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    Wrestling 49: Kansas

    As the wrestling season's start is fast approaching, InterMat will be taking fans across the United States of America on a tour of scholastic wrestling. Between now until the middle of November, InterMat will introduce you to the top senior wrestlers in the 49 states with scholastic wrestling. From Alaska to Florida, and from Maine to California, you will gain exposure to the potential stars of future NCAA Championships. The rankings within this article do not necessarily reflect those done by InterMat.

    Kansas once again made a splash in 2010 by placing four seniors in Division I programs and nine in Division II. In what was projected as a rebuilding year, 2011 has plenty of talent. This class has almost 100 Fargo wins to its credit! Headlining the class are a pair of teammates in three-time state champ and nationally-ranked Ryne Cokeley and Fargo Greco champion and double All-American Taylor Moeder. Throw in another multiple Fargo AA Daniel DeShazer and you have a trio that would rival any state in the nation!

    1. Ryne Cokeley
    High School: St. James Academy
    Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 160
    Projected College Weight Class: 157/165

    Ryne Cokeley
    Analysis: With a career record of 124-11, Cokeley is chasing his fourth Kansas state title. He is one of the most heralded wrestlers in Kansas history with 36 total Fargo wins! He has beaten 52 former state champions across the nation. He carries a 41-13 career Cadet and Junior Dual record, going undefeated in 2008 and 2010, making the USA National Teams both years. Cokeley placed second at Virginia Beach in the 2010 NHSCA Junior Nationals and was the FILA Cadet Pan American Games gold medalist. The Future Olympian rankings have listed him as first, third, and third in his first three years. This kid is a machine in practice and has sought out competition from coast to coast. It's been a pleasure being one of his biggest fans. Division I awaits!

    2. Taylor Moeder
    High School: St. James Academy
    Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 145
    Projected College Weight Class: 141/149

    Analysis: Moeder had a breakout season in 2010. Capping off his 40-1 junior season and second state championship, he was crowned with the Fargo Junior National Greco title! He then returned to the Fargo podium in freestyle, placing fourth to complete a dream season. Taylor also placed fourth at the NHSCA Folkstyle Junior Nationals in Virginia. We all knew of his Kids division accolades with four Kids state titles, six-time placer at Tulsa Nationals, and a Cliff Keen Kickoff championship, but he was the best-kept secret in Kansas until splashing onto the national scene this year. He had the Kansas faithful raising eyebrows when he moved up a weight at the Derby Invitational and stopped Chase Nitcher's 71-match winning streak. His career high school record is 117-9 and he is no longer under the radar with Division I coaches. One last point: His Duck Under should be on a training video!

    3. Daniel DeShazer
    High School: Wichita Heights
    Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 130
    Projected College Weight Class: 125/133

    Daniel DeShazer
    Analysis: DeShazer is a four-time Fargo All-American, including a Greco Roman finalist in 2008! With a career record of 92-3, he is a two-time state champion and a three-time finalist. He has been a powerful contributor to our Kansas National Dual teams at all levels. He dominated most of his youth career, placing at many national tournaments and winning Kids state six times. He is the younger brother of former four-time Kansas state champ and NCAA qualifier Tristen DeShazer of Northern Illinois. DeShazer has a rare athleticism that makes him a crowd favorite and is a lock to land in a prominent college program.

    4. Zack Tanenbaum
    High School: Blue Valley North
    Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 135/140
    Projected College Weight Class: 133/141

    Analysis: Tanenbaum is a two-time state champion with a career record of 115-10. He also made the state finals as a freshman. He has made the Deans list every year at Blue Valley North High School and carries a 3.9 GPA. He was the 2010 Brute adidas Nationals champion and is a two-time Kansas Triple Crown winner. He is a multi-sport athlete, winning the 2007 Kansas State Judo championship as well as earning a varsity football letter in 2009. Tanenbaum has competed for the Schoolboy, Middle School, Cadet and Junior National Kansas dual teams and had seven freestyle/Greco-Roman wins this year at Fargo. He is the younger brother of current Division I wrestler Jake Tanenbaum of Cal Poly.

    5. Jake Gentzler
    High School: Andover Central
    Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 125/130
    Projected College Weight Class: 125/133

    Analysis: Gentzler is a two-time state champion and three-time finalist. He has a career record of 112-9. Along with being a three-time regional champion, he also has three league championships while being named Outstanding Wrestler at two regionals. On the national level, Gentzler is a Brute adidas Nationals champion in 2008 and two-time USAW Folkstyle Nationals placer. He carries a 3.25 GPA.

    6. Spencer Blew
    High School: Lansing
    Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 140
    Projected College Weight Class: 141

    Analysis: Spencer is a two-time state champion with a career record of 109-16. He is a phenomenal athlete that carried his Kids division domination into high school. He is a two-time Brute adidas All-American and is a multi-sport athlete, competing in varsity football, track and lacrosse. He is also a member of the National Society of High School Scholars.

    7. Symon Seaton
    High School: Basehor-Linwood
    Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 130
    Projected College Weight Class: 133

    Analysis: Seaton is a three-time state placer, bringing home a state title in 2010. Capping off a stellar junior season of 34-2, he competed with the Junior National Dual Team in OKC and was a Junior National Team member in Fargo. With a career record of 96-15, Seaton placed third as a freshman in a loaded 112 bracket.

    8. Dylan Penka
    High School: Bishop Carroll
    Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 171
    Projected College Weight Class: 174

    Analysis: Penka is a three-time state placer. He is a two-time USAW Folkstyle Nationals AA, placing third in 2009 and fifth in 2010. He has placed in every high school tournament that he has entered. Previous to his Cadet days, he won two Greco and two freestyle USAW national championships. Penka scored a 31 on his ACT and has received interest from coaches at the Division I level. He has many weapons to call on, but watch out for his headlock! It is a crowd pleaser.

    9. Chase Sanchez
    High School: Emporia
    Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 160/171
    Projected College Weight Class: 157/165

    Chase Sanchez
    Analysis: Sanchez is a two-time state placer for Emporia High School, contributing to the program's back-to-back Class 5A state championships. He is a multiple-time state freestyle and Greco-Roman champion, winning the Triple Crown in 2009. In 2009, Sanchez landed on the podium as a Fargo All-American in Greco. He won two more matches this year in the Junior Greco division, giving him 11 career Fargo wins. He was also a Cadet National Dual Team member both years and is a multi-sport athlete, playing strong safety on the football team. Sanchez carries a 3.25 GPA and wants to pursue a secondary education degree, planning to teach science as well as coaching wrestling or serving as an athletic director or principal.

    10. Kyle Johnson
    High School: Columbus
    Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 130
    Projected College Weight Class: 125/133

    Analysis: Johnson is a three-time state placer, making the finals each of his last two years. With 89 high school wins, he has had many memorable matches including a tough overtime loss to Moeder in the 2010 state finals. As a junior, his path to the state finals included wins over Seaton, as well as Fargo All-American Brandon Charbonneau. Johnson is also a three-year letter winner in Football and carries a 3.11 GPA.

    Honorable Mention:
    Troy Bainter (Norton)
    Tyler Baughman (Lansing)
    Cody Beasley (Wichita Campus)
    Mario Corado (Pittsburg)
    Colton Eck (Andale)
    Zach Hoehn (Wellsville)
    Trey Houlden (Goddard)
    Ethan Mumaw (Jefferson West)
    Dillon Salmans (Hoxie)
    Dillon Scanlon (Lansing)
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