The 2008-09 all-area boys wrestling team, pictured above from left to right: Reece Wight-Conklin, Lawrence High; Cody Salzman, Eudora High; head coach Patrick Naughton, Lawrence High; Dustin Walthall, Lawrence High; Ammon Austin, Free State High; Matt Brock, Tonganoxie High; Alan Callahan, Baldwin High; Jack Caywood, Free State High; Blake Greenfield, Lawrence High; and Josh Hanson, Baldwin High. Not pictured: Steve Davis, Tonganoxie High.

Alan Callahan – Baldwin High, senior

Callahan capped a sensational high school career by reaching the Class 4A finals for the first time and finishing as the state runner-up at 112 pounds. His 2008-09 record of 43-5 moved him into a tie for first place on Kansas’ all-time career wins record (117, tying his brother Kevin Callahan), and his 1,055.5 career team points set a state record.

Matt Brock – Tonganoxie High, senior

The 140-pound Tonganoxie senior finished the season with an overall record of 39-7 and another trip to the Class 4A state tournament. Brock closed his career as a three-time state qualifier, including a fourth-place finish in 2008.

Steve Davis – Tonganoxie High, senior

The 189-pound THS senior qualified for the state tournament for the second straight season and finished with an overall record of 33-13.

Reece Wright-Conklin – Lawrence High, freshman

Despite missing half of the season by competing — and dominating — with his ninth-grade team at West Junior High, Wright-Conklin exploded onto the scene during the second half of the year, reaching several tournament finals and becoming just the second freshman in Lawrence history to leave the Class 6A state meet with a medal. Wright-Conklin, who had a 27-4 record, finished fifth in the 152-pound bracket in Wichita.

Blake Greenfield – Lawrence High, senior

The LHS senior has accomplished a lot during his career with the Lions, but it seems Greenfield saved his best for last. The 140-pounder capped his career with a fifth-place medal at state, which meant he walked away having won his final match. In addition, the team leader who finished the season 27-6 earned honorable mention all-state academic honors and was named to the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association’s East Senior Classic.

Dustin Walthall – Lawrence High, junior

This bulldog of a wrestler went out in style in 2008-09, joining teammates Greenfield and Wright-Conklin in bringing home a fifth-place medal from the Class 6A state meet, and winning his final match of the season, giving him momentum heading into his senior campaign. Walthall, who undoubtedly will be looked to for leadership next season, finished 2008-09 with a 29-14 record at 171 pounds.

Jack Caywood – Free State High, senior

Although his senior season did not end quite the way he had hoped, Caywood went out in style, wrestling his final match of his career at the Class 6A state tournament. Plagued by injuries yet again, the 152-pounder finished the season with an 18-11 record and was one win away — two seconds, in fact — from earning a medal at state.

Ammon Austin – Free State High, junior

The 285-pound junior was one of the bright spots on a Free State team that had small turnout for a second straight season. Austin improved as the season progressed and finished the year with a 19-11 record. Like Caywood, he left the Class 6A state meet one victory shy of bringing home a medal.

Cody Salzman – Eudora High, junior

Salzman, who wrestled at 112 pounds, finished the season with 33 wins and a sixth-place medal at the 4A state wrestling tournament in Salina. Salzman advanced as far as the semifinals on Day 1 before finishing in sixth on Day 2. In addition, the EHS junior finished fourth at regionals.

Josh Hanson – Baldwin High, junior

Hanson was one of two Bulldogs to win a Frontier League title this season. Hanson (130 pounds) Hanson finished the season with a 25-14 record.

Honorable Mention: Spencer Chestunt, Free State High; Chris Lane, Jake Pfannenstiel, Tien Troung, Ben Seybert, Lawrence High; Jeremie Maus, Tonganoxie High.