By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It will obviously be hard for Rossville star girls wrestler Kendra Hurla to top the emotions she felt after winning her first state championship as a freshman in 2021.
But if Thursday didn't move to No. 1 on Hurla's list, it was darn close.
Junior star Kendra Hurla points to the Rossville crowd after winning her third state championship Thursday in Salina. [Photo by Brent Maycock/KSHSAA Covered]
Rossville junior Keera Lacock finished second in Class 4A-1A at 115 pounds, helping the Bulldawgs post a second-place team finish. [Photo by Brent Maycock/KSHSAA Covered]
Hurla won her third straight Class 4A-1A title with a 9-5 decision over Columbus senior Addison Saporito in Thursday's 120-pound state final at the Tony's Pizza Events Center in Salina while helping Rossville's four-girl team finish second in the team standings.
Rossville also got a runner-up finish from junior 115-pounder Keera Lacock and a third-place finish from 155-pound junior Hailey Horton while senior 145-pounder Reagan Wonnell also contributed to the Bulldawgs' strong team finish with a victory.
It was certainly a day to remember for Hurla and her teammates.
"I don't think anything can beat the freshman year, the first one I got,'' Hurla said. "But I have to say this one is great because we have the runner-up state trophy with just four girls and my practice partner, best friend (Lacock) with me in the finals.''
Hurla finished her season with a 27-1 record and is now 89-3 in her career.
The Rossville star opened the tournament with three straight pins -- 1 minute, 11 seconds, 2:39 and 3:08 -- before battling back from an early deficit and a tie later in the match to take the win over Saporito.
Lacock, who finished her season 33-2, posted 12-0 major decisions in her first two matches and took a 6-2 decision in the semifinals before dropping a 7-3 decision to returning senior state champion Josiah Ortiz (40-1) of Lakin in the championship match.
Rossville junior wrestling standout Hailey Horton finished third in Class 4A-1A at 155 pounds while surpassing the 100-win mark for career victories. [Submitted photo]
Horton went 4-1 in the tournament, with her only loss coming in the semifinals. Horton, who won all of her matches by fall, bounced back from her semiinal loss with a pair of pins to finish third. Horton reached the 100-win mark for her career in the tournament.
Rossville earned the first team trophy in girls program history, compiling 73 points to finish second behind Chanute, which scored 88.
• Hayden junior 100-pounder Elaina Wolff finished 2-2 in her second state appearance, finishing 25-12 on the year.
Wolff lost her final match in triple overtime, narrowly missing a state medal.
• Silver Lake sophomore Karley Holmes went 1-2 at 110 pounds, finishing her season with a 21-15 record.
