CLASS 5A GIRLS WRESTLERS TO WATCH IN 2024-25
 

KOTI BEST, SEAMAN
 
Preseason No. 2 at 120
 
After posting a runner-up finish in Class 6-5A at 130 pounds as a sophomore, dropping a 4-0 decision in the finals to eventual four-time state champion Nicole Redmond of Olathe South, Best had her sights set on getting a state title last year. But her season came to a premature end when she suffered a concussion in the championship match at regionals that prevented her from wrestling at state. Best was a state placer as a freshman, placing fourth at 132 pounds and going 29-8. With an 84-19 career record with 64 pin victories, she’s 16 wins away from 100 in her career and was a United Kansas Conference and regional champion as a sophomore and a finalist last year. Though ranked at 120 to start the season, Best likely will end up at 115 pound as she looks to complete her quest to become a state champion.
 

ALEXA CASTILLO, EMPORIA
 
Preseason No. 2 at 235
 
Castillo went from being a state qualifier as a freshman in 2023 to a state placer a year ago as a sophomore. After knocking off Liberal’s Aileen Figurora – this year’s preseason No. 1 in 6A – in the first round with a pin, Castillo bounced back from a second-round loss to Olathe North’s Hailey Conley to work her way through the backside to earn a state medal, finishing sixth after losing to Derby’s Trinity Williams and Bonner Springs’ Aaryn Krebs, who opens this season No. 1 at 235, a spot ahead of Castillo. Castillo finished 25-8 with 20 pins and was the Centennial League champion at 235 for the first time. She is now 41-21 in her career with 31 career pins.
 

KIMBER CRABBS, HUTCHINSON
 
Crabbs enters her junior season at Hutchinson after twice qualifying for the Class 4-1A state tournament for Buhler. After making it all the way to the 105-pound final as a freshman, Crabbs rolled into regionals with an unbeaten record last winter before falling to Clay Center’s Alissa Cowing 9-7 in the championship. At state, Crabbs’ title hopes were derailed in the quarters by Burlingame’s Maliyah Lopez, and she finished the season 27-3 with a loss to Wabaunsee’s Sophia Castillo in her first consolation match. She joins the Salthawks with a 53-7 high school record. 
 

MAIA DOLINAR, PIPER
 
Preseason No. 1 at 135
 
Dolinar made a huge leap last year as a sophomore for the Pirates. A state qualifier as a freshman in 2023 when she went 22-15 (1-2 at state), Dolinar evolved into a title contender last winter. She nearly doubled her win total to post a 40-3 record at 125 pounds and reached the Class 6-5A state championship match where she dropped a 4-0 decision to Garden City’s Maya Tarbet to settle for a second-place showing. Dolinar is moving up to 135 pounds where she will be a favorite. 
 

MAKAYLA FAULKNER, BASEHOR-LINWOOD
 
Preseason No. 2 at 145
 
One of five returning state placers for the Bobcats, Faulkner is also one of three that will start the season ranked either No. 1 or 2 at their respective weight, opening No. 2 at 145 behind Spring Hill’s Campbell Mermis. It was Mermis who halted Faulkner’s quest for the 145-pound title at the Class 6-5A state meet a year ago, taking a 6-2 win in the semifinals. Faulkner fell again in the consolation semifinals before finishing her sophomore season with a win to place fifth and post a 37-9 record. Faulkner was a state qualifier as a freshman as well, finishing that season with a 27-18 record.
 

 
MADISON FREELAND, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS
 
Preseason No. 2 at 135
 
Coming off a state runner-up finish at 135 pounds as a sophomore in 2023, Freeland couldn’t quite put things together at last year’s Class 6-5A state meet and went just 1-2. She finished the season 27-4 overall with 25 pin wins. The rough state showing should have her plenty motivated for her senior season as she looks to close out her career with a state title. Freeland has captured United Kansas Conference and 6-5A regional titles each of the past two seasons and goes into this season with a 77-22 career record with 74 of those victories coming via pin. 
 

ISYS GALINDO, PITTSBURG

Preseason No. 1 at 115

Galindo is still looking for her first state medal in wrestling, but it might be the only activity, of which she has many, where she’s still looking for success on the biggest stage. In addition to being voted prom queen at Pittsburg’s homecoming festivities back in September, she also competes in debate, where she’s qualified for national competitions, and plays bassoon in the high school band. For the latter, Galindo has won the group’s “Drill Down” competition, held every August, in all four years of her high school career. Until her sophomore year, Galindo did all this while also competing in cross country as well as track and field. She generally spends her summers collecting countless medals at national events for karate and taekwondo, yet still finding time to do that same thing as a member of the Pittsburg Elite cheerleading club team. Galindo enters her senior season of wrestling as a two-time state qualifier, although she did not place either of those seasons. So it might seem like a big jump for her to become the top-ranked wrestler at 115 in 5A. Obviously part of that jump is because of girls wrestling doubling the number of classifications for this season. But with Galindo’s success across so many pursuits, don’t expect her to be overpressured by her newfound place at the top of the rankings.
 

