2023-24 GIRLS WRESTLING PREVIEW
 

 
CLASS 6-5A
 
2022-23 State champion: Washburn Rural
 
2022-23 State runner-up: Garden City
 
2022-23 Season review: Washburn Rural went from being the hunted to the hunter during the 2022-23 season after seeing its run of two straight Class 6-5A state championships ended by Dodge City in 2022. Going into the state tournament, the Red Demons looked every bit the favorite to follow Rural’s back-to-back titles in 2020 and 2021 with a repeat of their own, qualifying 10 wrestlers for state with five earning regional titles. Rural matched Dodge City’s state contingent with five of its 10 qualifiers also going in as regional champions. But after the first day, it was Garden City that held the lead, getting two of its three semifinalists into the finals while Dodge City got just one of three and Rural went 0-3 in the semifinals. But facing a 20-point deficit going into Day Two, Rural rose to the occasion. By the time the championship matches hit the mat, Rural had its third state championship in hand. The Junior Blues saw all 10 of their qualifiers win at least two matches at state and nine make the medal stand. Led by third-place finishes from Addison Broxterman at 125 and Kristen Rezac at 105 and a trio of fourth-place finishers, Rural scored 153 points to beat Garden City by 12 for the title. Dodge City finished third with 109 points, while Shawnee Heights (73) and Leavenworth(66.5) rounded out the top five.
 
2022-23 Contenders: As perhaps the largest girls wrestling program in the country, Washburn Rural’s sheer numbers alone will keep the Junior Blues among the favorites for the state title each year. But along with that quantity comes plenty of quality. Rural will miss three-time state placers Addison Broxterman, who finished her career tied with Pratt’s Jadyn Thompson as the all-time wins leader for girls, and Alexis Fredrickson, but those were the only losses to graduation off last year’s state team and the strength of the team comes from its depth. The Junior Blues are ranked No. 1 in the preseason 6-5A rankings without having an individual ranked first or second at their respective weight. Seniors Kristen Rezac (110) and Lakin Clark (130) and juniors Molly Spader (105) and Madison Davison (135) are all ranked fourth at their weights after being state placers a year ago. Senior Sophia Ross (235) and juniors Annie Gallegos (126) and Ashley Schwarz (155) also return as state placers with Ross and Gallegos each ranked No. 4. Junior Maddy Blow (120), a returning state placer, is ranked No. 6. Once again, Dodge City figures to be Rural’s top challenger, motivated by a disappointing state showing in which the Red Demons finished with five state placers. Junior Jessica Rivera was the Red Demons’ lone finalist a year ago and is ranked No. 1 at 105 to start the season. Dodge City has five ranked wrestlers overall with junior Ashley Alonso (110) No. 2 and sophomore Yareli Garcia (140) No. 3. Last year’s runner-up, Garden City starts this season No. 5 in the rankings. The Buffaloes are led by returning state champion Maya Tarbet, who is No. 1 at 125, who is one of four Buffaloes ranked. Garden City was dealt a tough blow when returning state finalist Julissa Rodriguez was severely injured in an ATV accident over the summer. Fifth a year ago, Shawnee Heights is No. 3 in the team rankings with three ranked wrestlers led by junior Madison Freeland, a state runner-up a year ago who is No. 2 at 135 this season. Olathe Northwest is No. 4 with four ranked wrestlers, including a pair of No. 2s – Chloe Harris (155) and Val Galligan (170). Sunflower League rival Olathe North is one of two schools with two No. 1s to start the season along with Manhattan. Returning champion Kaylan Hitchcock at 135 and returning runner-up Hailey Conley at 235 are top-ranked for North while and returning two-time champion Sage Rosario (155) and freshman Kayla Cramer (120) are No. 1 for Manhattan. A pair of three-time state champions are one step away from becoming the first four-time state champions since the girls state tournament became KSHSAA sanctioned in 2020. Olathe South’s Nicole Redmond will move down two weights to 115 this season after winning titles at 120, 126 and 130 while Bonner Springs’ Olivia Stean is going for her fourth straight crown at 170. In all, nine state champions from a year ago return – Tarbet, Hitchcock, Redmond, Stean, Rosario, Junction City’s Bre Villanueva (115) , Derby’s Amara Ehsa (110), Leavenworth’s Avari Johnson (145) and Wichita West’s Duzzla Johnson (190). Ehsa and Rosario are each seeking their third straight titles. The preseason top 10 is rounded out by Manhattan, Olathe North, Kapaun Mt. Carmel, Derby and Wichita North with all but Wichita North having a preseason No. 1 individual.
 

