A look into the 23-24 Girls Wrestling Season
By Rylee Hackmann
Women's Wrestling has been sanctioned in Kansas for the last 4 years. It's been growing and growing each year. This year there will be 3 girls looking to win their 4th state title and weight class continues to get tougher and tougher each year. Let's get to know your top 5 ranked girls and top 5 ranked teams.
Girls #100 Weight Class-
1- Jaidyn Alvarado: Junction City, Junior, Class 6-5A
Alvarado is ranked #2 in the 6-5A girls class ranking and #1 overall in the all-class rankings. She placed 3rd at the KSHSAA 6-5A Girls State Championships. 6-5A KSHSAA Girls Regional Champion. She was runner-up at the USA Wrestling Southern Plains Tournament. USAWKS Freestyle State Champion, and an All-American at the USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals Tournament and wrestled up at Fargo this summer.
2- Mykayle Sutton: Salina South, Sophomore, Class 6-5A
Mykayle is ranked #1 in 6-5A girls' class rankings and #2 overall in the all-class rankings. Wrestling at 100 lbs last year she placed 2nd at 6-5A KSHSAA Regional D and the 6-5A KSHSAA State Championships. She also wrestled at the USA Wrestling’s Folkstyle National and placed 6th at Junior Girls 100 lbs. Sutton is also the only girl in Kansas Girls Wrestling History to win a Triple Crown award which she won in 2019.
3- Sheena Gocela: Winfield High School, Senior, Class 4-1A
Sheena Is ranked #1 in 4-1A Girls and #3 overall in the all-class rankings. She is your 4-1A KSHSAA Regional C Champion, and placed 4th at the 4-1A KSHSAA State Championships.
4- Trinity Motter: El Dorado, Senior, Class 4-1A
Motter is ranked #2 in 4-1A girls rankings and #4 in all class rankings. She placed 3rd at the KSHSAA 4-1A State Tournament.
5- Lainie Galvan: Basehor-Linwood, Freshman, Class 6-5A
Ms. Lainie Galvan is ranked #5 in both the 6-5A class and the all-class rankings. She placed 2nd at the Battle of the Belt 15U Girls, 1st in both the USAWKS District 1 Tournament and USAWKS Folkstyle State 14U 82 lbs. She also participated in the Hartland dual tournament and Fall Brawl.
Girls #105 Weight Class-
1- Kimberlyn Crabbs: Buhler, Junior, Class 4-1A
Crabbs is ranked #1 in both 4-1A all-class rankings and 4-1A class rankings. She placed 1st at the KSHSAA 4-1A Regional D and then placed 2nd at the 4-1A KSHSAA State Championships.
2- Molly Spader: Washburn Rural, Junior, Class 6-5A
Molly is ranked #2 in both the 6-5A class rankings and the all-class rankings. She placed 3rd at the 6-5A KSHSAA Regional D, and 5th at the 6-5A KSHSAA State Tournament. During the off-season, she placed 4th at the USAWKS Freestyle State Championships, and 1st at USAWKS Greco State Championships. At USA Wrestling Southern Plains Tournament she placed 2nd in both Freestyle and Greco.
3- Payton Burton: Leon, Junior, Class 4-1A
The junior from Leon is ranked #2 in the 4-1A class ranking and #3 in all class rankings. Payton placed 1st at the 4-A KSHSAA Regional A, and then moved into the KSHSAA 4-1A State Championships and placed 3rd. Wrestling at the USAWKS District 2 championships and USAWKS folkstyle state championships she placed 1st at HS Girls 105 lbs. USAWKS Freestyle State she placed 2nd at Girls Junior, and at USA Wrestling Southern Plains she placed 6th in Junior Girls.
4- Taylor Barringer: KMC, Sophomore, Class 6-5A
Taylor is ranked #1 in the 6-5A class rankings and #4 in the all-class rankings. She placed 2nd at the 6-5A KSHSAA Regional D and then placed 5th at the 6-5A KSHSAA State Championships. She also placed 1st at the District 2 championships and then 3rd at the USAWKS Folkstyle State Championships.
5- Isabela Gutierrez: LIB, Junior, Class 6-5A
Isabela is ranked number 3 in the 6-5A class rankings and #5 in the all-class rankings. She placed 4th in the 6-5A KSHSAA Regional A and then placed 6th in the 6-5A KSHSAA State Championships. She also placed 1st in the District 4 championships and then 2nd in the USAWKS Folkstyle State Championships.
