Kansas City area high schools have achieved great success in the recent wrestling state championships held in both Kansas and Missouri. These schools have emerged victorious, earning numerous accolades and trophies for their outstanding performances.
St. Pius made history by clinching their first-ever state title in the boys’ Class 1 team competition in Missouri. They emerged victorious with a commanding lead of over 100 team points, leaving second-place Father Tolton Regional Catholic far behind.
The Warriors boasted an impressive lineup of five individual state champions. Jordan Bell dominated the 106-pound weight class, while Gable Gross showcased his skill at 144 pounds. Marco Dalakishvili proved his worth at 150 pounds, and Jackson Rotterman emerged victorious at 190 pounds. Rylan Kuhn rounded out the exceptional performance by securing the state title in the 215-pound weight class.
Dillan Chisam and Noah Gonzalez both secured second place in their respective weight classes, 132 and 157.
Odessa dominated the Class 2 boys’ wrestling competition to secure their first-ever team state title. They finished a remarkable 21 points ahead of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic from Lee’s Summit. This victory marks a historic milestone for Odessa, highlighting their exceptional performance in the state championship.
The Bulldogs secured the team championship with a strong performance from their four individual state champions. Blaine Wallace dominated the 120-pound weight class, while Jet Brown showcased his skills at 126 pounds. Kamden Hooper proved to be unstoppable at 132 pounds, and Lake Waters emerged victorious in the 150-pound weight class. Additionally, Caiden Davison’s second-place finish at 138 pounds played a crucial role in securing the team’s overall victory.
St. Michael’s impressive performance at the state championships resulted in four individual state title winners. Landon Lane emerged as the champion in the 106-pound category, while Parker Lutz, Lucas Estes, and Sampson Stillwell secured victory in the 113-pound, 175-pound, and 285-pound weight classes, respectively.
In the 157-pound weight class, Lane Snyder emerged as the champion for Pleasant Hill. Additionally, Brayden Bush claimed the title in the 215-pound weight class for the team.
In the Class 3 boys division, there were individual champions from Smithville, Kearney, Platte County, and Grandview. Alex Hutchcraft from Smithville emerged as the champion in the 157-pound weight class, while Carter Temple from Kearney claimed the title in the 175-pound category. Jake Fernandez from Platte County showcased his skills and became the champion in the 215-pound division, and Derek Joiner from Grandview showed his dominance and clinched the title in the 285-pound weight class.
In the team scores, Kearney secured a commendable fourth place, while Platte County achieved a respectable fifth place.
In Class 4, the Liberty boys secured their fifth consecutive state title, showcasing their dominance in the sport. The team’s impressive performance was highlighted by David Gleason, who emerged as the individual champion at 144 pounds. Additionally, Miller Sipes displayed exceptional skill, earning a well-deserved second-place finish in the 132-pound category. Staley also made a commendable showing, with a third-place finish overall.
The Bluejays had an impressive showing at the tournament, with four of their wrestlers emerging as individual champions in their respective weight classes. Hunter Taylor dominated the competition at 120 pounds, while Gavin Linsman showcased his skills at 150 pounds. Peyton Westpfahlat demonstrated his strength and technique at 175 pounds, and Isaiah Hung proved to be unstoppable at 215 pounds. Additionally, Devon Harrison put up a strong performance and finished as the runner-up in the 126-pound weight class. These outstanding achievements highlight the talent and dedication of the Bluejays’ wrestling team.
Individual champions were crowned at Fort Osage, Lee’s Summit North, and Liberty North. Kaison Schreier, boasting a flawless 50-0 record, emerged as the champion in the 106-pound weight class. Charlie Dykes, with an impressive 41-0 record, claimed victory at 126 pounds. Elmotie Williams secured his second consecutive state title in the heavyweight division, 285 pounds, for Liberty North. These talented wrestlers showcased their skill and determination on the mat, earning well-deserved recognition as individual champions.
Kearney emerged victorious in the girls’ Class 1 Missouri state team championship, with Odessa securing a commendable third place finish.
Kearney celebrated the victory of their talented athlete, Bailey Martin, who became the individual state champion in the 105-pound weight class. The team also had two impressive performances from Riley Walker in the 110-pound weight class and Carli Vargas in the 170-pound weight class. Unfortunately, Vargas was defeated by Alana Thelin from Pleasant Hill, but her second-place finish was still commendable.
