Cody Beguin from Rushville ended up runner up his senior year in '98. He also ended up going on to a very successful college career, 90- some wins as well as being an all american. He lost to a Fancher from Gordon that he had beat something like five times that year. There was a very controversial call in overtime that cost him the match.

in my opinion i would have to agree with everyone that was saying chris trampe! that kid had so much heart for wrestling and worked so hard to get down to state for that last match in the finals~ everyone was going for him and he had made it every year into the finals and ended up with a 2nd place never gaining the championship. and in my heart i really thought he would pull it out last year and win it. i was really hopin to see him and craig both win it, two twins with their dad as a coach going out as senior champions! he's gotta be the one that sticks out in my mind as the best wrestler to never win state. as a wrestler even though he didnt get the championship medal any of the four years he always wrestled like a champion.

I don't know if you could put Cullin in as best wrestler never to win a state title. Because to be a good wrestler there is the intensity and dedication. And since Cullin never made weight after Metro, I don't know if you could call that awesome dedication.

I don't know why everyone on here kisses the Trampes butts. No offense I don't know either of you guys and you may be the two greatest kids in the world, but there are alot of wrestlers who work thier butt off and never get a title. But you may be the best never to win a title I don't know. I'm just an observer.

And on another note; Beguin had a close match and got royally screwed. He went on to be an all-american at Chadron State, which is more than most. So he turned out to be one of the best to never win a title.

Alan Nitchie from Sargent was awesome back in the late 80's and he lost in his only finals appearance his senior year in OT, that year Alan set the record for most consecutive pins.

I would have to go with Chris. I was routin' for you to win Chris, after being in the finals that many times, I would have liked to see you take home the gold. I'm glad to see you are westling in in college, I was wandering where you went. Is your brother there, too? Best of luck to you.
Tim Wurdinger

craig wrestles for Dana College

These wrestlers have something in common. They all seem to be able to get up and dust themselves off and hold their chin high. Also they all seem to have our respect after all is done.
I would like to put one of my wrestlers names into this group of wrestlers, his name is Kendall Dejonge and wrestled for Minden. Kendall was about 50 seconds away from the finals as a freshman and placed sixth. As a sophmore he was defeated in the quarters and for 3rd/4th by the same guy at state. As a junior he was undefeated but tore his ACL in his first round match and had to forfeit out. As a senior he was again undefeated but lost in OT to Chas Devetter of Skutt. Kendall was the hardest working wrestler I have ever coached and the roughest as well. Kendall owns several of the records at Minden for season and career. Kendall is going to graduate from Iowa State in May with a degree in engineering.