Girls #110 Weight Class-
1- Alyssa Calovich: Chapman, Sophomore, Class 4-1A
Alyssa is ranked #1 in both the 4-1A rankings along with the all-class girls rankings. Last year she placed 1st at both the 4-1A KSHSAA Regional D and the 4-1A KSHSAA State Championships wrestling at 110 lbs. She also wrestled at the USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals and placed 16U Girls 110 lbs, and at the USAWKS Folkstyle State, she placed 1st at High School Girls 110 lbs.
2- Amara Ehsa: Derby, Senior, Class 6-5A
Amara is ranked 1st in the 6-5A Girls rankings and 2nd in the all-class rankings. She placed 105 lbs at the 6-5A KSHSAA State Championships. At the USAWKS Freestyle State she wrestled at Girls Junior she placed 4th and wrestled at the USA Wrestling Southern Plains Tournament.
3- Ashley Alonso: Dodge City, Junior, Class 6-5A
Ashley is ranked #2 in the 6-5A girls' class rankings and #3 in the all-class rankings. She placed 3rd at the 6-5A KSHSAA Regional A and 6-5A KSHSAA State Championships she placed 4th in both wrestling at 110 lbs.
4- Kristen Rezac: Washburn Rural, Senior, Class 6-5A
Kristen is ranked #3 in the 6-5A class rankings and #4 in the all-class rankings. She placed 3rd at the 6-5A KSHSAA State Championships.
5- Alivia Wilson: Witcha Southeast, Senior, Class 6-5A
Wilson is ranked #4 in the 6-5A class rankings and #5 in the all-class rankings. She placed 2nd at the KSHSAA 6-5A Regional D, and then 6th at the KSHSAA 6-5A State Chamionships. She also placed 2nd in USAWKS 2023 District 2 Championships at HS Girls 110 and then 5th at USAWKS 2023 Folkstyle State Chamionships.
Girls #115 Weight Class-
1- Nicole Redmond: Olathe South, Senior, Class 6-5A
Redmond is ranked #1 in both 6-5A girls ranking and #1 in the all-class rankings. She placed 1st at both the 6-5A KSHSAA Regional C and the 6-5A KSHSAA State Championships. Nicole took first at the USA Wrestling Folkstyle Championships wrestling at JR Girls 127lbs. She also took 1st in the USAWKS Freestyle State at Girls Junior. She also competed at Super 32 in Greensboro, North Carolina, 2021 Fargo All America, Folkstyle Nationals Champion and Outstanding Wrestler.
2- Holly Thacher: Oskaloosa, Junior, 4-1A
Thacher is ranked #2 in both the 4-1A girls and all class rankings. Wrestling at 105 lbs last season she placed 1st in the 4-1A KSHSAA Regional C and at the 4-1A KSHSAA State Championships. Putting in some off-season work Holly placed in many off-season tournaments. The first one was USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals and got 7th at Junior Girls 107, 2nd at USAWKS Folkstyle State in HS Girls 105, 1st at War on 54 Greco & Freestyle in Girls Junior, placing 2nd in USAWKS Greco & Freestyle State at Girls Junior, last but not least getting 3rd at USA Wrestling Southern Plains Greco & Freestyle Tournament in Junior Girls.
3- Bri Villanueva: Junction City, Sophomore, Class 6-5A
Bri is ranked #2 in the 115 lbs 6-5A girls class ranking and #3 in the all-class rankings.
4- Keera Lacock: Rossvilive, Senior, Class 4-1A
Keera is ranked #1 in the 4-1A girls' class rankings and #4 in the all-class rankings. She placed 1st in the 4-1A KSHSAA Regional C and placed 2nd at the 4-1A KSHSAA State Championships.
5- Stella Segura: Shawnee Mission South, Sophomore, Class 6-5A
Stella is ranked #5 in the girls all class rankings and #4 in the 6-5A girls rankings. She placed 1st in the 6-5A KSHSAA Regionals and placed 3rd at the 6-5A KSHSAA Girls State Championships. At USAWKS Folkstyle State Championships she 3rd, USAWKS Freestyle State she placed 2nd at the USA Wrestling Souther Plains Tournament she placed 3rd.
