By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Joshua Hogan, director of the Topeka Blue Thunder Wrestling Club for the past nine years, has been named head boys wrestling coach at Washburn Rural, the reigning Class 6A state champion.
Hogan takes over for Damon Parker, who stepped down as the Junior Blues' boys coach following the 2020-21 season. Parker, who led Rural to a unprecedented girls-boys title sweep this past season, will continue to coach the Junior Blues' girls team, which has won two straight state titles.
Hogan is a 2007 Washburn Rural graduate and holds an associate's degree in psychology from the University of Kansas.
Hogan was a four-year wrestling letterman at Rural and was a three-time state medalist.
"We are very pleased to have coach Hogan join the Junior Blues' coaching staff as our next head boys wrestling coach,'' Washburn Rural athletic director Penny Lane said. "He will be able to continue the tradition of excellence at Rural and provide the necessary leadership for our young men in this outstanding program.''
Hogan will take over as the Junior Blues' head coach this summer for offseason training.
Parker led Rural to the school's first-ever boys state team championship in February after the Junior Blues had posted second-place finishes two out of the previous three years.
