The 25 Wichita-area girls wrestlers to watch as Kansas high school state title contenders
Wednesday marks the opening day of the Kansas high school girls wrestling state tournaments with championship day coming on Thursday for Class 6-5A at Hartman Arena in Park City and for Class 4-1A at Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina.
The Wichita area has several of the state’s best wrestlers with championship aspirations, including Circle senior Katelyn Schmidt, who recently won her 100th career match and is considered one of the state’s best wrestlers in the 140-pound division.
Schmidt enters the 4-1A tournament with a 37-3 record and a No. 2 ranking, as last year’s runner-up finish has motivated her to stand on the podium one last time this week. According to Circle coach Casey Gobel, Schmidt carries a 4.0 grade-point average and is being recruited by colleges to continue her wrestling career.
“What makes Katelyn so special is just her work ethic and how much time she puts into the sport,” Gobel said. “She doesn’t just show up and win. There’s a lot of work she puts in behind the scenes. We’ve got a room full of young, new girls and she’s been a great role model for them to look up to this season.
“She’s just got to be herself at state. She doesn’t need to do anything that she hasn’t already done.”
The following is a list of 25 girls wrestlers from the Wichita area who should be in the mix for KSHSAA medals this week.
Top Wichita girls wrestlers to watch at Kansas high school state meet
1. Goddard senior Ashlynn Goodwin (37-1)
Rankings: No. 1 in 140 (Class 6-5A) and No. 1 all-class
State medals: State champion in 2021, third place in 2022
2. Mulvane sophomore Leiannah Landreth (34-0)
Rankings: No. 2 in 115 (Class 4-1A) and No. 1 all-class
State medals: Runner-up in 2022
3. Hutchinson senior Anna Cullens (23-1)
Rankings: No. 2 in 110 (Class 6-5A) and No. 2 all-class
State medals: State champion in 2021, runner-up in 2020
4. Derby junior Amara Ehsa (26-2)
Rankings: No. 1 in 105 (Class 6-5A) and No. 2 all-class
State medals: State champion in 2022, fifth place in 2021
5. Wichita North senior Larissa Garcia (35-5)
Rankings: No. 3 in 110 (Class 6-5A) and No. 3 all-class
State medals: State champion in 2022
6. Mulvane senior Kammie Schanz (37-0)
Rankings: No. 1 in 145 (Class 4-1A) and No. 2 all-class
State medals: State champion in 2021, fifth place in 2022, runner-up in 2020
7. Wichita West junior Druzzla Johnson (20-0)
Rankings: No. 2 in 190 (Class 6-5A) and No. 2 all-class
State medals: Runner-up in 2022 and 2021
8. Buhler senior Emilie Schweizer (28-0)
Rankings: No. 1 in 190 (Class 4-1A) and No. 3 all-class
State medals: State champion in 2021, third in 2022
9. Augusta junior Jill High (34-1)
Rankings: No. 2 in 125 (Class 4-1A) and No. 2 all-class
State medals: Third in 2022, fifth in 2021
10. Circle senior Katelyn Schmidt (37-3)
Rankings: No. 2 in 140 (Class 4-1A) and No. 3 all-class
State medals: Runner-up in 2022, fifth in 2021
11. Winfield junior Sheena Gocela (29-0)
Rankings: No. 1 in 100 (Class 4-1A) and No. 5 all-class
State medals: Fourth in 2022 and 2021
12. Valley Center senior Grace Timmons (30-2)
Rankings: No. 2 in 170 (Class 6-5A) and No. 4 all-class
State medals: Fourth in 2022, third in 2021, sixth in 2020
13. Newton senior Jaymie Murry (28-8)
Rankings: No. 3 in 155 (Class 6-5A) and No. 4 in all-class
State medals: Fourth in 2022, sixth in 2021
14. McPherson sophomore Ciara Rawson (24-2)
Rankings: No. 2 in 235 (Class 4-1A) and No. 4 all-class
State medals: Third in 2022
15. Rose Hill senior Payton Sholander (14-3)
Rankings: No. 3 in 190 (Class 4-1A) and No. 5 all-class
State medals: Fourth in 2022, sixth in 2021
16. Goddard Eisenhower senior Lainie Burkhart (25-4)
Rankings: No. 3 in 115 (Class 6-5A) and No. 8 all-class
State medals: Fourth in 2022 and 2021
17. Derby junior Trinity Williams (20-3)
Rankings: No. 4 in 190 (Class 6-5A) and No. 8 all-class
State medals: Fifth in 2021
18. Buhler freshman Kimberlyn Crabbs (23-3)
Rankings: No. 4 in 105 (Class 4-1A) and No. 6 all-class
State medals: None
19. El Dorado junior Trinity Motter (28-3)
Rankings: No. 2 in 100 (Class 4-1A) and No. 9 all-class
State medals: None
20. Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior Jayla Johnson (32-4)
Rankings: No. 3 in 140 (Class 6-5A) and No. 9 all-class
State medals: None
21. Newton sophomore Emily Torres (29-8)
Rankings: No. 3 in 120 (Class 6-5A) and No. 9 all-class
State medals: None
22. Goddard Eisenhower senior Mackenzie Popp (22-3)
Ranked No. 5 in 155 (Class 6-5A) and No. 10 all-class
State medals: None
23. Wichita North junior Jaycee Tyler (30-10)
Rankings: No. 4 in 140 (Class 6-5A) and No. 10 all-class
State medals: None
24. Kapaun Mt. Carmel freshman Taylor Barringer (26-5)
Rankings: No. 5 in 105 (Class 6-5A) and No. 9 all-class
State medals: None
25. Bishop Carroll sophomore Alexis Means (29-7)
Rankings: No. 5 in 130 (Class 6-5A) and No. 10 all-class
State medals: None
