The Washburn Rural Jr Blues have won 3 Team State Titles out of the 4 years that girls wrestling has been sanctioned by KSHSAA, and they were runner-ups the other year. The 2023-24 season looks like business as usual for the girl Jr Blues, as they return a comfortable 45 more points than the number 2 team, Garden City. This is where it tightens up a bit. The rest of the top 5 teams only have an 11-point difference. Shawnee Heights is in a virtual tie with Garden City being only a point behind them. Rounding out the top 5 are Olathe Northwest, Dodge City, and Olathe North which are only separated by 2 points. All of these teams as well as the other top 10 teams look very similar on paper. They all have several state returners, some have more state placers than others and some have more state qualifiers than others, but each team has the potential to score a lot more points in February of 2024. The teams that get hot late in the season are going to be bringing home trophies at the 65A Girls State Championship!
Rank
School
Returning Points
2023 State Finish
1
Washburn Rural
118
1st Place
2
Garden City
73
2nd Place
3
Shawnee Heights
72
4th Place
4
Olathe Northwest
64
7th Place
5
Dodge City
62
3rd Place
5
Olathe North
62
8th Place
7
Junction City
51
13th Place
8
Seaman
48
11th Place
9
Derby
46
15th Place
10
Bonner Springs
39
14th Place
#1 Washburn Rural Junior Blues – 118 returning state team points
Washburn Rural, the defending State Champions, have three big advantages over the 65A girls’ field. One, they return the most team points from last year’s state tournament with 118 points, which as mentioned above is 45 points ahead of 2nd place. Number 2, they are tied with 2 other schools with 8 wrestlers returning to the lineup with state tournament experience. Number 3, they return the most state placers with 7 which is more than double the rest of the field. Coach Parker has done a tremendous job at Washburn Rural. He gets huge numbers on the team, the excitement is electrifying and they know how to wrestle and WIN!
Name
This Year’s Grade
Last Year’s Weight
Last Year’s State Finish
Molly Spader
11
100
5th Place
Kristen Rezac
11
105
3rd Place
Maddy Blow
11
115
S.Q.
Annie Gallegos
11
120
4th Place
Laiken Clark
12
130
5th Place
Madison Davison
11
145
4th Place
Ashley Schwarz
11
155
4th Place
Sophia Ross
12
235
5th Place
#2 Garden City Buffaloes – 73 returning state team points
The Garden City Buffaloes are the defending State Runner-ups and again return the second-most team points at 73. Garden City High School is no stranger to great wrestling on the boys’ side, and have quickly gained that same championship mentality on the girls’ side as well. The Buffaloes have some ground to make up if they are going to take the title away from Washburn Rural but they have a great nucleus of state returners to build from. They return 2 state finalists including a State Champion to lead the team as well as 4 other wrestlers that have the potential to move onto or higher on the podium this year adding big points for the team.
Name
This Year’s Grade
Last Year’s Weight
Last Year’s State Finish
Kaira Acosta
10
100
S.Q.
Raygen Meza-McDermott
10
110
S.Q.
Alyxia Serrano
11
115
6th Place
Julissa Rodriquez
10
120
State Runner-up
Maya Tarbet
11
125
State Champion
Karime Guzman
12
155
S.Q.
#3 Shawnee Heights Thunderbirds – 72 returning state team points
The always dangerous Shawnee Heights Thunderbirds finished just out of the trophy hunt last year with 4th place. They will definitely be in the trophy hunt this year. They are tied with Washburn Rural and number 10 Bonner Springs with 8 wrestlers returning with state tournament experience. That experience can make a huge difference over the course of a year. With that experience and the dangerous mentality that all Shawnee Heights wrestlers are known for, the Thunderbirds will be a very serious threat to not only trophy but could push for a team state title!
Name
This Year’s Grade
Last Year’s Weight
Last Year’s State Finish
Connie Burns
10
100
S.Q.
Eimberlynn Phillips
12
105
S.Q.
Odessa Scmidt
12
110
S.Q.
