point takedown with in the first 30 seconds! Romos was number 1 wrestler in the nation and already committed to Iowa at that point. Double leg shot to double under hook bear hug straight to his back! I remember Monday of practice that next week our team actually drilled that sequence. It was awesome!

I am not at all trying to toot mpires horn but the three of the best kids I ever seen at the middle level were Jared Cortez, Tommy Cash, and Stephan Myers. All three blew me out of the water! WHS- I respect your comments and opinion, although I disagree I wish AJ the best of luck on his future. AJ is way better than both of us were in middle school and I think we can agree on that.

Stats are very misleading and can skew reality of some things. Caleb Ervin only has two state titles yet everyone on here says he is top two in middle school. So while number of state championships help they don't tell the entire story. I wonder how many on here actually remember Caleb wrestling middle school? I bet it's pretty slim. I could also careless if AJ read what I wrote. It was in no way a backhanded comment to him at all. If using middle school stats and debates gets him fired up then that's great I'm glad I could do my part. End of the day someone asked who the greatest was I gave my opinion and justified those left off the list. 1 year from now some new parent will ask this same question and we will be right back at it again.

WHS- To each is their own. I think Caleb was the best ever and you think John is. Both kids we increadibly successfull at a Middle school level, High school level, and will be at a collegiate level. Do I have favorites? Yes who doesn't? I tried basing my list (the only one who has tried) to compile the best "Middle School" kids I've seen over the past 7 years. I can throw a loss here and there to judge because the ones I have mentioned in my top never lost one here nor there during their 7th or 8th grade years. As far as AJ goes- I never once said he wasn't an outstanding wrestler. I would never question that but he isn't top 5 nor top 10 on MY list. I remember when AJ had Ferguson on his back at Fern Creek a way long time ago. That was actually the first time I ever got to see AJ wrestle live (I watched a takedown video with Wiley and AJ from Mt. St. Joe weeks before). Ferguson was outstanding but comparing where they are now to where they were then is where a lot of people will get off track. Remember we are only talking about a select time frame here: 6th-8th grade. Skaggs- I can't say a bad word about the kid or the dad, because I'm huge fans of both. But I don't care what he is doing now as a 10th grader, its what he did from 6th-8th grade that were talking about. Skaggs was a two time runner up at 70 pounds that is it. And Wiley, oh God where do I start? I trained/coached Wiley for 5 years, he is like my little brother, if I was biased in this conversation I would say he is top 10 no doubt but he wasn't. He was way to inconsistant, from finishing 3rd, 1st, 6th, 1st (MOW), Not placing. That's not stats of the best ever topic. As far as Johnson goes if AJ was one the best ever he shouldn't have lost. Plain and simple. Correct me if i'm wrong but wasn't the score like 8-2? I was out of touch with Middle school wrestling last year because I was living out of state. I know you couldn't be more proud of AJ than you are and that is awesome.He is having an amazing freshman season. I hope to experience that some day with my own children but I call it like I see it. AJ was an outstanding middle school wrestler but I don't feel that over the past 7 years he was one of my top 5. I just want to say that I mean absolutely no disrespect either, I spoke with AJ on countless occassions and offered him very kind words after he beat Derek at North Oldham and then when Derek beat him at State. This is the problem when you start talking about the best- At the high school level people will always say Joe Carr vs Kyle Ruschell; well Joe Carr was the better High School wrestler and Kyle was the better college wrestler. However some will use Kyle's achievements in college to say he was the better high schooler. I'm not perfect I'm just taking at stab at this topic. Sorry for rambling-

Mpire, What would you say is Stephan's best moment in wrestling? What was his best match? And what was your proudest moment as a father?

Well done Step! 40-4 with Moe's schedule speaks volumes of how great of a wrestler he is, especially as a freshman!!! I remember the first time I watched Stephan wrestle at National Duals with Team Jordan and it was a joke. I would be willing to bet he beat some state champs out there like 30-15, with 15 takedowns. I was glad no one from Team Kentucky had to wrestle him. I thought Bo and Stephan were on a different level than all other kids at the tournament. Again out standing job young man!

Pin, you've been around for a while and have good knowledge on this topic, so I would be curious to see what your list would looks like.

