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By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Editor's note: The 20 girls wrestlers to watch are primarily based on performances in the 2023-2024 season. TopSports.news is still in the process of receiving preseason information from local coaches and will update information as needed.

Koti Best, Seaman

KOTI BEST, Seaman

Best, a senior, had her junior season disrupted by injury after finishing second in Class 5A as a sophomore. Best received All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season and is ranked No. 1 at 115 pounds in the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association's second of two preseason state 5A rankings.

MADISON BLANCO, Washburn Rural

A junior, Blanco earned first-team All-Shawnee County recognition last season at 130 pounds after helping Washburn Rural win its second straight Class 6A state team title. Blanco posted a 28-9 record and placed sixth in 6A. She is ranked No. 3 in 6A at 135 pounds in the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Assocation's second preseason rankings.

MADDY BLOW, Washburn Rural

Blow, a senior, was a first-team All-Shawnee County pick for the second straight season at 115 pounds after qualifying for the Class 6A state tournament and posting a 22-12 record on the season. Blow is ranked sixth at 115 in 6A by the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association in its second of two preseason rankings.

CONNIE BURNS, Highland Park

Burns, a junior, posted a 23-6 record and was a second-team All-Shawnee County selection last season at 105 pounds for Shawne Heights before transferring to Highland Park this season. Burns is 5-0 on the season for the Scots after winning the 115-pound title in Saturday's Highland Park Invitational.

MAKAYLA CADET, Highland Park

A junior, Cadet earned All-Shawnee County honorable mention in the 2023-2024 season and is ranked No. 6 in Class 5A at 190 pounds by the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association in its second preseason rankings. Cadet won the 235-pound title in Saturday's Highland Park Invitational.

Maddie Freeland, Shawnee Heights

MADDIE FREELAND, Shawnee Heights

A senior, Freeland is a three-time state qualfier and finished second in Class 5A at 135 pounds last season while compiling a 27-4 record. Freeland was a second-team All-Shawnee County selection as a junior and is ranked No. 2 at 135 in 5A by the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association in its second preseason state rankings.

ANNIE GALLEGOS, Washburn Rural

Gallegos, a senior, received second-team All-Shawnee County honors last season at 125 pounds and is a two-time state medalist. Gallegos was a state qualifier last season, posting a 19-5 record on the season, and is ranked No. 3 in the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association's first preseason rankings.

TESSA GERBER, Silver Lake

A senior multi-sport standout for Silver Lake, Gerber is currently ranked No. 3 in Class 3A-1A at 135 pounds by the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association in its second of two preseason staate rankings.

Cianna Graves, Shawnee Heights

CIANNA GRAVES, Shawnee Heights

A junior, Graves received first-team All-Shawnee County honors at 155 pounds last season after posting a 32-8 record and finishing fifth in the Class 5A state tournament. Graves, a two-time state placer, is currently top-ranked in 5A by the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association in its second preseason state rankings.

McKENNA HARRIS, Silver Lake

Harris, a junior for the Eagles, is currently ranked No. 4 at 125 pounds in Class 3A-1A by the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association in the second of two preseason rankings.

Taylie Heston, Seaman

TAYLIE HESTON, Seaman

Heston, a senior, finished fourth in Class 5A last season at 120 pounds and posted a 30-10 record en route to earning All-Shawnee County first-team recognition for the second straight season. Heston is ranked second in 5A in the second Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association preseason state rankings at 120.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

The Washburn University men's track and field team opened the 2024-25 season in the Washburn Alumni Invitational with nine school records and nine NCAA provisional marks on Saturday in the Washburn Indoor Athletic Facility.

Tre Richardson made his track and field debut for Washburn with a school record and an NCAA provisional qualifying time. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]

Former Highland Park state champ Tre Richardson picked up first and second-place finishes in his first action for the Ichabods since moving inside from the football field, winning the long jump with a mark of 7.09 meters (23 feet, 03.25 inches) and then in the 60m, he ran times of 6.73 seconds in both the preliminaries and finals for an NCAA provisional mark and a school record.

Ezekiel Seamster and Richardson tied with a school record time of 6.73 as Seamster finished fourth in the finals in a time of 6.74 for an NCAA provisional mark. The previous school record was 6.80.

Seamster also picked up a school record with a second-place finish in the 200m in a time of 21.00, besting the previous school record of 21.28.

Former Hayden star Jake Muller helped Washburn set a school record and record a NCAA provisional time in Saturday's indoor season-opener. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]

In the 4x400-meter relay the squad of Tyler Mooney, Seamster, Jacob Herr and former Hayden state champion Jake Muller finished second, setting the school record in the event in a time of 3:15.43 for an NCAA provisional time. Washburn smoked the previous school record of 3:20.05.

Matthew Heckman won the high jump with a school-record jump of 2.14m (7-00.25) for an NCAA provisional mark and a meet record. The previous school record was 2.13m (6-11.75).

Making his collegiate debut, Adam Woldridge recorded a school record in the pole vault with a jump of 4.91m (16-01.25) to finish second. The mark was also an NCAA provisional mark.

• Chaney Martin finished third at the Boo Rogers combined events competition at Pittsburg State. Martin tallied 5,267 points, breaking the school record and recording an NCAA provisional mark in the process.

Drew McGilton also recorded a PR and an NCAA provisional mark with 4,850 points.

The Ichabods, who were picked seventh in the MIAA preseason coaches poll, will be back in action January 17th at the Washburn Rust Buster starting the spring semester.

The Washburn women's track and field team opened the 2024-25 season with three meet records and six NCAA provisional marks while adding seven individual champions on Saturday.

Alyssa Hutcherson won the 60m prelims and finals in times of 7.58 and 7.53, respectively. Both times are NCAA provisional times.

McKenzie Hayse won the long jump with a mark of 5.67m (18-07.25) in her collegiate debut and she also finished second in the 200m with a time of 24.61 for an NCAA provisional mark. Hayse also finished second in the 60m in a time of 7.55 for another NCAA provisional time.

Isabella Kupka won the 400m in a time of 58.28 and Katelyn Jones was third in the event.

Ashley Heavner won the 600-yard, setting a meet record of 1:28.51 and Lauren Cassaday finished fourth in a time of 1:29.92.

The 4x400m relay team of Kupka, Jones, Heavner and Kaylee James won the event in a time of 3:53.93, setting a meet record. James also finished second in the 60m hurdles in a time of 8.89.

The Ichabods went 1-2 in the high jump with Alex Hart picking up the individual title at a height of 1.75m (5-08.75) for a meet and an NCAA provisional mark and Paige Platt finished second with a mark of 1.65m (5-05.00).

Reagan Housley picked up the individual title in the pole vault, setting a PR in the event with a height of 3.95m (12-11.50) and recording an NCAA provisional mark.

The Ichabods, who were picked third in the MIAA preseason coaches poll, will be back in action January 17th at the Washburn Rust Buster starting the spring semester.

WASHBURN ALUMNI INVITATIONAL