Reece Taylor
11
125
5th Place
Isabel Reyes
11
130
S.Q.
Madison Freeland
11
135
State Runner-up
McKenna Haltom
12
145
S.Q.
Cianna Graves
10
155
6th Place
#4 Olathe Northwest Ravens – 64 returning state team points
The Olathe Northwest Ravens finished in the top 10 last year at 7th place and look poised to finish even higher in the coming year. The Ravens are led by 3 returning state placers and 3 returning state qualifiers. Each of those wrestlers have the potential and should either move up the podium or onto the podium come state tournament time. If each of them can do just that, the Olathe Northwest Ravens can add tremendous points to their 64 points returning from a year ago!
Name
This Year’s Grade
Last Year’s Weight
Last Year’s State Finish
Camryn West
11
105
S.Q.
Emmy Keller
11
115
5th Place
Megan Vasquez
10
120
S.Q.
Hailey Arthur
11
140
S.Q.
Chloe Harris
12
155
3rd Place
Val Galligan
12
170
3rd Place
#5 Dodge City Red Devils – 62 returning state team points
The only team to ever finish ahead of Washburn Rural at a state championship, the Dodge City Red Devils, finished with a 3rd Place Trophy in 2023 and are tied for 5th with 62 returning team points. They have 6 wrestlers returning to the lineup with state tournament experience including a State Finalist. It might sound like a broken record but, this Dodge City team also has the potential to add big team points and once again be in the trophy hunt come February 2024!
Name
This Year’s Grade
Last Year’s Weight
Last Year’s State Finish
Jessica Rivera
11
105
State Runner-up
Ashley Alonso
11
110
4th Place
Ariana De La Rosa
11
125
S.Q.
Hailey Ramos
11
135
S.Q.
Yareli Garcia
10
140
5th Place
Naomi Orozco
235
235
S.Q.
#5 Olathe North – 62 returning state team points
The Olathe North Eagles are tied for the 5th most returning team points with 62. Most of the Eagles point production came from their returning State Champion and returning State Runner-up. This duo is joined by 2 other wrestlers with state tournament experience. If the Eagles have hopes of joining in the team trophy hunt, they will not only need help from the 2 state qualifiers to get on the podium, but will also need help from teammates without the important state tournament experience!
Name
This Year’s Grade
Last Year’s Weight
Last Year’s State Finish
Kaylan Hitchcock
11
120
State Champion
Makenzie Sharp
11
140
S.Q.
Kennedy Graham
11
190
S.Q.
Hailey Conley
12
235
State Runner-up
#7 Junction City Bluejays – 51 returning state team points
Name
This Year’s Grade
Last Year’s Weight
Last Year’s State Finish
Jaidyn Alvarado
11
100
3rd Place
Bre Villanueva
10
115
State Champion
Charly Goodwin
12
120
S.Q.
Taylor Gossman
10
145
S.Q.
Aziah Clark
10
170
S.Q.
#8 Seaman Vikings – 48 returning state team points
Name
This Year’s Grade
Last Year’s Weight
Last Year’s State Finish
Ellie Ayres
12
100
S.Q.
Taylie Heston
11
110
S.Q.
Natalie Smith
11
115
S.Q.
Makenna Stuke
10
120
S.Q.
Madison Murray
12
125
6th Place
Koti Best
11
130
State Runner-up
Abagail Soppe
11
190
S.Q.
#9 Derby Panthers – 46 returning state team points
Name
This Year’s Grade
Last Year’s Weight
Last Year’s State Finish
Amara Ehsa
12
105
State Champion
Brooke Downs
10
130
S.Q.
Chloe Spears
10
170
S.Q.
Trinity Williams
12
190
4th Place
Analicia Lopez
10
235
S.Q.
#10 Bonner Springs Braves – 39 returning state team points
Washburn Rural
Garden City
Shawnee Heights
Olathe Northwest
Dodge City
Olathe North
Junction City
Seaman
Derby
Bonner Springs