best wrestler to never win state

[tapout_machine]

wondering who everyones picks are for the best wrestler to never win a state title. Im sure this has probally been done before but Im a newbie so... My pick is... probally..

Elijah Roberts from Rock Island, he placed three times and lost twice to future ncaa champion Tony Davis. He also had i win over 3x sc Tyler Hurry. Im also pretty sure he won a national title for lincoln college.

[James_Oliva]

wondering who everyones picks are for the best wrestler to never win a state title. Im sure this has probally been done before but Im a newbie so... My pick is... probally..

Elijah Roberts from Rock Island, he placed three times and lost twice to future ncaa champion Tony Davis. He also had i win over 3x sc Tyler Hurry. Im also pretty sure he won a national title for lincoln college.

The answer is Tom Erickson.

[WRFAN99]

Coleman either one could be in this conversation

["Post Double"]

My favorite wrestler never to win a state title would have to be ME!

[tapout_machine]

Are those guys from Illinois? I only meant former Illinois wrestlers. I'm not aware that mark Coleman. And tom erickson are from our great state.

[still alive]

i think he is talking about Ellis Coleman Olympic team member

[Dondo]

Are those guys from Illinois? I only meant former Illinois wrestlers. I'm not aware that mark Coleman. And tom erickson are from our great state.

I believe Tom Erickson went to Bloom H.S. in Chicago Heights.

[Phat&Happy]

Ronald Ray wrestled for Orr High School. Two time Junior College Champion Named Outstanding Wrestling. Two Time NCAA Div I All American and One NCAA Championship!

[mckbln]

Ellis Coleman and Dan Dennis.

[Illifornia]

Without question Steve Marianetti.

[Don@275]

Travis Cherry GBN, 49-1 only loss was at state to Joe Sapp who finished second (I think?). I tried to look for it, but most of his wins that year were falls. 02-03

[Phat&Happy]

Larry Kristoff

Mr. Larry Kristoff began his wrestling career as a one man entry to the state series, placing first in the district, second in the sectional and second in the state. He was also an all-state football player. He was an eleven time National AAU Champion, place first in the National US Wrestling Federation four times, and champion of the Midlands four times. He was a Pan-American Games Champion, and placed 2nd in the World Games. He was a two time Olympian, placing 4th and 5th at the games.

As a college coach he started at Southern Illinois University at EdwardsAle when the school opened, Mr. Kristoff s teams have won three NCAA Division 11 National Championships. He was selected as NCAA Division 11 Coach of the Year in 1985.

[Greenskin]

Larry Kristoff

Mr. Larry Kristoff began his wrestling career as a one man entry to the state series, placing first in the district, second in the sectional and second in the state. He was also an all-state football player. He was an eleven time National AAU Champion, place first in the National US Wrestling Federation four times, and champion of the Midlands four times. He was a Pan-American Games Champion, and placed 2nd in the World Games. He was a two time Olympian, placing 4th and 5th at the games.

As a college coach he started at Southern Illinois University at EdwardsAle when the school opened, Mr. Kristoff s teams have won three NCAA Division 11 National Championships. He was selected as NCAA Division 11 Coach of the Year in 1985.
Over time it has been easy to overlook his accomplishments and contributions to the sport. Thanks for taking us back and helping us appreciate his career.

[Dondo]

Larry Kristoff

Mr. Larry Kristoff began his wrestling career as a one man entry to the state series, placing first in the district, second in the sectional and second in the state. He was also an all-state football player. He was an eleven time National AAU Champion, place first in the National US Wrestling Federation four times, and champion of the Midlands four times. He was a Pan-American Games Champion, and placed 2nd in the World Games. He was a two time Olympian, placing 4th and 5th at the games.

As a college coach he started at Southern Illinois University at EdwardsAle when the school opened, Mr. Kristoff s teams have won three NCAA Division 11 National Championships. He was selected as NCAA Division 11 Coach of the Year in 1985.

What years was this? I kinda remember a Kip Kristoff?

[Mr. White]

What years was this? I kinda remember a Kip Kristoff?
Larry is the father of Kip and Mark. He could almost be credited with improving wrestling all around the Edwardsville area. The teams he coached at SIUE brought quality wrestlers in from other parts of the state, then those guys stuck around the area and got jobs as high school coaches.

Here is a list (off the top of my head, not complete) of head coaches in southern Illinois who wrestled for Larry in the 80s:

Al Sears - Belleville West
Maurice Brown - Belleville East
Jon Wagner - Edwardsville
Eric Roberson - Alton
Russ Witzig - Triad
Glen Exton - O'Fallon
Dennis Ragan - Carbondale
Tom Blaha - Collinsville

There are more, just can't think of them all right away.

Anyway, for these reasons Larry Kristoff is usually remembered for his influence as a coach, and not as much for his wrestling ability.

[Dondo]

Thanks Mr. White.

I remember Kip back in the 80's, it seems like he was always in the state finals. I didn't know Tom Blaha coached at Collinsville. I'm sure it's the same Tom Blaha that wrestled for Tinley Park in the early 80's, came up short twice in the state finals.

