2025-26 GIRLS WRESTLING SEASON PREVIEW 

CLASS 6A 

2024-25 State champion: Garden City 

2024-25 State runner-up: Dodge City 

2024-25 Season review: After back-to-back runner-up showings, Garden City broke through for its state championship. The Buffaloes accumulated 219.5 points to win by 29.5 points over Western Athletic Conference rival Dodge City. It was their first season under head coach Paul Lappin, who previously served as an assistant. The Buffaloes put five wrestlers in the finals and had the title locked up by the end of the consolation rounds. The Buffaloes had two individual champions. Maya Tarbet won the 130-pound title to become a three-time state champion and Crystal Loera captured the 125 crown. Emjay Marez (110), Marina Loera (115) and Julissa Rodriguez (120) were all runner-ups. Nine Buffaloes earned state medals. Nicole Abrego and Kaira Acosta took third at 100 and 105, respectively, and Margarita Guzman took fourth at 140 while Alyxia Serrana was fifth at 135. Dodge City was state runner-up with 190 points. The Red Demons had a pair of champions – Elizabeth Ramirez (105) and Ashley Alonso (110) – and eight total medalists. Four-time state champion Washburn Rural took third place with 166 points. The Junior Blues had eight wrestlers earn state medals. Shawnee Mission South took fourth, led by Lulu Kirk’s 235-pound title. Makenzie Sharp’s 140-pound title highlighted Olathe North’s fifth-place finish in the team standings. 

2025-26 Contenders: Reigning champion Garden City is loaded with returning experience. The Buffaloes graduated a three-time state champion in Maya Tarbet but they enter the season with nine wrestlers ranked in 6A. Crystal Loera won the 125-pound title last year and is ranked No. 1 at 130 pounds heading into her junior season. Senior Julissa Rodriguez was runner-up at 120 last year and is ranked No. 1 at 125. Senior Emjay Marez and junior Marina Loera were also runner-ups at 110 and 115, respectively. Marez is ranked No. 2 at 110 and Marina Loera is No. 2 at 120. Other returning state placers include Nicole Abrego (third at 100), Kaira Acosta (third at 105), Margarita Guzman (fourth at 140). Dodge City, which won a state title in 2022, returns five of its eight wrestlers that placed at state last year. The Red Demons have a returning state champion in junior Elizabeth Ramirez at 105 pounds. They graduated a two-time state champion in Ashley Alonso. Senior Naomi Orozco was runner-up at 170 and is ranked No. 1 at that weight. Senior Yareli Garcia was third at 155 last year, while senior Maribel Castro placed fourth at 190 pounds. Washburn Rural has been the state’s premier program since girls wrestling became KSHSAA-sanctioned. The Junior Blues took third last year. Seniors Emmerson Blanco (third at 145), Elia Smith (third at 170), Lacey Middleton (fourth at 120), Madison Blanco (fourth at 135) are returning state placers for the Junior Blues. Shawnee Mission South’s Lulu Kirk captured the 235 title as a freshman last season. Senior Stella Segura is another former state champion for the Raiders, winning the 115-pound title as a sophomore and taking third last year. She’s ranked No. 1 at 110 pounds heading into her senior season. South’s Siobhan Flanner was the 155 state runner-up last year to Derby’s Veronica Madrid, who has moved out of state. Other returning state placers for the Raiders are sophomore Addilyn Masters (third at 125) and junior Rachael Wilson (third at 130). Olathe North graduated a two-time state champion in Kaylan Hitchcock, who took runner-up last year at 145 to Olathe East’s Audrey Lennard, as well as Makenzie Sharp, who won the 140 title last year. North junior Molly Marty was runner-up at 235 to Kirk and senior Zjedai Royal Bey took fifth at 155 last season for the Eagles. Junction City’s Bree Villanueva is a two-time state champion at 115 pounds. She won state as a freshman, took second to Segura as a sophomore and then recaptured her title last season. Other returning state champions are Wichita North’s Reese Anderson (120), Manhattan’s Alayna Slifer (135) and Olathe East’s Audrey Lennard (145). 
 

CLASS 5A 

2024-25 State champion: Kapaun Mt. Carmel 

2024-25 State runner-up: Basehor-Linwood 2024-25 Season review: Courtney Nye’s 125-pound title highlighted Kapaun Mt. Carmel’s first team championship. The Crusaders entered the finals with a three-point lead and held off Basehor-Linwood for the title, with Nye’s win over Seaman’s Koti Best sealing a 157-150 victory. Kapaun had seven total medalists, including runner-ups Bella Green (140) and Gianna Redcorn (235). Basehor-Linwood’s second-place showing was fueled by eight state-placers. Lainie Galvan (100), Makayla Faulkner (145) and Izzy Renfro (190) were all runner-ups. Third-place Shawnee Heights put seven on the medal stand, led by 130 runner-up Isabel Reyes. Newton’s Brookelyn Treaster (105) and Avery Hinojos (115) won individual state championships to lead a fourth-place showing for the Railroaders. Fifth-place Emporia also had a pair of champs in Kensley Medrano (120) and Alexa Castillo (235). 

