Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association

Meet the 2025 KWCA Hall of Fame class 1:00 - Billy Johnson. Intro by Shane Miller 25:30 - Bill Ross. Intro by Kelly Heinecker 56:45 - Jacob Klein. Intro by Bubba Wright

Meet Hartwell Taylor, 2025 College Senior Wrestler of the Year for NAIA. Taylor made history in 2024 by wining the NAIA national title, becoming the first from the University of Saint Mary. He went on to earn his second All-American honor last spring with a fourth-place finish at nationals. Also hear from Taylor's coach at St. Mary, Chuck Kearney.

After a long career as a teacher and coach, Brian Malm moved on to administration. He continues to use his coaching skills in his new role and has been named KWCA 321A Administrator of the Year for 2025.

Sara Lake of Piper High School was among the first state champions in Kansas history after KSHSAA sanctioned girls wrestling. She went on to become a three-time All-American at Lindenwood University. Hear from Sara and her college coach Frank Yattoni

From success as an athlete at the high school and college levels to running one of the most successful clubs in the state, Ross Taplin's efforts have paid off. 

Paul Lappin completed his first year as head coach at Garden City in 2025, but came in with a wealth of experience. He has the Buffalos on the track he helped build and maintain as long-time assistant on Carlos Prieto's staff.

Nathan Broeckelman is finishing out his term as KWCA president. The Barton County Community College head coach jumps on to fill us in on what to expect from this year's clinic.

Dylan Eck is one of the most visible and most respected officials on the circuit today. The KWCA has recognized his efforts with the 2025 Official of the Year award. 

Leiannah Landreth, winner of the Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award for Kansas, put together an outstanding high school career that included four top-three finishes at state including a state title as a senior. Additionally, the Mulvane High grad was a force on Team Kansas during high school. Hear from Leiannah and her high school coach Jesse Myers.

Jacob Klein won three state titles while representing Kapaun Mt. Carmel before earning two All-American honors at the University of Nebraska. Hear from Jacob, his high school coach Tim Dryden, and his college coach, Mark Manning.

From its humble beginnings, Neil Erisman has developed the University of Arkansas at Little Rock program into a winner. The Kansas native will be back on his home soil to serve as the headliner for the 2025 KWCA Fritz Knorr Fall Clinic.

Bill Ross helped Derby to state titles in 2019 and 2023. His twenty-eight year career also included time as head coach at Sebetha. Hall of Famers Wayne Jackson, Gary 'Pudge' Wilson, and Gary Harding were part of his development as a wrestler and coach.

Jason Puderbaugh has the Basehor-Linwood program headed in the right direction. The Bobcats are coming off a third-place finish at state and have all of their state points returning. The school also has a top-notch girl's team and has a club program that is the largest in the state.

Newton's Wyatt Hendrickson shocked the wrestling world when he defeated Olympic Champion, Gable Steveson at the 2025 NCAA championships. Hear from Wyatt and a few of his coaches that had a hand in his development.  Tyler Caldwell - Start 0:00 Tommy Edgmon - Start 6:28 Matt Treaster - Start 10:25 Wyatt Hendrickson - Start 16:27

Hall of Fame inductee, Bill Johnson, accumulated eleven state championships while coaching at Norton. Prior to his coaching career, he was a four-time All-American and 1987 NAIA national champion for Ft. Hays State.

Wilson was named 4A boys senior Wrestler of the Year as well as the Dave Schultz award winner for Kansas. The three-time state champion is currently enrolled at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

We’ve come to the end of another successful KWCA Fritz Knorr Fall Clinic weekend capped off with the Hall of Fame banquet. What follows is the hall of fame speeches emceed by Doug Broadfoot of Hesston High School. Honored first is Mike Church (1:00), followed by Dusty Rhodes (4:15), John Flores (21:00), and Buel Patterson (30:40). As always, thanks for your support and thanks for listening.

Meet Nicole Redmond, 2024 KWCA 6A-5A Senior Wrestler of the Year

NAIA Senior Wrestlers of the Year, Isaiah Luellan (Rossville) and Owen Braungardt (Winfield) were par of the Grandview University program that won it's twelfth national title last spring. The pair jump on to talk about their experiences. Former Rossville head coach Curt Brechiesen and former Winfield head coach and current Ark City head coach Nick McGrew along with Grandview head coach, Nick Mitch...

Longtime official at both the high school and college level, Travis Scheele, has worked numerous high school and college national tournaments. He is one of the most respected officials in the state and is being recognized by the KWCA as its 2024 Official of the Year.

The KWCA is excited to have USA Wrestling Head Women's coach, Terry Steiner, at this year's clinic to serve as the clinic's headliner. Steiner is fresh off a record-setting performance at the Paris Olympics where Team USA brought home two golds, a silver and a bronze.

Buel "Pat" Patterson will be posthumously inducted into the KWCA Hall of Fame this year. National champion at Oklahoma A&M, head coach at three NCAA DI schools over a forty-one year span, and among his contributions to Kansas wrestling was establishing the Kansas high school State tournament in 1930.

Jay Johnston has built a girl's wrestling program that is contender year in and year out at Basehor-Linwood High School. He is a tireless promoter and is a model of professionalism. He was named KWCA 5A-6A Coach of the Year for 2024.

KWCA President Nathan Broeckelman of Barton Community College fills us in on fall clinic happenings.

Clay Center's Hunter Mullin was named 2023 NCAA DII Senior Wrestler of the Year after his outstanding career at Western Colorado University. Coach Mullin recently completed his first year of coaching and teaching at Cabot High School in Arkansas. The Panthers won the 2024 boys 6A State Championship.