[Mr. White]

I didn't know Tom Blaha coached at Collinsville. I'm sure it's the same Tom Blaha that wrestled for Tinley Park in the early 80's, came up short twice in the state finals.
Yes, the same.

[calotofwrestling]

Ben Gerdes was 3rd 5th 3rd 2nd he has to be in the discussion also Jim Czajkowski was 2nd(1989) 2nd(1990) 5th(1991)

[Formerwrestler]

Without question, Ben Gerdes was a beast!

[Mainefan]

Travis Cherry GBN, 49-1 only loss was at state to Joe Sapp who finished second (I think?). I tried to look for it, but most of his wins that year were falls. 02-03
Also, for the team he wrestled at 215, when he weighed about 180. This year he coached at Wheaton North, working with Mike Swider.

[Don@275]

Also, for the team he wrestled at 215, when he weighed about 180. This year he coached at Wheaton North, working with Mike Swider.
That was his jr. year, sr he was a ripped 215, I saw him at the GBN sectional, it was hard to see him in WN colors, but at least he stayed in the DVC.:D

[Pirate Pride]

Ben Gerdes is hands down the best wrestler to not win a title... no one even comes close!!!

He beat more state champs than ANYONE during his 4 year HS career, including TJ Williams for his last match HS match.

He was pick to win state ALL four years, but just couldn't get the job done.

Plus include his Freestyle accomplishments (Cadet national champ, Junior runner up, and Junior FILA champ). He beat several state champs at Fargo, including Jeff McGinuiss, Casey Gillis, and Oscar Wood (ALL 4x state champs in their respective states). He was also a 2 time World team member, placing 5th at the Junior World championships his senior year.

He was the most exciting, decorated, and highly watched wrestler of his time.....Certainly capable of being a 3x/4x champ.

I would even consider him one of the greatest of all times; even better than most mutiple state champs

[Warrior70]

Larry Kristoff

Mr. Larry Kristoff began his wrestling career as a one man entry to the state series, placing first in the district, second in the sectional and second in the state. He was also an all-state football player. He was an eleven time National AAU Champion, place first in the National US Wrestling Federation four times, and champion of the Midlands four times. He was a Pan-American Games Champion, and placed 2nd in the World Games. He was a two time Olympian, placing 4th and 5th at the games.

As a college coach he started at Southern Illinois University at EdwardsAle when the school opened, Mr. Kristoff s teams have won three NCAA Division 11 National Championships. He was selected as NCAA Division 11 Coach of the Year in 1985.

Agreed! That year in high school was 1959. It was the only year that he competed in the sport while in high school.

[mckbln]

Ben Gerdes is hands down the best wrestler to not win a title... no one even comes close!!!

He beat more state champs than ANYONE during his 4 year HS career, including TJ Williams for his last match HS match.

He was pick to win state ALL four years, but just couldn't get the job done.

Plus include his Freestyle accomplishments (Cadet national champ, Junior runner up, and Junior FILA champ). He beat several state champs at Fargo, including Jeff McGinuiss, Casey Gillis, and Oscar Wood (ALL 4x state champs in their respective states). He was also a 2 time World team member, placing 5th at the Junior World championships his senior year.

He was the most exciting, decorated, and highly watched wrestler of his time.....Certainly capable of being a 3x/4x champ.

I would even consider him one of the greatest of all times; even better than most mutiple state champs

Good pick...I certainly put him up there with Dennis, Kristoff, and 2012 Olympian Ellis Coleman.

[J.J.]

Tommy Erickson was 185 pounder from Bloom Trail.

[Brooktown]

William Gay

[CONDOR]

William Gay was definitely the best semi-final wrestler I ever saw in Champaign with wins over Danny O'Brien and Sean Bormet.

[Dondo]

William Gay was definitely the best semi-final wrestler I ever saw in Champaign with wins over Danny O'Brien and Sean Bormet.

Gay was getting schooled by Bormet until he caught him in the cradle.

[Warrior70]

In the autumn of 1960, Buddy Felchlin was a junior at Granite City High School. He had never participated in any sport in his life. Standing outside the gym, one evening, one of his buddies challenged him to come up to the wrestling room and see what he could do. He enjoyed the experience and made the varsity line-up that year. He finished 4th in the state at 127 pounds that year (1961). The following year (1962), his senior year, he finished 2nd in state at 133 pounds. He might have been the best non-traditional wrestler to have placed, but not won, state in Illinois. I wish that it were that easy to find someone standing outside, without experience, who would place for my team when the tournament time came.

[J.J.]

Reggie Wilson (Bloim Trail) 2nd at 155 1982

[Champaign Supernova]

"Gay was getting schooled by Bormet until he caught him in the cradle."

You sure it was a cradle? I was only a kid, but I swore he lateral'd him. Regardless, the closest I've seen to that eruption from Assembly Hall was Schneider pinning Coleman.

