Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association

Andy Niemczyk has an interesting story to tell after a Hall of Fame career at Beloit High School. 

The Hoxie Indians put together a 2022-23 season! The 260 team points at State is an All-Class/All-Time record. Coach Porsch has had a lifetime of association with the program and has seen the fruits of his labor paying off in recent years. The team will be attempting to win their fourth championship in a row in 2024.

After winning his fourth State Championship, Nick Treaster swept the major post-season awards.... 5A Wrestler of the Year, Dave Schultz award for Kansas, and the Lyle Neville award. Treaster became one of forty four-time State Champions in Kansas and one of only five families in the nation that have had a father/son four-time combination.

KWCA President Nate Naasz comes on to promote the upcoming Fritz Knorr Fall Clinic.

Hear from the 2022 KWCA Hall of Fame class; Mike Garcia (start 2:20), Kendric Maple (start 8:50), and Tim Serbousek (start 11:40)

Mike Garcia was a State Champion, NCAA D2 Champion, and Coached State Champion teams in Oklahoma and Kansas. He is a 2022 KWCA Hall of Fame inductee. Listen in as he recaps his competitive and coaching career. 

Current Mizzou Associate Head Coach Kendric Maple joins the program. The two-time State Champion at Wichita Heights and NCAA Champion at the University of Oklahoma  went on to compete at the international level and came out of retirement last spring to capture the US Open title. He is a 2022 KWCA Hall of Fame inductee.

Tim Serbousek s grew up in Iowa, made his way to the Kansas City area, and carved out a thirty-six year career of it in the Blue Valley district. He will be inducted into the KWCA Hall of Fame during the banquet on October 8th in Salina.

Meet Tate Thompson, 2022 KWCA Coach of the Year for Girls 4A-321A. He was also named NWCA National Coach of the Year for Girls Wrestling.

Bethany Bowman works tirelessly to highlight the scores and personalities for all sports across the state of Kansas through her work with the Sports-in-Kansas media outlet. Listen to her interesting story from high school and college athlete to sports journalist.

Meet Madyson Gray, the 2022 Senior Wrestler of the Year in the 5A/6A Girls Division. Madyson is a 3X State Champion and is now enrolled at Grandview University.

2000 Olympic Champion Brandon Slay is one of the most high-profile wrestling coaches in the United States. He recently returned from Belgrade, Serbia where he helped guide none other than Jordan Burroughs to his seventh World and Olympic Gold. The Executive Director and Head Coach of the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center will serve as the headliner for the 2022 KWCA Fritz Knor Fall Clinic. 

KWCA President Nate Naasz checks in to fill us in on the 2022 Fritz Knor Fall Clinic.

After an outstanding high school career at Lawrence High, Alan Clothier went on to become a four-time NCAA D1 qualifier for Appalachian State University and the University of Northern Colorado. He has begun his coaching career at Buffalo University.

AJ Cooper finished his career at Ft. Hays State University as a two-time All-American. Those accomplishments earned him 2022 KWCA Senior Wrestler of the Year honors. Cimarron High School Head Coach Lance Walker and Forth Hays State University Head Coach Erik Wince also join in.

Listen in as Marty Verhaeghe recounts his career; which ended in March with All-American honors for the Ft. Hays State University Tigers. Verhaeghe's high school coach, Cody Parks and his college coach, Eric Wince also join in.

Longtime Burlington High School Head Coach Doug Vander Linden was laid to rest yesterday after a long battle with cancer and other complications. Doug was loved and respected throughout the state and known nationally for his work on policy and promotion of the sport of wrestling. Most recently, he was instrumental in helping the Kansas State high School Athletic Association to sanction girls wrestling. His memorial service was a humbling and heart-warming event. Attendees were greeted with a full parking lot at Burlington High School on a Sunday afternoon and a reception line that started thirty deep outside of the building and snaked its way through the school’s entryway into the spacious wrestling room where Doug had spend so many hours molding young lives. In addition to this podcast, I would encourage you to seek out postings on social media, including the Sports in Kansas article by Bethany Bowman and Conor Nicholl which can be found at sportsinks.com. The outpouring of support for the family and message

2021 KWCA Hall of Fame inductee speeches; 2:00 – Rick Langerot, 6:10 - Wayne Petterson, 41:20 – Bob Gonzales. 

Todd Kahler - 2021 KWCA Official of the Year

Jared Simma has some impressive credentials... 4X Fargo All-American, 4X State Finalist and 2X Champ, Folkstyle National Champion. It is no surprise that the UNI Panther recruit is the 2021 Dave Schultz Award winner for the state of Kansas.