By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
OVERLAND PARK -- The Washburn Rural girls wrestling team added yet another state trophy to the school’s increasingly crowded case Saturday, placing third at the Class 6A state meet for the second year in a row.
Washburn Rural girls wrestling coach Damon Parker cheers on his team during Saturday's Class 6A state tournament in Overland Park. [Photo by Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports]
Winners of state titles in 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024, Washburn Rural remains the standard in girls wrestling.
“There’s nobody outside of the people that were sitting up in (the Junior Blues’ cheering) section that thought we had a chance to bring home a trophy. And we came in here and we won a third-place finish at state,” said Washburn Rural coach Damon Parker. “I could not be more proud of this team.
“People have a recency bias. People forget that we are the most decorated program in Kansas girls wrestling history. We’ve never had a state tournament where we haven’t brought home a trophy. I think everybody else thought that this was the year, but we showed up with the youngest team in Kansas and still won third.”
The Junior Blues failed to take a gold medal in any weight class at AdventHealth Sports Park in Overland Park on Saturday. Still, they amassed 175 points, good for third behind Garden City with 226.5 and Gardner Edgerton with 197.
Three Junior Blues – all seniors – placed second in their respective weight classes.
Washburn Rural senior 145-pounder Emme Blan posted a runnerup Class 6A state finish at 145 pounds for third-place Washburn Rural. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior 145-pounder Emme Blanco finished second in Class 6A Saturday in Overland Park. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Elia Smith, the 170-pound runnerup, talks to coach Damon Parker during Saturday's Class 6A state meet in Overland Park. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
Lacey Middleton took the silver in the 125-pound class after she finished fourth at 120 a year ago. Emme Blanco took second in the 145-pound class after placing third at 140 last year and Elia Smith took second in the 170-pound class, the class in which she placed sixth a year ago.
Blanco nearly pulled off a big upset against Audrey Lennard, defending champ in the 145-pound class and the 6A East Regional Wrestler of the Year. Blanco led 11-3 and had battered her opponent when the reigning champ mustered the strength for one decisive pin.
“That girl is, what, 46-0, and then Emme put her on her back twice,” Parker said. “Nobody’s done that to her all year, right? She hasn’t given up a single back point until today. Emme was that close to winning that one.”
Middleton agreed with Parker’s belief that the Junior Blues surprised the rest of the 6A class on Saturday.
“I think we outperformed ourselves because we have grown so much as a team and just our culture together,” Middleton said. “We’re just a family and it really shows out on the mat.”
Senior Madi Blanco brought home the bronze medal in the 140-pound class, as did freshman Aliyah Tangpricha in the 105-pound class.
Freshman Raella Ebanez placed fourth in the 155-pound class, and junior Lily Davis took sixth in the 190-pound class.
Parker said character and training keep the Junior Blues at the top of Class 6A year in and year out.
“Washburn Rural womens wrestlers find a way, man. That’s what we do. It’s been the hallmark of our program since day one,” Parker said. “I think we tend to peak towards the end of the season, and it’s part of a plan.
“We spend a ton of time on mindset and self-talk. There are some days where we don’t even wrestle at practice. And when you get into these really high-pressure moments, that stuff really pays off. Your average 15-year-old freaks out when they’ve got a million people watching and the stakes are high. But our girls really don’t. We really preach that we’re trying to make this just another Tuesday of practice. There just happens to be people watching this time.”
Middleton said Washburn Rural wrestling has made an impact on her, and she hopes she left her mark on the program as well.
“It's honestly been life changing,” Middleton said. “It’s just made me a better person. It’s a part of my life forever now.
“As a senior, I hope that I’ve taught the girls not to care what other people think of you, because everyone’s gonna have their own perception of you. Just be confident in yourself, because anything can happen in life, like on the mat. There’s so many upsets, anything can happen.”