Girls #120 Weight Class-
1- Kendra Hurla: Rossilive, Senior, Class 4-1A
Kendra is ranked #1 in both 4-1A girls' rankings and #1 in the all-class rankings. Hurla is a 3x state champion and in her Junior year of HS, she was Regional C wrestler of the year. Kendra’s overall record is 86-3 and 79 of these are pins.
2- Leiannah Landreth: Mulvane, Junior, Class 4-1A
The Junior from Mulvane KS is ranked #2 in the 4-1A class rankings and the all-class rankings. She placed 1st in the 4-1A KHSSAA Regional D and then placed 3rd at the 4-1A KSHSAA State Championships. Wrestling at USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals she placed 1st at Junior Girls 117 and at the USAWKS Folkstyle State Championships she placed 1st in HS Girls 120. War on 54 Freestyle and Greco she placed 1st in Junior Girls, USAWKS Freestyle, and Greco State she placed 1st, at the USA Wrestling Southern Plains Tournament she placed 2nd.
3- Kadynce Axelson: Chaunte, Senior, Class 4-1A
Axleson is ranked #2 in the 4-1A class rankings along with #2 in the all-class rankings. She placed 5th at the 4-1A KSHSAA State Tournament.
4- Kayla Cramer: Manhattan, Freshman, Class 6-5A
Kayla Cramer is ranked #1 in the 6-5A girls' class rankings and #4 overall in the all-class rankings. She placed 1st at the USAWKS District 3 Championships, a Heartland Dual qualifier, and placed 1st in 14U at the USAWKS Folkstyle State Championships.
5- Ella Weber: Shawnee Mission West, Senior, Class 6-5A
Weber is ranked #2 in the 6-5A class rankings and ranked #5 overall. She placed 3rd at the 6-5A KSHSAA State Championships.
Girls #125 Weight Class-
1- Gabi Koppes: Clay Center, Junior, Class 4-1A
Gabi is ranked #1 in the 4-1A girls' class rankings and the all-class rankings. She also placed 1st at the 4-A KSHSAA Regional D, the 4-1A KSHSAA State Championships, the USAWKS District 3 Championships, and the USAWKS Folkstyle State.
2- Jill High: Augusta, Senior, Class 4-1A
Jill is ranked #2 in 125 lbs in the 4-1A class rankings and #2 overall. During her sophomore season she 2nd at the 4-1A KSHSAA Regional D and 3rd at the 4-1A KSHSAA State Championships. In her Junior year, she placed 1st in the USAWKS District 2 Championships and 1st in the USAWKS Folkstyle State Championships. Last but not least she placed 2nd at USAWKS Freestyle State and wrestled at USA Wrestling Southern Plains tournament.
3- Maya Tarbet: Garden City, Junior, Class 6-5A
Tarbet is ranked #1 in the 6-5A class rankings and #3 in the overall class rankings. She placed 1st at the 6-5A KSHSAA Regional A and then placed 1st at the 6-5A KSHSAA State Championships. She also placed 2nd at the District 2 championship at HS Girls 125.
4- Reese Clements: Chaunte, Senior, Class 4-1A
Clements is ranked #3 in the 4-1A and #4 in the all-class rankings. She placed 1st at the 4-1A KSHSAA Regional A and 3rd at the 4-1A KSHSAA State Championships. She also competed at the USAWKS Freestyle State.
5- Hanna Bailey: Girard, Senior, Class 4-1A
Hanna is ranked #5 in both the 4-1A girls rankings and the all-class rankings. She placed 2nd at the KSHSAA 4-1A Regional D and then placed 4th KSHSAA 4-1A State Chamionships. She also placed 1st at the USAWKS 2023 District 1 Championships and then placed 2nd at the USAWKS 2023 Folkstyle State Chamionships wrestling both at HS Girls 125 lbs.
Girls #130 Weight Class-
1- Amanda Jaegar: Colby, Senior, Class 4-1A
Ranked #1 in both the 4-1A class rankings and the all-class rankings is Amanda Jaegar from Colby. She placed first at the 4-1A Regional B and 4-1A KSHSAA State Championships. Then placed 5th at the USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals, 4th at USAWKS Folkstyle State, 1st War on 54 Freestyle and Greco State, and 6th at USA Wrestling Freestyle and Greco State.