 
CLASS 4-3-2-1A
 
2022-23 State champion: Chanute
 
2022-23 State runner-up: Rossville
 
2022-23 Season review: A month prior to the Class 4-1A state championships a state title seemed improbable, if not impossible for Chanute. The Blue Comets were nowhere to be found in the team rankings, a position they found themselves in even going into regionals. But once the postseason hit, Chanute hit like a force. The Blue Comets won their regional title and carried that momentum with them to Salina. Tied for third with Baldwin after Day One, but just four points behind leader Rossville and three behind Columbus, Chanute did the work on the backside to wrap up the title before its lone finalist – 155-pounder Brinly Bancroft – hit the mats for her title match. Four of Chanute’s five state qualifiers posted top-five finishes, led by a runner-up showing from Bancroft and thirds from Reese Clements (125) and Kylie Dillow (170), and all five posted at least two wins to give Chanute 88 points, 15 points more than runner-up Rossville. The Bulldawgs were led by three-time state champion Kendra Hurla (120) and runner-up Keera Lacock (115) and had three placers overall. Baldwin finished third with 70 points followed by Santa Fe Trail and Pratt, who tied for fourth with 66 points. Pratt was the defending champion from 2022 and had been ranked No. 1 for the bulk of the season but didn’t have a finalist.
 
2022-23 Contenders: Returning three state placers, Chanute will have a solid core to build around as it goes after a second straight championship. Senior Reese Clements (125) and sophomore Kylie Dillow (170) both were third-place finishers a year ago and start the season No. 3 at their respective weights again. Junior Kadynce Axelson, who placed fifth at 120 a year ago, is No. 2 at the weight to start the season. The Blue Comets will begin the season chasing the team that finished just behind them in the final standings last year. Rossville not only returns three state placers, but all three start the year ranked No. 1 at their respective weights. Kendra Hurla is one title away from becoming the first four-time state champion in girls history since KSHSAA sanctioned the state tournament starting in 2020, all three of her titles coming at 120 where she returns this season. Teammate Keeara Lacock joined her in the finals a year ago, taking second at 115, where she is ranked No. 1 this year. Fellow senior Hailey Horton is No. 1 at 155 where she finished third a year ago. No other Bulldawg is ranked so that trio will have to do the heavy lifting if Rossville is to capture the title. Smoky Valley got its first individual state champion a year ago when Kiera Mullen was the upset champion at 135. She’s back for the Vikings, who are ranked No. 3 as a team with two other Vikings joining Mullen in the individual rankings. Looking to reclaim the state title it won in 2021, Pratt also has three in the rankings led by No. 2 Keimarla Thompson, a state finalist in 2022 who took third last year. Girard is No. 5 with a trio of ranked individuals as well. Oskaloosa’s Holly Thacher and Clay Center’s Gabi Koppes are each halfway to becoming four-time state champions and will look to continue that quest – Thacher at 110 and Koppes at 125. Joining that duo, Hurla and Mullen as returning champions from a year ago are Winfield’s Sheena Gocela (100), Chapman’s Alyssa Calovich (110), Colby’s Amanda Jaeger (130), Ellis’ Kaydawn Haag (140) and Minneapolis’ Grace Johns (170) as nine of 2023’s state champions are back to defend their titles. Rounding out the top 10 in the preseason team rankings are Goodland, Paola, Winfield, Santa Fe Trail and Chapman– all but Trail having a preseason No. 1 individual.