Post by johnnythompsonnum1 on Dec 11, 2019 5:46:10 GMT
Rico Swaff and I were discussing earlier tonight, what ever became of some people?
Guys that we wrestled with in tournaments as kids. Some were even good, having placed at AAU tournaments and USA tournaments. Then come high school, POOF they're gone. It's almost as if they vanished into thin air.
Some of these kids I've been able to track down and find out what became of them. Others, I haven't the slightest clue.
Maybe you can help me out with some.
Here's some that I do know.
Cory Craig of Sigourney high School. Went and lived with his Dad for a while in elementary school and won the Illinois AAU title in sixth grade. Never wrestled again afterwards. It was mainly because of an injury he had suffered earlier and his parents not wanting him to get hurt. He was also more interested in other things as well. I think he would've been a great wrestler in junior high and high school, but that's not what happened.
Bob Swift of West Delaware. Placed 6th at the Iowa AAU's in 1998 as a sixth grader. By the time he got to high school Swift gave up wrestling to concentrate on football. It paid off as he played for the Northern Iowa Panthers and even had a stint in the Canadian Football League.
Yet there are many others that I have no idea what ever became of them.
Jeremy Walker of Davis County. Placed at the AAU's a few times. Long, lanky kid. Very strong.
Brandon Miller of Indianola. Placed at the AAU's a few times. Very tall. Had excellent hips. Mean leg rider. Beat Bryce Chyma of South Tama a few times. Used to hang out with Brandon at tournaments all the time. Always enjoyed being around him.
Gabe Venz of North Central. Won the AAU's as a sixth grader in 1998. Have no idea whatever happened to him.
Marcus "Buddy" Lewis. I cannot remember where he was from. He placed 8th at the AAU's in 1998. Probably the nicest kid that ever wrestled. Always got along very well with him. In fifth grade he pinned me with a nice throw. In sixth grade I pinned him with reversal.
Tade Kracklio of Wilton. Placed 7th at the AAU's in 1998 and won the AAU's in 1997. I think he took 3rd in 1999. Kid went from 150 lbs as a fifth grader to weighing over 200 lbs as an sixth grader. Last I heard of him, someone from Durant told me he had ballooned up to 350 lbs.
Forget the kid's name but he wrestled for South Tama. Full blooded Indian. Used to wrestle with the Roberts boys Tyrone and Tyrell. In his first year ever wrestling he took 2nd at the AAU championships. That may have been the only year he ever wrestled. Tyrone and Tyrell both played basketball in high school, he may have too.
Zane Arzberger. I cannot remember where he was from. Kid used to scare me when I was little. Always had a scowl on his face. Looked like a 40 year old man when he was like 10 years old.
Cory Calhoun of Mount Pleasant. Used to see him at tournaments all the time as a kid. He'd whip me and then he'd whip people that would whip me. Yet I don't remember him ever being at the AAU's. He might have been, but I don't remember it.
Guys that we wrestled with in tournaments as kids. Some were even good, having placed at AAU tournaments and USA tournaments. Then come high school, POOF they're gone. It's almost as if they vanished into thin air.
Some of these kids I've been able to track down and find out what became of them. Others, I haven't the slightest clue.
Maybe you can help me out with some.
Here's some that I do know.
Cory Craig of Sigourney high School. Went and lived with his Dad for a while in elementary school and won the Illinois AAU title in sixth grade. Never wrestled again afterwards. It was mainly because of an injury he had suffered earlier and his parents not wanting him to get hurt. He was also more interested in other things as well. I think he would've been a great wrestler in junior high and high school, but that's not what happened.
Bob Swift of West Delaware. Placed 6th at the Iowa AAU's in 1998 as a sixth grader. By the time he got to high school Swift gave up wrestling to concentrate on football. It paid off as he played for the Northern Iowa Panthers and even had a stint in the Canadian Football League.
Yet there are many others that I have no idea what ever became of them.
Jeremy Walker of Davis County. Placed at the AAU's a few times. Long, lanky kid. Very strong.
Brandon Miller of Indianola. Placed at the AAU's a few times. Very tall. Had excellent hips. Mean leg rider. Beat Bryce Chyma of South Tama a few times. Used to hang out with Brandon at tournaments all the time. Always enjoyed being around him.
Gabe Venz of North Central. Won the AAU's as a sixth grader in 1998. Have no idea whatever happened to him.
Marcus "Buddy" Lewis. I cannot remember where he was from. He placed 8th at the AAU's in 1998. Probably the nicest kid that ever wrestled. Always got along very well with him. In fifth grade he pinned me with a nice throw. In sixth grade I pinned him with reversal.
Tade Kracklio of Wilton. Placed 7th at the AAU's in 1998 and won the AAU's in 1997. I think he took 3rd in 1999. Kid went from 150 lbs as a fifth grader to weighing over 200 lbs as an sixth grader. Last I heard of him, someone from Durant told me he had ballooned up to 350 lbs.
Forget the kid's name but he wrestled for South Tama. Full blooded Indian. Used to wrestle with the Roberts boys Tyrone and Tyrell. In his first year ever wrestling he took 2nd at the AAU championships. That may have been the only year he ever wrestled. Tyrone and Tyrell both played basketball in high school, he may have too.
Zane Arzberger. I cannot remember where he was from. Kid used to scare me when I was little. Always had a scowl on his face. Looked like a 40 year old man when he was like 10 years old.
Cory Calhoun of Mount Pleasant. Used to see him at tournaments all the time as a kid. He'd whip me and then he'd whip people that would whip me. Yet I don't remember him ever being at the AAU's. He might have been, but I don't remember it.