2- Brooklyn Bureneide: Rock Creek, Junior, Class 4-A
Brooklyn is ranked #2 in both the 4-1A class rankings and the all-class rankings. She placed 1st at the 4-1A KSHSAA Regional C and 2nd at the 4-1A KSHSAA State Championships. At the USAWKS District 3 championships, she placed 1st at HS Girls 125 and then placed 4th at the USAWKS Folkstyle State Championships, and then in the spring she placed 1st both the USAWKS Freestyle & Greco State. Burneneide also placed competed at USA Wrestling Southern Plains. She placed 6th in Freestyle and 3rd in Greco.
3- Koti Best: Seamen, Junior, Class 6-5A
Koti is ranked #1 in the 6-5A girl's rankings and #3 overall in the all class rankings. She placed 1st in the 6-5A KSHSAA Regional B and then placed 2nd at the 6-5A KSHSAA State Championships. Best also competed at USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals and USAWKS Folkstyle State. At USAWKS Freestyle State she placed 4th.
4- Daizy Gomez: Great Bend, Senior, Class 6-5A
Gomez is ranked #2 in the 6-5A class rankings and #4 in the overall class rankings. She placed 2nd at the 6-5A KSHSAA Regional A and placed 4th at the 6-5A KSHSAA State Championships. Then she placed 3rd at the USAWKS freestyle State.
5- Ariana De La Rosa: Dodge City, Senior, Class 6-5A
Ariana is ranked #5 in both the 6-5A class rankings and the all-class rankings. Ariana is a returning state qualifier from the 6-5A KSHSAA State Championships. She was was the champion at the 6-5A KSHSAA Regional A tournament.
Girls #135 Weight Class-
1- Kaylan Hitchcock: Olathe North, Junior, Class 6-5A
Hitchcock is ranked #1 in both 6-5A class rankings and #1 in all class rankings. She is a 2x State Finalist, ranked #15th in the nation, and 2x Folkstyle All-American.
2- Keira Mullen: Smoky Valley, Senior, Class 4-1A
Mullen is ranked ranked #1 in the 4-1A class rankings and #2 in the class rankings. Last year she placed 2nd at the 4-1A KSHSAA Regionals and 1st at the 4-1A KSHSAA State Championships.
3- Madison Freeland: Shawnee Heights, Junior, Class 6-5A
Freeland is ranked #2 in the 6-5A girls and #3 in the all-class rankings. She placed 2nd at the 6-5A State Championships.
4- Kimarla Thompson: Pratt, Senior, Class 4-1A
Thompson is ranked #3 in the 4-1A class rankings and #4 in the all-class rankings. She placed 2nd at the 4-1A KSHSAA Regional and then 3rd at the 4-1A KSHSAA State Championships.
5- Lexi Burton: Hays, Senior, Class 6-5A
Lexi is ranked #3 in the 6-5A girls rankings and #5 in the all-class rankings. She placed 2nd at the 6-5A KSHSSA Regional A and then placed 5th at the 6-5A KSHSAA State Chamionships. During the off-season, she placed 2nd at the USAWKS 2023 District 4 Championship and then placed 3rd at the USAWKS Freestyle State and also placed 3rd at the USA Wrestling Southern Plains Greco Tournament.
Girls #140 Weight Class-
1- Kaydawn Hagg: Ellis, Senior, Class 4-1A
Hagg is ranked #1 in both the 4-1A class rankings and the all-class rankings. She placed 1st in both the 4-1A KSHSAA Regional and State Tournament. She also competed at the USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals.
2- Jayla Johnson: KMC, Senior, Class 6-5A
Johnson is ranked #1 in the 6-5A girls rankings and #2 in the all-class rankings. She placed 2nd at the 6-5A KSHSAA State Championships and placed 1st at the 6-5A KSHSAA Regional D.
3- Lyndsey Escareno: Eureka, Senior, Class 4-1A
Lyndsey is ranked #3 in the 4-1A class rankings along with the all-class rankings. She placed 1st at the 4-1A KSHSAA Regional Championships and placed 4th at the KSHSAA State Championships. At War on 54 Greco she placed 3rd and at War on 54 Freestyle she placed 2nd.
4- Olivia Randle: Andover, Junior, Class 6-5A
The Junior from Andover is ranked #2 in the 6-5A State Championships and #4 in the all-class rankings. She placed 4th at the 6-5A KSHSAA State Championships.
