WYCO girls lead the way into wrestling season
Fourteen state-ranked girls wrestlers in preseason coaches' poll
Wrestling season has arrived, with competition starting right after the Thanksgiving break. Fourteen girls from seven Wyandotte County high schools, including three top-ranked wrestlers, are in the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association’s latest pre-season ranking for Class 5A. The KWCA also ranked Bonner Springs and Piper among the state’s top teams.
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Despite the graduation of four-time state champion Oliva Stean, the Lady Braves look even stronger than last year with six ranked wrestlers. Bonner Springs is ranked the sixth-best 5A team by KWCA.
Senior Delaney Krebs, who compiled a 29-11 record last season and placed fifth at the state tournament in February is ranked number one in the 235-pound class. Junior Addison Vogel, who placed sixth at state with a 22-6 record, is ranked second in the 155-pound class.
Junior Nevaeh Brown, a two-time state qualifier, is ranked fourth at 135 pounds, and three-time state qualifier Kylie Enriquez is ranked fifth at 115 pounds.
Junior Braelyn Morris, who narrowly missed the state tournament after qualifying in 2022 as a freshman, is ranked fifth at 190 pounds. Brooklynn McCormick had a 28-14 record last season and qualified for state as a freshman. She’s ranked sixth at 120 pounds.
The Piper girls, in just their third season as a team, boast three ranked wrestlers, including last year’s state runner-up at 135 pounds, Maia Dolinar. Dolinar had an amazing 40-3 record in 2023-24 and made it to the state tournament final before losing to defending champion Maya Tarbet of Garden City.
Senior Malia Martin, a two-time state qualifier, is also ranked number one, atop the 170-pound class. Junior Abbi Everson is ranked fifth at 105 pounds, after qualifying for state in her sophomore year.
Harmon’s Kamahni Jackson missed the 2023-24 season recovering from knee surgery, but is fired up to return to the mat in her senior year. Jackson won sixth place at state as a freshman and then third place as a sophomore. She’s ranked third at 145 pounds by KWCA, but could quickly rise as she gets back to her old form.
Washington’s Reddi Johnson is ranked fifth in the 130-pound class. She qualified for state last year with a 27-9 record as a sophomore.
Schlagle junior Emily Velasquez is a two-time state qualifier and is ranked fifth at 155 pounds after posting a 19-6 record last season.
Izzy Brown, a Turner junior, was a state qualifier last year with a 15-9 season record. She’s fifth in the rankings at 170 pounds.
Sumner Academy’s Ashley Montejo Chaver is ranked sixth at 105 pounds. She made the state tournament last season in her freshman campaign, putting together a 17-9 record.
The 6A and 5A schools were combined last season, but are competing separately this season due to the tremendous growth across the state in girls’ wrestling. Having a separate classification may give girls in Wyandotte County’s seven Class 5A schools more opportunities for regional and state-tournament success.
The competitive landscape for the Wyandotte County boys wrestlers is a bit more challenging, with just two entries in the KWCA rankings ahead of the season.
Ruben Escalante is ranked fourth in the 150-pound weight class. He posted a 42-15 record last season for Piper as a junior and has qualified for the state tournament the past two seasons.
Bonner Springs senior James Williams qualified for last season’s state tournament and is ranked fifth in the 144-pound bracket.
In addition to the two ranked wrestlers, there are several other returning state qualifiers that could make an impact on the season.
Turner senior Kaden Roebuck won the sixth place medal at last season’s state tourney, compiling a 30-15 record at 165 pounds.
Bonner’s Frankie Garcia and Lane Vogel are both two-time state qualifiers. Garcia, a senior, had a 33-15 record last season, and Vogel, a junior, went 39-13.
Piper’s Dawson Dunn made state last season as a freshman, with a 33-20 record at 113 pounds.
Harmon senior Carlos Gallardo is a two-time state qualifier, with a 22-12 record in 2023-24.
Sumner senior Miles Dean had a 38-8 record last season at 126 pounds, and Washington senior Xavier Groves had a 24-15 record at 190 pounds.
Girls wrestling is still a new sport. But, Wyandotte County seems to be leading the way. Great coverage, and equally great photography. You are helping to grow the sport!