My bad on Brock, thought I had him in their. Still wont put him ahead of Slone thou. If you ever watched Slone wrestle in Middle school you would understand. This is only one of the names I can justify. I never seen Wolseifier and how good he was while he competed in middle school. I was still wrestling in High School when he was wrestling middle school lol No Kevin? Yep no Kevin. His high school career is a different story but his middle school career wasn't any better than those mentioned in the top 5. Two time state champ, two decision wins in the finals. His 8th grade year beat Lane Jones 5-0 in the finals. Were talking about the GREATEST middle school kids not the best high school kids who were middle school state champs. And you need to double check because Kevin is on there. But I can't justify putting him above those mentioned in the top 5. No Binder? Yep no Binder. From his two very close wins over Skaggs in back to back years ( Think score was 1-0, and 2-1) to getting beat 14-1 by Wiley in the finals and losing to Trent Johnson last year at a tournament. That is no resume to be considered the Greatest or even honorable mention. Agree? No Josh Johnson? Only seen him his 8th grade year. Seemed like a head hunter, who was very good at it. Not sure what he did that makes him any more deserving than those mentioned.Same year as Slone I think, and was way more impressed with Slone. Maybe you could help me out on this one. Since I didn't know him that well I couldn't put him over two time state champs like Erdman (one of my personal favorites) or Meiman.

I've been around for a while and have had this conversation with many friends and fellow coaches- For those who don't remember Caleb Ervin, I feel sorry for you. In my opinon he is by far the most impressive wrestler I have EVER seen at the middle school level. Caleb always had that "It" factor to go with incredable skill. Someone from Union validate this, but Caleb won a state title in Middle school one year with only one leg. He tore his PCL and MCL days before the state tournament. His leg was wrapped so tight I remember he couldnt bend his leg even to mount on top. Still didn't matter he won every match by pin and I believe he won MOW that year. I know for a fact I voted for him. John Fafy has the 5 state titles to boast, but John began wrestling Middle school in the 4th grade while Caleb started I believe in 6th. His first year in the state there was a still a 60 and 65 pound weight class. All of us can agree that this was no more than an extended youth tournament. I'm sure there are several outstanding kids who if they had the opportunity to wrestle 60 and 65 instead of 70 would have won a state title. And to be 100% honest with everyone on here, the first time I seen the Fahy brothers was at Fern Creek's holiday tournament. I remember at that time telling Pat that Matt Fahy is way more impressive than John. Little did I know how their careers would play out. Point is, even from the get-go I was never wow'd with John like I was Caleb and even Jude for that matter. I can't take anything away from John but he is probably the second best wrestler out of middle school behind Caleb Ervin. Also if we are talking about the most dominate wrestler I've ever seen at the Middle school level, then hands down that award goes to JJ Jude! Jude murdered poor little kids all across the state for two years. I actually pulled a kid having to wrestle Jude in the quarter finals of a tournament. He was so scared and shaking I pulled him for his own good. Jude was outstanding, I don't have any other way of putting it. JCB- I must say that years team was outstanding. Our dual and tournaments with your team were great that year. I believe Gray took 9 down and placed 7? Both Erdman's in the finals, Belk in the finals, and Meiman in the finals. It was a great year but nothing like Fern Creek when they had Bradberry, both Hitchings, Olhman, and Lewis. There is more but those kids were hammers and were by far the best middle school team Kentucky has ever produced. My top 5 1- Caleb Ervin 2- John Fahy 3- JJ Jude 4- Logan Wedding 5- Matt Slone Honorable Mention -Kenneth Brummett -Bryce Sheffer -Brad Hitchings -Myron Bradbury -Justin Lampe -Kevin Cooper -Johny Meiman -Logan Erdman

Here is some who destroyed people at junior high level- JJ Jude Slone Josh Johnson Kevin Cooper Caleb Ervin Logan Wedding John Fahy Then you have your multiple time state champs- Logan Erdman John Miemen Derek Wiley AJ Binder Tyler Frankrone Bryce Scheffer Sean Fausz Justin Lampe There is many many more but these are all names that instantly ring a bell. I have been around junior high for 7 years. These are the names of some kids who stood out.

They did not. Both lost their first round match. Samuel was beating Freitch with about 30 seconds to go and literally gave up! Got taken down an went straight to his back. I have never seen anything like it. Jacob did the same thing against Pye. They wrestled again for 5 and 6 and Jacob won 15-0. I think the twins just aren't morning people. If we could just postpone the 70 weight class til 12 they would do just fine.