5- Anisa Moreno: Wichita North, Senior, Class 6-5A
Anisa is ranked #3 in 6-5A and #5 in the all-class rankings. Moreno moved from Texas where she placed 1st at her regionals and then 4th at state.
Girls #145 Weight Class-
1- Avari Johnson: Leavenworth, Senior, Class 6-5A
Avari is ranked #1 in both the 6-5A class rankings and the all-class rankings. She placed 1st the 6-5A KSHSAA Regional B and the 6-5A KSHSAA State Championships. During the off-season, she placed 3rd at the USA Wrestling Southern Plains Freestyle Tournament.
2- Destiny Gonzalez: Goodland, Junior, Class 4-1A
Gonzalez is ranked #1 in the 4-1A class rankings and the #2 in the all-class rankings. She placed 1st in the 4-1A KSHSAA Regional B and 2nd at the 4-1A KSHSAA State Tournament.
3- Campbell Mermis: Spring Hill, Junior, Class 6-5A
Campbell is #2 in the 6-5A class ranking and #3 in the all-class rankings. She placed 2nd at the 6-5A KSHSAA State Championships.
4- Hailee Crosland: Santa Fe Trail, Senior, Class 4-1A
Crossland is ranked #2 in the 4-1A class rankings and #4 in the all-class rankings. She placed 3rd at the 4-1A KSHSAA State Championships.
5- Jaden Ney: Russell, Junior, Class 4-1A
Jaden is ranked #3 in the 4-1A class rankings and #5 in all class rankings. She placed 1st at the 4-1A KSHSAA Regional B and then placed 2nd at the 4-1A KSHSAA State Championships.
Girls #155 Weight Class-
1- Sage Rosario: Manhattan, Junior, Class 6-5A
The Junior from Manhattan is ranked #1 in both the 6-5A class rankings and #1 in the class rankings. Sage placed 1st in the 6-5A KSHSAA Regional D and the 6-5A KSHSAA State Championships.
2- Hailey Horton: Rossville, Senior, Class 4-1A
Hailey is ranked #1 in the 4-1A class rankings and #2 in the overall class rankings. She placed 2nd at the 4-1A KSHSAA Regional C and then 3rd at the 4-1A KSHSAA State Championships.
3- Justice Thomas: Olathe East, Junior, Class 6-5A
Justice is ranked #3 in both the 6-5A class rankings the all-class rankings. She placed 2nd at the KSHSAA 6-5A Regional C and then competed at the KSHSAA 6-5A tournament. During the off-season she wrestled at USA Wrestling Folkstyle nationals where he placed 8th, 2nd at USAWKS Greco State, 4th at USAWKS Freestyle State, and 6th at USA Southern Plains Freestyle and Greco State.
4- Cianna Graves: Shawnee Heights, Sophomore, Class 6-5A
The sophomore from Shawnee Heights is ranked #2 in the 6-5A class ranking and #4 in the all-class rankings. Cianna was a state qualifier last year.
5- Rose Latta: Marysvile, Senior, Class 4-1A
Rose is ranked #2 in the 4-1A class rankings and #5 in the all-class rankings.
Girls #170 Weight Class-
1- Olivia Stean: Bonner Springs, Senior, Class 6-5A
Olivia Stean is ranked #1 in both the 6-5A class rankings and the class rankings. She placed 1st in both the 6-5A KSHSAA Regional B and the 6-5A State Championships. Olivia will be looking to capture her 4th State Championship as a Senior this season.
2- Grace Johns: Minneapolis, Senior, Class 4-1A
Grace a senior from Minneapolis is ranked #1 in the 4-A class rankings and #2 overall class rankings. She placed 2nd at the 4-1A KSHSAA Regional B and then 1st at the 4-1A KSHSAA State Championships. She placed 5th at the USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals and placed 1st at USAWKS Freestyle State.
3- Chole Haris- Olathe Northwest, Senior, Class 6-5A
Harris is ranked #2 in the 6-5A class ranking and #3 in the all-class rankings. She placed 1st at the 6-5A KSHSAA Regionals and then placed 3rd at the 6-5A KSHSAA Regionals. During the off-season, she placed 1st in the USAWKS Freestyle State, 1st in USA Wrestling Southern Plains Greco, and 2nd at USA Wrestling Southern Plains Freestyle. Then this fall she got 6th at Brain Kick Pre-Season Nationals.