 
LAINIE GALVAN, BASEHOR-LINWOOD
 
Preseason No. 1 at 100
 
Galvan burst onto the scene as a freshman a year ago, winning 41 matches to rank among the state leaders. But one of the wins that eluded her should have her motivated for her sophomore season. Going into last year’s state tournament as a regional champion at 100 pounds, Galvan was upset in the first round by Washburn Rural’s Kamiryn Clark. Galvan bounced back to win three straight matches to reach the consolation semifinals and after losing 1-0 to Liberal’s Keirsie Carlile, won her last match to finish fifth and with a 41-5 overall record.
 

 
CIANNA GRAVES, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS
 
Preseason No. 1 at 155
 
Graves had a somewhat abbreviated freshman season in 2022-23, only wrestling in 27 matches, posting a 19-8 mark. But she finished strong, winning United Kansas Conference and Class 6-5A regional titles before placing sixth at state at 155 pounds. The momentum carried over to a big sophomore season where she went 32-8, repeated her league and regional titles and improved to a fifth-place finish at state, coming back from a second-round loss to three-time state champion Sage Rosario of Manhattan to earn her second straight state medal. Graves has posted 45 career pins in her 51 career wins and is well on her way to joining Heights’ 100-win club.
 

TAYLIE HESTON, SEAMAN
 
Preseason No. 3 at 125
 
Heston secured her first state medal a year ago, finishing fourth at 120 pounds to cap a 30-10 season. Her losses at state came to four-time state champion Nicole Redmond of Olathe South in the semifinals and then to Hays’ Tionna Napue in the consolation finals. Heston is a three-time league finalist, claiming United Kansas Conference titles each of the last two seasons and also is a three-time regional champion. She’s posted an 81-29 career record and has 49 career pins. Ranked at 125 to start the season, Heston will return to 120 and teams with fellow senior Koti Best to give Seaman a pair of title contenders.
 

AVERY HINOJOS, NEWTON
 
Preseason No. 2 at 110
 
After falling one victory short of the medal stand as a freshman, Hinojos made considerable strides in 2023-24, posting a 35-4 record that ended with a 7-2 loss to Dodge City’s Ashley Alonso in the Class 6-5A 110-pound final. Hinojos captured the Junction City regional title and defeated 4-1A third-place finisher Autumn Wilson of Tonganoxie for the Newton Tournament of Champions title. She enters her junior season with a 64-17 high school record.
 

 
HARPER HOLMES, PITTSBURG
 
Preseason No. 1 at 110
 
As a freshman last year at Frontenac, Holmes put together an impressive 35-4 campaign on her way to winning the 105-pound state title in 4-1A. In fact, all four of her losses were contested in the 110-pound weight class. That will not be a qualifying point for resume this season as she looks to tackle that weight class, and in 5A, after joining the Pittsburg program for her sophomore year while being home-schooled. She’ll be a strong addition to a Dragons squad which will start the year with four wrestlers ranked, all in the 110 through 125 weight classes, including a fellow No. 1 in senior teammate Isys Galindo topping the preseason 115 rankings.
 

JAEANN JAMES, NEWTON
 
Preseason No. 2 at 130
 
James, a junior, made a gritty run through the consolation bracket to finish fifth in the Class 6-5A state tournament at 130 last season. After losing by pin in the closing seconds to regional champion Isabel Reyes in the opening round, James battled her way to the medal stand with a tiebreaker victory, a sudden victory and a 2-1 decision before falling to Blue Valley Southwest’s Karoline Kendall in the consolation semis. Kendall will open this season one spot ahead of James in the KWCA rankings. James’ 34-12 season included a Eureka Invitational title.
 

KAROLINE KENDALL, BLUE VALLEY SOUTHWEST
 
Preseason No. 1 at 130
 
Kendall returns from a 35-8 junior campaign where she ended the year with a fourth-place finish in 130 at state. She reached the state semifinals before suffering a pin early in the first round against eventual state champ Daizy Gomez of Great Bend. After a 7-2 decision over Newton’s Jaeann James in the consolation semis, Kendall got pinned again in her third-place match against Ariana De La Rosa of Dodge City. Kendall took runner-up at regionals, losing to eventual state runner-up Sophia Oppeau of Spring Hill in the finals of that tournament. Before that, Kendall won an Eastern Kansas League title while also taking first at her team’s home tournament, Newton’s Tournament of Champions and Washburn Rural’s invitational. Those three latter tournaments were all held in January. Kendall owns wins over each of the next three wrestlers behind her at 130 in the 5A preseason rankings.
 