70- I'm going with Holub on this one. Region 3 was a meat grinder and Holub is a state runner up so I'm money is on him. 75- Yenter all the way. State champion last year and only loss this year was to Crase from Graham. Looked untouchable this weekend and I foresee him going unchallenged e route to another state championship. 80-Going with my man Roth on this one. Don't think he has a loss to anyone in state outside of Yenter. He should get his first state title this year. Good luck young man. 89-Smart money on Wells. He is like a four time finalist. Won a title last year, he is a machine and should capture his second state title this year. Only losses are to teammate Moore, and kid from Graham. 92- This is a tough one but I'm going with Moore on this one. I know he lost to river city kid early in the year and won the rematch a few weeks ago. I'm going with his past state tournament experience on this and say Moore comes away with number two this year. 98- I'm going with Smith on this one. Only loss is a 5-1 defeat to Sheffer who is at 105. 105- This is Scheffer's weight class. That's all I have to say about that. 113- This is a tough weight class to call but I think Miles win this weight class. Always been a fan of Johnson but I think Miles has his number. 120- Is Blanton still in Middle school?? I still remember when him and Wiley wrestled for a state title 4 years ago! Oh we'll he is here and he easily wins this weight class. Not go real familiar with the next couple of weight classes 150-Cornett! He has been around forever and this is his year to be a champion! Great kid and even better wrestler. He should not only win this weight class but be a candidate for MOW. HWT- This class is for Kearns to lose. He has not had any competition in the state or at a national level. Given my math I think region 3 wins 8 state championships which I believe would be one more than last year. Can't wait for the state tournament! Everyone stay safe and healthy.

In region 3 holub is an 8th grader. The grandstaff twins are third graders. Frietch is 11 yrs old, I think Horton is the same age, and ketchen carter is a 4th grader.

The heavy weight division is for Kearns to lose. He is a man amongst boys. If he wants all first period pins at state he can and will do that. This is the same kid that just got back from Virginia Beach and made All-American status going 9-1 and his only loss was to a state champ from New Jersey losing 3-1. He is the nicest kid you will ever meet but warn all your heavy weights not to piss him off because Colytn wrestling mad at a middle school level is like watching mpire unleash ATM on you!

Thompson (Conner) will win 195.

First and foremost, Ockerman was a great host today! Hospitality room was great, the ref's were consistant, and the facility was very nice and clean. Big prop to Jon Eschan who ran a great tournament along with all the help from Ockerman at tables getting us out of there by 3:45. Thoughts: WIth out Turkeyfoot this tournament really lacked overall depth. Only 73 kids in the tournment and not a who lot of quality matches up uptil the finals. With that being said there were still competitive match ups all days. MOW went to Blake Roth. Walton won the tournament running away, followed by Ryle then Conner. Jacob Grandstaff might be the best kid in the state at 70. I know Holub dropped to 70 but until I see him I will say Grandstaff is the kid to beat here. Hopefully Shay's shoulder is better by next week, looks like he got it tourqued against Grandstaff several times. Also big props to Samuel Grandstaff who wrestled Shay to a 2-1 match in the semi's. If both Grandstaff's win their first round match up's next weekend they will have to wrestle in the semi's which will suck for the other coach and myself. Blake Roth will get him a state title this year. With Yenter dropping down to 75 I think Blake is kid to beat at this weight class. Mason Smith got caught on his back twice today. First time wasn't to big of deal, but against Chaffee he was in some big trouble. Outside of Chaffee putting Smith on his back, Mason controlled the match for the most part winning I think 12-6 or 12-7. I think Mason is still a favorite at this weight class. Really want to see him get a state title as he is one of my favorite wrestlers to watch. Woodward from Walton looked super strong, will definently do well at state. Not a lot of competition between 120 and up. Walton's 190 has the build of a good wrestler, would like to see him tested against another bigger and stronger wrestler. Coltyn Kearn's is a man amoung boys. I was blown away last year by Landon Young size and then I seen Kearns this year and WOW! If he isn't the best in the state then I don't know who is. I know he has been with the high school all year and should score a lot of bonus points at regions and state. Lastly not a whole lot of suprises today, biggest might be Walton's 3rd string 75 pounder wrestling his way to the finals with a win of Brossart in the quarter's. Boyd came in as the 3 seed and wrestled a great match against Harris winning in overtime then beating Higgins 7-2 in the finals. Outside of those two nothing else stands out. Can't wait to see everyone next weekend at Gray. Everybody stay HEALTHY!