4- Otavia Cain: Oakey, Senior, Class 4-1A
Cain is ranked #2 in the 4-1A class rankings and #4 in all class rankings. The Senior from Oakley placed 1st at the 4-1A KSHSAA Regional and then placed 2nd at the 4-1A KSHSAA State Championships. Right after the high school season she went and competed at the USAWKS District 4 Championships and placed 1st and then placed 2nd at the USAWKS Folkstyle State Championships.
5- Kylie Dilow: Chaunte, Sophomore, Class 4-1A
Dilow is ranked #3 in the 4-1A class rankings and #5 in the all-class rankings. Last year at the 4-1A State Championships she placed 3rd.
Girls #190 Weight Class-
1- Druzzla Johnston: Wichita West, Senior, Class 6-5A
The Senior from Wichita West is ranked #1 in the 6-5A class rankings and the all-class rankings. She placed 1st in the 6-5A KSHSAA Regional A, the 6-5A State Championships, USAWKS 2023 District 2 Championship, USAWKS Folkstyle State Championships, War on 54 Freestyle & Greco, USAWKS Freestyle and Greco State, and USA Wrestling Southern Plains Freestyle Tournament, then at the USA Wrestling Southern Plains Greco Tournament she placed 3rd.
2- Meya Howell: Mazie, Senior, Class 6-5A
The senior from Mazie is ranked #2 in both the 6-5A class rankings and #2 in the all-class rankings. In her Sophomore year, she placed 1st at the 6-5A KSHSAA Regional A and then 2nd at the 6-5A State Championships.
3- Karla Martinez: Bishop Carroll, Senior Class 6-5A
Karla is ranked #4 in the 6-5A class ranking and #3 in the all class rankings. Karla placed 3rd in the 6-5A KSHSAA State Championship.
4- Val Galligan: Olathe Northwest, Senior, 6-5A
Val is ranked #3 in the 6-5A class ranking and #4 in the all-class rankings. She placed 3rd at the 6-5A KSHSAA State Tournament.
5- Trinity Williams: Derby, Senior, Class 6-5A
Williams is ranked #5 in both the 6-5A class rankings and the all-class rankings. She placed 2nd at the 6-5A KSHSAA Regional A and then placed 4th at the 6-5A KSHSAA State Championships.
Girls #235 Weight Class-
1- Hailey Conley: Olathe North, Senior, Class 6-5A
Conley is ranked #1 in both the 6-5A class rankings and the all-class rankings. She placed 2nd 6-5A State Championship, and 1st in the 6-5A KSHSAA Regionals, the os Freestyle and Greco All-American. Ranked #23 in the national and had signed to wrestle at the next level at Fort Hays State University.
2- Trystyn Johnson: Topeka West, Senior, Class 6-5A
Johnson is ranked #2 in the 6-5A class along with #2 in the all-class rankings. She placed 3rd at the 6-5A State Championships.
3- Karen Rodriquez: Gardner-Edgerton, Senior, Class 6-5A
Karen is ranked #3 in the 6-5A class rankings and #3 in the all-class rankings. She placed 4th at the 6-5A State Championships,
4- Kena Leonard: Paola, Senior, Class 4-1A
The senior from Paloa is ranked #1 in the 4-1A class rankings and #4 in the all-class rankings. Last year the 4-1A KSHSAA State Championships she placed 3rd.
5- Ciara Rawson: McPherson, Senior, Class 4-1 A
Rawson is ranked #2 in the 4-1A class rankings and #5 in the all-class rankings. She placed 5th at the 4-1A KSHSAA State Championships.
All Class Rankings Top 5 Girls Teams-
#1: Washburn Rural- Class 6-5A
Washburn Rural is ranked #1 in the 6-5A girl's rankings and the all-the-girls all-class rankings. Washburn Rural had 7 wrestlers quality for the 2023 6-5A KSHSAA State Championship, and 6 girls placed. Molly Spader wrestled 100 lbs last year and placed 5th she is anticipated to wrestle 105 lbs this year. Kristen Rezac placed 3rd at 110 lbs and she is anticipated to wrestle 115 this year. Annie Gallegos wrestled 120 lbs and placed 4th. Laiken Clark wrestled 130 lbs and placed 5th. Madison Davison wrestled 145 lbs and placed 4th. Ashley Schwarz wrestled 150 lbs and placed 4th. They were Regional Champions for the 4th consecutive year and won the 2023 6-5A KSHSAA State Championship. Washburn Rural has won 3 team state titles for the last 4 years in a row. This past season they had 10 state qualifiers and 9 state medalists which set a new record in the state of Kansas.