[caped crusader]

"Gay was getting schooled by Bormet until he caught him in the cradle."

You sure it was a cradle? I was only a kid, but I swore he lateral'd him. Regardless, the closest I've seen to that eruption from Assembly Hall was Schneider pinning Coleman.
It wasn't a cradle he did throw him! Ed Giese got cradled when he got upset.

[Dondo]

It wasn't a cradle he did throw him! Ed Giese got cradled when he got upset.

Thanks for clarifying but I did see the match. Gay was on his way of getting teched.

I also saw Ed Giese's upset too, didn't his Dad throw the projector in the air when Ed got pinned?

[springstein]

david holler 2x 5th place ncaa/mike jones all american & 6th olympic try outs

[PapaBearSLIM]

wondering who everyones picks are for the best wrestler to never win a state title. Im sure this has probally been done before but Im a newbie so... My pick is... probally..

Elijah Roberts from Rock Island, he placed three times and lost twice to future ncaa champion Tony Davis. He also had i win over 3x sc Tyler Hurry. Im also pretty sure he won a national title for lincoln college.

Best high school wrestler or post high school wrestler?

[Dondo]

"Gay was getting schooled by Bormet until he caught him in the cradle."

You sure it was a cradle? I was only a kid, but I swore he lateral'd him. Regardless, the closest I've seen to that eruption from Assembly Hall was Schneider pinning Coleman.

I was wrong, he was thrown. Somehow my memory still visions a throw to a cradle. :confused:

However, I saw both matches and IMO think Bormet's match brought a louder "shocking" uproar from the crowd. Bormet was dominating Gay, so when he was thrown and pinned it was an immediate shock and uproar.
It was the same as Ed Giese's upset.

Schneider was giving Coleman all he could handle. Yes the pin was a surprise but not the win, and it wasn't a shocking "beatdown to a pin" like Gay's upset.

[Champaign Supernova]

True. Gay was a spontaneous eruption. The first time I ever felt the magic of Assembly Hall. Schneiders was a slow tsunami like build, is this really happening, oh my god he's gonna stick him, Whoa!

[Dondo]

True. Gay was a spontaneous eruption. The first time I ever felt the magic of Assembly Hall. Schneiders was a slow tsunami like build, is this really happening, oh my god he's gonna stick him, Whoa!

LOL, that's how I felt. I don't even think I made a noise on Schneiders pin. I was still in shock mode and disbelief watching Schneider controlling Coleman for some time in that match, then he slowly worked the pin, and not from a desperate throw. :eek:

[Ace]

Nick Baima 4 time place winner, never seemed to get a good draw.

[CatholicLeaguer]

Gay did the same thing in the semis the previous year. Dan Obrien on his way to tech Gay and boom thrown to his back and pinned. That got loud but no where close to the Bormet match.

[CONDOR]

Negative. Gay hit O'Brien with a duckunder with a few seconds left to win by one. I was standing with Joey Cascone as his semi bout was over and we thought it would be a re-match from sectionals and then boom Gay hits the duck. Cascone would then tilt Gay to death in the finals. Back then only 1 swipe for back points.

[Dondo]

Nick Baima 4 time place winner, never seemed to get a good draw.

Good pick, forgot about Nick.

[me2fat2wrestle]

I won't claim this guy is the best wrestler in Illinois to never win state, but his story is one of the most unique amoung great wrestlers.

Most of you probably never heard of Louis Taylor, Chicago Bogan '97.
He placed in state twice with almost NO wrestling experience except a few months of coach Breene's guidance. Taylor NEVER cut weight, never lifted weights off season, never attended a camp or clinic, never wrestled an off season tournament and only wrestled one full season of barely 3 months in HS, his senoir yr.


Louis Taylor never wrestled as a kid. He grew up in Chicago's Englewood. They stole his bike when he was 13, he chased thieves down a couple blocks away, fought them, won, got his bike back, they shot at Louis as he sprinted away on his bike. I guess wrestling was EASY in comparision ~

Louis didn't wrestle till soph yr. Won 20+ matches on varsity.
Junoir yr, Louis had to work a job to support himself as his home situation was less than ideal. So he missed first 2 months of season, finally showed up in Bogans wrestling practices only weeks before state tournament. He weighed 165. Coach Breene put him at 171 to be fair to the 160 wrestler who had faithfully been there all along. Taylor makes state and places 6th having wrestled only a few weeks that yr.
Senoir year was Taylors first full HS season wrestling. Made state undefeated, sang national anthem at his sectional before easily winning it.
But undefeated top ranked Potter of St Charles was in Taylors bracket. Taylor beat Potter in quarters, big upset. But Taylor severely injured his ankle in that match and literally could only stand on one foot for the semi's which he lost to the eventual state Champ Dave Christenson. Taylor took 4th.

Taylor went to Lassen Jr col with TJ Williams for a year, and fought MMA, 7-2, google/ youtube Nice guy and gentleman off the mat.

Coach Breene said that Taylor had world level wrestling ability if he would have started in the sport earlier.