By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
JENNA BEST, Seaman
A junior, Best was a Class 6A-5A state qualifier last season, posting third-place finishes in the Centennial League tournament and in 6A-5A regional competition. Best, who received All-Shawnee County second-team honors last season, is ranked fifth at 125 pounds in the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association's first preseason state rankings.
KOTI BEST, Seaman
Best, a sophomore, placed fourth in the 6A-5A state tournament as a freshman and was named the Shawnee County newcomer of the year. Best posted top-three finishes in every tournament she competed in last season, including runner-up finishes in the Centennial League meet and at regionals. Best is ranked No. 4 at 130 pounds in the KWCA's first preseason state rankings.
Washburn Rural senior Addison Broxterman is a returning Centennial League and Class 6A-5A regional champion and has finished second in the state tournament the past two seasons. [File photo/TSN]
ADDISON BROXTERMAN, Washburn Rural
A senior, Broxterman advanced to the 6A-5A 120-pound state championship match the last two seasons while earning first-team All-Shawnee County honors. Broxterman went 42-3 as a junior and is a three-time state qualifier, helping Rural win a pair of state team titles as well as a runner-up team finish. A Centennial League and regional champ in 2021-2022, Broxterman is ranked No. 1 in the KWCA's first preseason state rankings.
CONNIE BURNS, Shawnee Heights
The T-Birds are counting on Burns to make an immediate impact as a freshman in the 2022-2023 season at 100 pounds. Burns starts her high school career with significant kid wrestling experience, placing in multiple Kansas Kid Wrestling state tournaments while also competing at the national level.
Shawnee Heights senior Molly Busenitz was a United Kansas Conference and Class 6A-5A regional champion and placed fourth in the state tournament last season. [File photo/TSN]
MOLLY BUSENITZ, Shawnee Heights
Busenitz, a 115-pound senior, posted a 27-3 record last season, earning a fourth-place medal in the 6A-5A state tournament. Busenitz was a United Kansas Conference and 6A-5A regional champion as a junior, earning first-team All-Shawnee County recognition. Busenitz is ranked No. 3 in the KWCA's first 6A-5A preseason state rankings.
LAIKEN CLARK, Washburn Rural
A junior 140-pounder, Clark posted a 23-9 record last season and was a 6A-5A state qualifier for Washburn Rural, which finished second as a team. Clark was a Centennial League champion and finished second at regionals. A first-team All-Shawnee County pick as a sophomore, Clark is ranked sixth in the KWCA's first preseason state rankings.
Washburn Rural senior Alexis Fredrickson is a two-time state placer in Class 6A-5A, including a third-place finish last season. [File photo/TSN]
ALEXIS FREDRICKSON, Washburn Rural
A senior 130-pounder, Frederickson is a two-time state medalist for the Junior Blues, placing third last season after finishing fifth as a sophomore. Frederickson posted a 43-5 record last season, helping lead Rural to a second-place team finish. Fredrickson was a Centennial League and regional champ and earned first-team All-Shawnee County recognition. Fredrickson is ranked No. 3 in the KWCA's first 6A-5A preseason state rankings.
ANNIE GALLEGOS, Washburn Rural
Gallegos, a sophomore 125-pounder, was a 6A-5A state medalist for Washburn Rural as a freshman, placing sixth for the Junior Blues, who finished second as a team. Gallegos finished third in the Centennial League and placed second at regionals. A second-team All-Shawnee County pick last season, Gallegos is ranked No. 3 in the KBCA's first preseason rankings.
McKENNA HALTOM, Shawnee Heights
Haltom, a junior 145-pounder, posted a 23-10 record in the 2021-2022 season and earned a berth in the 6A-5A state tournament. Haltom finished second in the United Kansas Conference and 6A-5A regional tournaments as a sophomore. A second-team All-Shawnee County pick last season, Haltom is ranked No. 6 in 6A-5A by the KWCA in its first preseason state rankings.