Other accomplishments from last season were beating 5 nationally ranked teams and setting a new record for high school for girls a boys by scoring 695 team points at the tough Council Bluffs Classic tournament, undefeated dual record of 8-0.
Head Coach Damon Parker thought on this upcoming season "We are most certainly going to have our work cut out for us this season. Addi Broxterman and Alexis Fredrickson were two of the best to ever do it, and you don't instantly get better when you lose that kind of firepower from the lineup. Additionally, we have 4 returning state medalists who will be out for the season with injuries. But the reason our program has had so much success over the years is that we will never attach our value to the size of a trophy or the color of a medal. Our goals are always the same: to give our girls strength, a voice, a platform from which to use that voice, and an experience so positive that they INSIST their daughters get involved in the future. When you put your focus on those 4 points, the season is a success no matter what the final standings."
#2: Dodge City- Class 6-5A
Dodge City placed 3rd at the 6-5A State Championships and is ranked #2 in the 6-5A Girls rankings. They have 4 ranked wrestlers in the 6-5A class rankings.
#3- Rossville- Class 4-1A
Rossville placed 2nd at the 4-1A KSHSAA State Championships and is ranked #1 in the 4-1A class rankings. They have 2 wrestlers ranked in the 4-1A class rankings.
#4: Chanute- Class 4-1A
Chaunte is ranked #2 in the 4-A girls ranking and #4 in the all-girls class rankings. Chaunte had 5 state qualifiers last year and 3 of the 5 state qualifiers remaining this season. Additionally, Chaunte has 3 out of 4 there state place placers returning this season. The team won the KSHSAA 4-1A Girls State Championship, yet they didn’t have an individual state champion.
Head Coach Nick Northen's thoughts on this upcoming season “We are hoping to bring home another team state trophy this year, but the Chanute Girls have never had an individual state champion, and we are hoping to change that this year.”
#5 Olathe Northwest- Class 6-5A
Olathe Northwest placed 7th at the 6-5A State Championships and is ranked #4 in the 6-5A class rankings. They have 4 ranked wrestlers in the 6-5A girls' class rankings. Northwest has 6 State Qualifiers turning to the lineup. The team is led by 2 all Americans Chloe Harris and Val Galligan
Coach Newcomb Thoughts on the season “This will be the first year we have a girl in the 235 weight class as well. This has been a really fun group to coach and get to know. Hoping for a healthy year and continued growth from my team!”
Overall thought about the All-Class Rankings:
From researching and gathering information the 115 and 145 weight classes are tough. 3 girls are looking to win their 4th title this season. They are:
Kendra Hurla from Rossville
Nicole Redmond from Olathe South
Olivia Stean from Bonner Springs
These freshman girls are looking at making an impact on Kansas women's Wrestling. They are Callyn Davine, Kayla Cramer, Camdyn Post, Lainie Galvan, Harper Holmes, and Veronica Madrid.
A couple of top 5-pound for pound wrestlers in no order are…
Kendra Hurla from Rossville
Sage Rosario from Manhattan
Kaylan Hitchcock from Olathe North
Gabi Koppes from Clay Center
Olivia Stean from Bonner Springs
If you looking to watch any wrestlers this season these would be your girls.
Alexis Means from Bishop Carroll
*Moved from Texas and is a State placer* Anisa Moreno from Wichita North
*Moved from Oregan and is 2nd in the state* Maci Pearson from Olathe West
Kylie Dillow from Chaunte
Stella Segura from Shawnee Mission South
Hailey Conley from Olathe North
In conclusion, girls' wrestling is on the rise in the State of Kansas. For the first time, there will be girls winning their state title and you have girls' teams betting out nationally ranked teams at tournaments. This year will also be the first time that the 6-5A boys and girls State are Combined. In this combined tournament I hope the girl's finals matches will have the same energy as the boy's finals matches.
Last but not least Girls- Whether you are ranked or unranked, good luck this season. These rankings don’t mean anything.
Also, a HUGE Thank you to Coach Hitchcock from Olathe North and Coach Johnston from Basehor-Linwood for providing me with information for the story!
A LOOK INTO THE 23-24 GIRLS WRESTLING SEASON