Emily Bischoff from Odessa emerged as the sole girls’ individual state champion in the 130 category at her school.
In Missouri’s Class 2 girls’ competition, the Liberty team secured a commendable fourth place in the overall rankings. Sandy Breeden shone bright as the sole individual champion, securing the title with an impressive score of 105.
Fort Osage, led by Aroma Marrufo with a remarkable 47-1 record, showcased their dominance at the tournament. Marrufo, competing in the 110-pound weight class, emerged as the individual champion. Belton’s Savanna Franklin claimed the title in the 135-pound category, while Grain Valley’s Sevreign Aumua secured victory in the 140-pound division. Not to be outdone, Autumn Calvert from Winnetonka triumphed in the 170-pound weight class, cementing her status as a champion.
Olathe Northwest, on the Kansas side, secured a commendable fourth place in the team rankings, closely followed by Basehor-Linwood in fifth place. While Olathe Northwest didn’t produce any individual state champions, Chloe Harris showcased her talent by clinching second place in the 170-pound category.
Throughout her career, the senior has achieved remarkable success, earning three state medals and setting numerous records for ONW. Her exceptional performances have solidified her status as one of the most accomplished athletes in the school’s history.
A number of female wrestlers from Kansas have etched their names in history by securing state titles in the 6A-5A category.
Olathe South’s Nicole Redmond made history at the KSHSAA state championships by becoming the first-ever four-time girls’ champion. Redmond secured the state title in the 120-pound weight class, adding to her impressive collection of medals across three different weight classes. She previously won gold in the 130-pound category in 2023, followed by victories in the 126-pound division in 2022 and the 120-pound division in 2021. Redmond’s consistent success and unmatched achievement mark her as a standout athlete in Kansas high school wrestling history.
Redmond achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the first-ever freshman to secure a state title in the history of KSHSAA in 2021.
In a remarkable feat, Olivia Stean from Bonner Springs made history by becoming the second-ever four-time girls champion in KSHSAA girls wrestling. She dominated the competition in the 170-pound weight category, emerging victorious each time.
Kaylan Hitchcock of Olathe North claimed the 135 title, solidifying her position as a two-time champion. She had previously emerged victorious in the 125 weight class last year.
Gardner Edgerton, Shawnee Mission South, and Leavenworth all produced state champions in their respective weight classes. Madalyn Riedinger of Gardner Edgerton dominated her competition at 100 pounds, while Stella Segura became the first state champion in Shawnee Mission South’s history at 115 pounds. Avari Johnson of Leavenworth had an impressive undefeated record of 36-0 and secured back-to-back titles at 145 pounds.
In the boys’ division of the Kansas tournament, Mill Valley narrowly missed first place in the 6A category, falling just 10 points short of Manhattan.
The Jaguars showcased their dominance in the wrestling arena with four individual champions. Maddox Casella triumphed at 126 pounds, while Dillon Cooper secured victory at 138 pounds. Colin McAlister emerged as the champion at 165 pounds, and Christopher Wash Jr. conquered the competition at 215 pounds. Additionally, Brady Mason displayed his skills and secured a second-place finish at 150 pounds.
In the 6A category, Gardner Edgerton, led by Kasen Smith with an impressive record of 144 wins in a season, emerged as the champions. Olathe North’s Jacob Vasquez at 175 pounds and Olathe East’s Brett Carroll at 285 pounds also showcased their exceptional skills and clinched the championship titles for their respective weight categories.
In the 5A category, Basehor-Linwood’s freshman wrestler Trevor Christenson emerged as the sole individual champion in the Kansas City area. St. Thomas Aquinas also made a strong showing with two wrestlers securing second-place finishes. Kaden Allen impressed in the 144-pound weight class, while Stephen Carroll showcased his skills in the heavyweight division at 285 pounds.
In the 4A division, Tonganoxie secured a commendable second place, finishing just 30.5 points behind Rose Hill. The team showcased their talent with three individual champions: Braeden Moore in the 144-pound category, Noah Bailey in the 150-pound category, and Tyler Pankey in the 215-pound category.
Baker North of Bishop Miege emerged victorious in the 4A 285 title.
