The dominant conference in Class 3-2-1A boys’ wrestling for the past several years, the Mid-Continent League is now flexing its muscle on the girls’ side.

The top five teams in the 3-2-1A rankings reside in the MCL heading into this weekend’s regional action, and nine top-ranked wrestlers are from the league.  

The MCL started turning into a powerhouse on the girls’ side last year, producing nine individual state champions and the top four teams in the 3-2-1A standings. 

The battle for the team state championship figures to be a three-horse race between Norton, Oakley and Russell. 

Russell, bolstered by a strong freshman class, has been ranked No. 1 throughout the season. Reigning state champion Norton is ranked No. 2. 

Third-ranked Oakley, which has finished as the state runner-up in each of the past two years, had a breakthrough performance at the MCL meet on Jan. 30 in WaKeeney. 

Led by individual champions Abbygayl Jackson and Cali Wagoner, the Plainsmen captured the league championship, compiling 132.5 points to top second-place Russell by 11 points. 

“It means a lot (to win the league),” Oakley coach Levi Younkin said. “We didn't start off the season doing as well as we'd like to. It's just been every week growing and getting better, and they'll finally kind of get where we need to be. All the work is starting to pay off.

“We started winning some matches that we've been losing throughout the year so far. We're finding ways to win matches now.”
 

In the 135-pound MCL final, Jackson (31-6) earned a technical fall over Russell’s Mya Trevino. Wagoner, a returning state champ, beat Russell freshman Aaliyah Trevino by technical fall to win the MCL title at 155 pounds. Wagoner is 31-3 on the season. 

“Abbygayl is a worker,” Younkin said. “Her season kind of started off a little shaky, but she goes in the room every day, works so hard, and it's good to see that's paying off for her.

“Cali is the same way. She goes to the room every day, fixing stuff, asking questions and getting better every day.”

Kylee Hodges is another decorated wrestler for the Plainsmen. The junior is a two-time state runner-up. Her lone loss last year came to four-time state champion Holly Thacher from Oskaloosa.

Hodges, competing in a loaded 120 weight class, is 28-7 on the season this year. She took third at the MCL meet. The Plainsmen also had top-three finishes at the league meet from Brooke Smith (second at 170), Hadlie Younkin (third at 115), Laura Smith (third at 145) and Hadley Lauber (third at 235). Brooke Smith is ranked No. 1 at 170. 

“Good team effort, all in all,” Younkin said. “We had some hiccups in some places, but they all fought back, and a lot of those girls came back and took third, which is huge when it comes to team stuff.”

Russell has relied on a mix of youth and experience to put together a huge season. The Broncos have seven ranked wrestlers. Kinsey Zorn (21-0),  Averie Counts (35-0) and Aaliyah Trevino (29-5) are all ranked No. 1 at their respective weights

Zorn, a reigning state champion, re-joined the Broncos’ wrestling team after the holiday break after initially planning on playing basketball. She wasted no time in returning to form on the mat and is a favorite at 145. 

Counts has dominated in her sophomore season at 130 pounds, and Trevino has flourished as a freshman at 155. 

Arianna Weigel has also starred as a freshman, fashioning a 34-3 record for the Broncos. She’s ranked No. 2 at 120 behind Hoxie’s Josie Bell. 

Other ranked wrestlers for Russell are senior Mya Trevino (third at 135), junior Chaysie Bachman (third at 140) and freshman Karsyn Hamlin (fifth at 125). 

Norton is led by returning state champions Kaison Miller, Halle Pfannenstiel and Cadence Greeson. Miller (120), Pfannenstiel (140) and Greeson (190) are all ranked No. 1 at their respective weights. Sophia Kane is ranked No. 3 at 170 for the Bluejays. 

Norton is coming off a tournament title at the Phillipsburg Panther classic last weekend. Miller, Pfannenstiel and Greeson all won their weight classes. 

MCL schools will likely continue its dominance in the Class 3-2-1A regional at WaKeeney on Friday and Saturday. 

Other individual reigning state champions from MCL schools include Smith Center’s Keleigh Ochoa (No. 1 at 110) and Hoxie’s Josie Bell (No. 1 at 120). 

OTHER GIRLS WESTERN KANSAS WRESTLING STANDOUTS 

– Garden City, the top-ranked team in Class 6A, won its home Rocky Welton Invitational on Jan. 31. Crystal Loera (115) and Marina Loera (125) were individual champions for the Buffaloes. Other area champions at the Rocky Welton included Dodge City’s Yareli Garcia (155), Hays’ Timber Lovewell (145) and Colby’s Morgan Hills (135). 

– Other individual champions from western Kansas at the Phillipsburg meet included Stockton’s Carolina Northup (100), Smith Center’s Ochoa (110), Hoxie’s Bell (120), Rawlins County’s Maggie Holle (130), Oakley’s Abbygayl Jackson (135), Ellsworth’s  Sophie Homolka (145), Oakley’s Wagoner (155) and Plainville’s Lillian Garcia (170). 

– Freshman Henzley Mathias has starred for St. Francis. She is No. 1 at 100 ahead of Plainville’s Kaeleigh Klein and Stockton’s Northup. 

– Wichita County senior Jentri Porter is ranked No. 1 in Class 3-2-1A in 105 pounds. 

– Colby won the Great West Activities Conference meet last weekend. The Eagles had four individual champions – Adrian Salcido (100), Morgan Hills (135),  Makenzi Rhymer (170), Alana Fabrizius (190).