2025-26 Contenders: Defending champion Kapaun Mt. Carmel enters the season with six ranked wrestlers. Reigning 125-pound champion Courtney Nye  is ranked No. 1 heading into her senior season, and junior Grace Hare is top-ranked at 135. Hare placed fourth at state last season. Senior Bella Green took second at 140 a season ago and is ranked No. 2. Sophomore Olyvia Besco earned a fourth-place state medal at 170 pounds as a freshman and is ranked third heading into this season. Kapaun enters the season ranked No. 2 behind Basehor-Linwood. The Bobcats finished seven points out of first place at last season's state tournament. They return three state runner-ups in junior Lainie Galvan (100) and seniors Makayla Faulkner (145) and Izzy Renfro (190). Faulkner is ranked No. 1 at 145. Other returning state placers from last season include juniors Miley Locke (third at 105), Delaney Locke (fifth at 110), seniors Kimberlee Scott (third at 170) and sophomore Falasteen Shalabi (sixth at 155). Shawnee Heights took third last year. Returning medalists for the Thunderbirds include senior Cianna Graves (third at 155), junior Audrey Hinkly (fourth at 120), Olivia Stevens (fourth at 145) and Brooklyn Binkley (sixth at 170). Newton is led by reigning state champions Brookelyn Treaster (105) and Avery Hinojos (115). Treaster, a junior, and Hinojos, a senior, are both ranked No. 1. Senior Jaenn James is top-ranked at 130 for the Railroaders after taking fourth at state last year. Junior Ryah Bristol (fourth at 130) and senior Ashley McMullin (fifth at 120) are also returning state placers for the Railers. Emporia also brings back a pair of champions in seniors Kensley Medrano and Alexa Castillo. Medrano is the reigning 120 champion and Castillo won the 235 title last season and is expected to wrestle at 190 this year. Sienna Spaulding (sixth at 105) and Yaneli Carranza (fifth at 145) also earned state medals last season for the Spartans. Castillo sits atop a loaded 190 weight class ahead of reigning 190 champion Makayla Cadet, a senior from Highland Park and Basehor-Linwood’s Renfro. The list of returning state champions also includes Maize South sophomore Krislynn Martinez (105), Piper senior Maia Dolinar (135) and Bonner Springs senior Addison Vogel (155). Two-time state champion Harper Holmes won the 110-pound title for Pittsburg but will wrestle for Class 4A Frontenac this season. She also wrestled for the Raiders when she won a 4-1A title at 105 pounds as a freshman.

2024-25 State champion: Tonganoxie 

2024-25 State runner-up: Fort Scott

2024-25 Season Review: Tonganoxie saw seven different Chieftains win matches at state and five make the podium to secure the program’s first state championship. Tonganoxie took the lead into Day 2 and finished strong to amass 104 points and top second-place Fort Scott by 17 points. Stella Bradley captured a 115-pound championship for the Chieftains with a quick pin in the final. Tonganoxie’s Grace Stean made the 170 title match before losing to two-time champion Kiley Dillow from Chanute. Mackenzie Colgrove made the 145-pound semifinals and ultimately finished fourth, while Autumn Wilson was fifth at 110 pounds and Finley Keller took sixth at 135. Fort Scott’s runner-up effort was highlighted by Kenna Miles’ second straight championship at 110 pounds. The Tigers edged third-place Pratt by 1.5 points. The Greenbacks were led by undefeated 130-pound champion Wendy Candia. Rock Creek was fourth, powered by Brooklyn Burenheide’s runner-up effort at 140. Morgan Hills, the 135 champion, helped Colby to a fifth-place team effort.

2025-26 Contenders: Reigning state champion Tonganoxie will have a new-look squad this season. Autumn Wilson, who was fifth at 110 pounds last year, is the Chieftains’ lone ranked wrestler heading into the season. Fort Scott enters as a team title favorite. The No. 1-ranked Tigers are led by two-time state 110-pound champion Kenna Miles. The senior will have a new challenger in that class with two-time state champion Harper Holmes headed back to Class 4A this year at Frontenac. Holmes wrestled at Pittsburg last year and won the 5A 110-pound title as a sophomore. She was the 105 champion in 4-1A as a freshman at Frontenac. Juniors Caellen Wescoat (third at 105) and Jerri Smith (fourth at 115) and senior Ali Simhiser (third at 190) are also returning state medalists for Fort Scott. Rock Creek sophomore Liliauna Nold is ranked No. 1 at 115 pounds after placing third as a freshman. Sophomore Megan Ryan took fifth at 135 pounds last year for the Mustangs and junior Rae Wilson was sixth at 190 pounds. Pratt has two top-ranked wrestlers in seniors Gracelyn Hembree (125) and Miranda Webb (145). Both were third-place state finishers last season. Holmes’ arrival will help bolster a Frontenac team that also returns last season’s 120-pound runner-up in junior Mya Courtney. Junior Morgan Hills is the reigning 135-pound champion for Colby, which also returns state placers Adrian Salcido (sixth at 100 pounds) and Dallis Stieben (fifth at 155). Chanute senior Kylie Dillow is one of the most dominant wrestlers in the state. The back-to-back 170-pound state champion will take a 90-match win streak into this season. Josie and Jade Wilson delivered huge freshman seasons for Abilene last year. Josie finished 39-0 and won the 100-pound title and Jade went 36-2 and won the 115 championship. Buhler senior Macey Parks was the 145 champion last year. She’s set to go down to 135 this year, where she is ranked second behind Colby’s Hills. Winfield senior Abby Brenn is the reigning 190-pound champion.
 

CLASS 3-2-1A