AARYN KREBS, BONNER SPRINGS

Preseason No. 1 at 235
 
Krebs earned a 20-6 record during her junior campaign as she took fourth at 235 in 6-5A. She had the tough draw of facing Hailey Conley of Olathe North in the opening round at state, where Conley won by 2-1 decision. Krebs earned three straight wins to run into Conley again in the consolation semifinals. Conley, who entered state as the top seed before getting upset in the semifinals after getting pinned by eventual state champ Meya Howell of Maize South, would be even more locked in this time as she pinned Krebs midway through the third period. Krebs recovered by earning a 4-1 decision win over Alexa Castillo of Emporia in their fifth-place match. Now Krebs will be determined to reach that elusive run to the championship round. She’ll enter this season as the top-ranked wrestler at 235 in 5A. Castillo, who Krebs also beat in the regular season, sits one spot behind her on those preseason rankings, followed by De Soto’s Gabby Chaney and Leavenworth’s Sarayja Nelson. Krebs beat Chaney during the regular season last year and split four matches with Nelson before getting the decisive nod for their season battle when Krebs earned a 2-0 decision victory over her in the consolation second round at state.
 

DELANEY LOCKE, BASEHOR-LINWOOD
 
Preseason No. 3 at 115
 
Delaney and twin sister Miley had a huge impact on Basehor-Linwood’s roster last year as freshmen along with fellow freshman standout Lainie Galvan with the trio anchoring the first three spots in the lineup. Delaney finished with a 34-13 mark, taking second at the United Kansas Conference meet at 110 pounds and following it up with a runner-up finish at regionals. After falling in her first match at state, Locke won three straight matches to get to the consolation semifinals and eventually finished fifth.
 

MILEY LOCKE, BASEHOR-LINWOOD
 
Preseason No. 4 at 105
 
Part of Basehor-Linwood’s outstanding freshman class along with twin sister Delaney, Locke enjoyed the best finish at last year’ Class 6-5A state meet of the Bobcats’ five state placers. She lost in the 105-pound second round to eventual state champion Amara Ehsa of Derby by a 6-0 decision, but won three straight matches to get into the consolation finals where she dropped a 9-0 decision to Newton’s Brooklyn Treaster, who is ranked No. 1 at her weight this season. Locke, who won a United Kansas Conference title, finished with a 32-9 mark, two wins behind Delaney’s 34.
 

 
MALIA MARTIN, PIPER
 
Preseason No. 1 at 170
 
Martin more than doubled her win total from her sophomore to junior seasons, going 15-15 as a sophomore in 2022-23 to a 35-12 mark last winter. She’s still looking for her first state medal, falling one win shy of getting it a year ago when she went 2-2 at state at 170 pounds. She was the United Kansas Conference runner-up at 170 a year ago as well and took third at regionals, earning her second straight state berth.
 

ALEXIS MEANS, BISHOP CARROLL
 
Preseason No. 1 at 140
 
Means enters her senior season as a two-time state placer with 65 victories over the last two seasons. She was named most outstanding wrestler of the Greater Wichita Athletic League meet last winter after winning the 135-pound title. She then finished second at regionals and fourth at state en route to a 34-5 record, falling to eventual champ Kaylan Hitchcock of Olathe North in the semis. Means posted a 31-10 record and sixth-place finish in Class 6-5A at 130 as a sophomore.
 

CAMPBELL MERMIS, SPRING HILL
 
Preseason No. 1 at 145
 
Over the last two years, Mermis has earned two state runner-up finishes and put together a 79-7 record. In fact, she’s actually 79-0 in the time against every wrestler other than Leavenworth’s Avari Johnson. In the 145-pound 6-5A state final in February, Johnson completed her second straight state title at the hands of Mermis, who also had her freshman season end with a defeat against Johnson in the consolation rounds back at the 2022 state tournament. Despite entering that match with six prior defeats against Johnson, Mermis responded every time Johnson took a lead in the first two periods. She scored two points late in each of those frames to tie up the score, leading to a 5-all tie heading into the third. But Johnson took control by securing a takedown, releasing and immediately earning another takedown on the way to a 9-7 decision. Mermis won’t get another chance to finally defeat her nemesis, but she will enter her senior year without Johnson standing in the way of one last chance to bring home a state title. Mermis holds the top spot at 145 in 5A.
 