TAYLIE HESTON, Seaman
A sophomore, Heston posted a runner-up finish in the Centennial League tournament as a freshman and went on to claim a 6A-5A regional championship to earn a berth in the state tournament. A second-team All-Shawnee County selection as a freshman, Heston is ranked sixth in the first KWCA preseason state rankings at 110 pounds.
Former state placer Hallie Horton (right) enters her first season wrestling for Rossville after making a pair of Class 4A-1A state tournament appearances for Silver Lake. [File photo/TSN]
HAILEY HORTON, Rossville
Horton, a junior, is beginning her first season at Rossville after two seasons at Silver Lake, including a fourth-place state finish as a freshman. Horton earned second-team All-Shawnee County recognition last season, placing second at regionals to earn her second 4A-1A state berth. Horton is ranked No. 5 in the KWCA's first preseason state rankings at 155 pounds.
Rossville junior Kendra Hurla is a two-time Class 4A-1A state wrestling champion, including a perfect 39-0 record last season. [File photo/TSN
KENDRA HURLA, Rossville
A two-time 4A-1A 120-pound state champion for the Bulldawgs, Hurla was undefeated last season as a sophomore, posting a 39-0 record. Hurla was named the co-outstanding wrestler of the year in Shawnee County last season. Hurla is ranked No. 1 in 4A-1A at 120 pounds in the first KWCA preseason state rankings..
TRISTYN JOHNSON, Topeka West
A junior, Johnson is a returning state medalist for the Chargers, placing fifth in the 6A-5A state meet after winning Centennial League and regional championships. A first-team All-Shawnee County selection last season, Johnson is ranked No. 4 at 235 pounds in the KWCA's first preseason state rankings.
KEERA LACOCK, Rossville
A junior, Lacock is currently No. 3-ranked by KWCA in 4A-1A at 125 pounds in the first preseason rankings. Lacock earned a 4A-1A state tournament berth last season, posting a runner-up finish in 4A-1A regional competition, and was a second-team All-Shawnee County selection.
MADISON MURRAY, Seaman
Murray, a junior, was a Centennial League champion and a 6A-5A regional runnerup at 115 pounds last season, earning a berth in the state tournament. Murray received All-Shawnee County second-team honors as a sophomore. Murray is ranked No. 6 at 120 pounds in the first KWCA 6A-5A preseason state rankings.
KRISTEN REZAC, Washburn Rural
A junior 105-pounder, Rezac went 37-8 as a sophomore and finished fourth in the 6A-5A state tournament, helping the Junior Blues finish second as a team. Rezac was a Centennial League champion last season and finished second in regional competition. A returning first-team All-Shawnee County selection, Rezac is ranked second in the first KWCA preseason state rankings.
SOPHIA ROSS, Washburn Rural
Ross, a junior who is expected to compete at 235 pounds, is coming off a 27-15 season for the Junior Blues. Ross finished third in the Centennial League last season and earned a state berth with a fourth-plaace regional finish. A second-team All-Shawnee County pick in 2021-2022, Ross is ranked No. 6 in 6A-5A at 235 in the KWCA's first preseason state rankings.
ODESSA SCHMIDT, Shawnee Heights
A 110-pound junior, Schmidt compiled a 22-11 record last season en route to a fifth-place finish in the 6A-5A state tournament. Schmidt was a United Kansas Conference champion last season and was a regional runnerup. Schmidt is ranked No. 4 at 110 pounds in the KWCA's first preseason 6A-5A state rankings.
ELAINA WOLFF, Hayden
Wolff, a 105-pound junior, is a returning 4A-1A state qualifier and is ranked No. 6 in the state in the first preseaon KWCA 4A-1A state rankings. Wolff received All-Shawnee County honorable mention as a sophomore after becoming the first female wrestler in Hayden history to advance to the state tournament.
MARILENA ZUNIGA, Topeka High
Zuniga, a senior 140-pounder, was a Centennial League champion last season for Topeka High and earned a berth in the 6A-5A state tournament with a third-place regional finish. Zuniga is ranked No. 4 in 6A-5A in the KWCA's first preseason state rankings.
