By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural has never lost a girls state wrestling tournament, but the two-time state-champion Junior Blues enter Wednesday and Thursday's Class 6A-5A state event at Park City's Hartman Arena as a bit of an underdog, going into state as the No. 3-ranked team in the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association rankings.
Rural coach Damon Parker has no quarrel with the rankings, but also is eager to see what his Junior Blues can accomplish this week.
"It's cool because we've seen all sides of it,'' Parker said. "The first year we weren't ranked at all until late in January and then last year we were ranked No. 1 wire to wire. This year we start at two and dropped to three and I'm sure there's someone a lot smarter than me that knows why we dropped down to three.''
Parker said the bottom line is his team doesn't dwell on championships, letting things take care of themselves on the mat.
"I know it's so cliche and people probably don't believe it, but we really talk all the time that it's not about the championships,'' Parker said. "If the girls show up and we get third that's like a lifetime achievement for most people so if they show up and they get third at state, "Awesome, we get to bring home a trophy.'
"And if that is the case I'm not going to be the least bit less disappointed in them because our trophy is nine inches tall instead of 11 inches tall. It's about the journey along the way and I've had such a blast with this group. I'm not sure I've ever had more fun coaching in my life.''
Washburn Rural has already won Centennial League and regional team titles and had five wrestlers listed in the most recent KWCA rankings.
Washburn Rural junior Addison Broxterman is ranked No. 2 at 120 pounds and is a regional champion for the two-time defending state-champion Junior Blues. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn Rural junior Addison Broxterman is ranked No. 2 at 120 pounds and is a regional champion for the two-time defending state-champion Junior Blues. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Junior Addison Broxterman is second-ranked at 120 pounds and junior Alexis Fredrickson No. 2 at 132 while senior Jailyn Johnson is No. 3 at 155, sophomore Kristen Rezac No. 5 at 101 and freshman Annie Gallegos No. 6 at 126.
Broxterman, Fredrickson and senior Kendall Reid (115) were regional champions as Washburn Rural qualified a whopping 11 wrestlers for state.
"I'm real confident with the way the girls are wrestling right now,'' Parker said. "At this point in the season it's not so much about trying to cram in some last-minute moves or conditioning because if you haven't done that it's too late at this point in the year. Now we've still been fine-tuning stuff, but at this point the hay's in the barn.
"Our girls are wrestling with heart and if there's anything we've figured out over the last two years it's that when it comes down to crunch time the kids with the most heart will win those 50-50 matches and I feel very good about where we're at in that respect.''
But Parker also realizes there's several other schools in the field, including No. 1-ranked Wichita North and No. 2 Dodge City, that have the ability to challenge for the title.
"We can do everything we can do, but other teams have something to say about it as well,'' Parker said. "We look foward to the challenge.