TIONNA NAPUE, HAYS
 
Preseason No. 1 at 120

Napue followed up a state runner-up showing as a sophomore with a third-place effort at 120 pounds in Class 6-5A last year. Napue lost in the quarterfinals to champion Nicole Redmond from Olathe South before going 4-0 on the backside of the bracket, capping her junior season with a 5-3 decision win over Seaman’s Taylie Heston in the third-place match. Napue posted a 35-4 record last season and enters her senior campaign as one the favorites at 120.
 

CAMDYN POST, GREAT BEND
 
Preseason No. 2 at 105

Post made an immediate impact as a freshman last season, taking sixth place at 105 pounds in Class 6-5A. Post beat Shawnee Heights’ Connie Burns by a 7-2 decision in the quarterfinals before losing by fall to Washburn Rural’s Molly Spader in the semifinals. She dropped her two matches on the backside of the bracket, finishing with a 30-12 record. Post is ranked No. 2 in the 5A 105 rankings behind Newton’s Brookelyn Treaster.
 

IZZY RENFRO, BASEHOR-LINWOOD
 
Preseason No. 1 at 190
 
Coming of a 23-23 freshman season in 2023 when she went 1-2 at state, Renfro became a force at 190 pounds last year as a sophomore, tying freshman Lainie Galvan for the most wins. Renfro finished with a 41-10 record overall, placing fifth at the Class 6-5A state meet. She was upset in her first match at state, but pulled out a pair of two-point wins on the back side of the bracket to secure a state medal, finishing the meet with a 5-4 win over Spring Hill’s Avery Feeback. One of five returning state placers, Renfro will be the one everyone is gunning for at 190 pounds this season and is a big reason Basehor is ranked No. 1 in Class 5A to start the season.
 

SAVANNAH SHIRES, PITTSBURG
 
Preseason No. 3 at 120
 
Shires returns from a 25-15 campaign and sixth-place finish as a junior last season. Shires reached the state semifinals in the 115-pound bracket at last year’s state tournament, before running into eventual state champion Stella Segura of Shawnee Mission South. Segura earned a 16-0 tech fall victory to send Shires to the backside of the bracket. Shires was not able to turn things around from there as she lost by 15-8 decision against Wichita North’s Xitlaly Meraz in the consolation semis, followed by a 8-0 major decision loss to Maize’s Anissa Robinson in their fifth-place match. Heading into her senior year, Shires will try her hand at wrestling in the 120-pound weight class in 5A. In the preseason rankings, she sits third behind Hays’ Tionna Napue, who took third at that weight class last year in 6-5A, and Seaman’s Koti Best, who finished as the state runner-up at 115 two years ago but saw her season end without a state medal after a concussion in the regional final interfered with her plans to return to the state podium.
 

REECE TAYLOR, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS
 
Preseason No. 1 at 125
 
Taylor enjoyed her best season last year when she went 25-10 and finished fourth at the Class 6-5A state meet at 125 pounds. She was oh so close to wrestling for a state title last year, falling 3-1 in overtime to No. 1 Maya Tarbet of Garden City in the semifinals. Taylor pinned 18 opponents a year ago and has 58 in her career among her 69 career victories. She placed fifth at state as a sophomore in 2023 and is a two-time United Kansas Conference runner-up finisher.
 

BROOKELYN TREASTER, NEWTON
 
Preseason No. 1 at 105
 
The youngest of Newton’s accomplished wrestling family made a solid high school debut on the girls side last season, posting a 27-9 record and third-place finish in Class 6-5A at 105. Treaster won the Douglass Invitational and knocked off eventual state champion Amara Ehsa of Derby in the Newton Tournament of Champions semifinals. She finished second at regionals, dropping a 9-8 decision to state runner-up Molly Spader of Washburn Rural in the final. Treaster set Newton’s 5-kilometer girls cross country record at the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II meet this fall.
 
 

ADDISON VOGEL, BONNER SPRINGS
 
Preseason No. 2 at 155 
 
Vogel put together a 22-6 season with a sixth-place finish at state as a junior last season. She reached the state quarterfinals before losing via pin to Olathe South’s Justice Thomas. Vogel earned a couple more wins on the backside of the bracket before suffering a 5-2 decision loss to Blue Valley Southwest’s Hayley Flores in the consolation semifinals. She was unable to turn things around in her fifth-place match against Shawnee Heights’ Cianna Graves, who pinned Vogel in the final minute of the third period. Vogel will enter this season as the No. 2-ranked wrestler in the 155-pound weight class for 5A. She sits one spot behind Graves, who Vogel actually defeated in last year’s regional finals as she won 4-1 in a tiebreaker.