Free State sophomore Madyson Gray after winning a state title in the girls state wrestling tournament Thursday afternoon at Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina on Feb. 27, 2020.

Salina — Free State sophomore Madyson Gray made history on Thursday by capturing an individual title at the first official state tournament in girls wrestling.

Gray, who won an unofficial state title last year, capped off a perfect 34-0 campaign in her first high school season competing against only female wrestlers.

“It’s awesome, I just can’t believe it. I’m so happy right now,” Gray said Thursday evening at Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina. “(This title) is a lot sweeter.”

In the first-place match of the 130-pound weight class, Gray faced a wrestler she’d squared off against several times before: Topeka West’s Brianna Randles. Gray secured first place in regionals by earning the pin against Randles while down 9-2, and Thursday’s match played out in a similar way.

Gray jumped out to a 2-0 lead at the start, but she was soon facing an 8-4 deficit. However, Gray managed to pin Randles at the 3:57 mark, while she was down 8-6.

It was only the third time that Randles has been on the losing end of a match all year.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better opponent in that last match,” Gray said. “She’s awesome.”

When she earned the pin, Gray shouted in celebration toward the crowd. And after shaking hands with Randles and the Topeka West coaching staff, she sprinted over to her coach, Travis Phippen, and gave him a big hug.

For good measure, Gray then threw her coach down to the mat.

“It is pretty special just because Mady has put in a lot of work,” Phippen said. “She’s been fun to watch. She’s grown up a lot, even in the last six months.”

Phippen, who has been coaching Gray for more than two years now, said she wasn’t always capable of remaining composed in those situations.

“A couple years ago, I don’t know if she could have pulled herself out of those holes,” Phippen said. “Especially this season, she’s done a good job of managing her emotions while she is wrestling.”

Gray credited that discipline for her success.

“I just trusted my practice and trusted my training,” Gray said. “I panic sometimes in wrestling; just trusting myself really paid off.”

Even before the match began, Gray had to be patient. She didn’t get to the mat until 90 minutes after the first-place matches began, because the 130-pound weight class was the last title bout of the event.

In the end, it proved to be well worth the wait for the talented wrestler.

“(This event) was really cool,” Gray said. “It felt like an actual state tournament. Everyone was so supportive with this being the first one. It is a big thing. It is amazing.”

One other area wrestler managed to find the podium on Thursday, as well.

Tonganoxie freshman Holly Colvert notched fourth place in the 191-pound weight class after grinding through the consolation bracket. Colvert pinned her first opponent in the opening round before falling to the eventual state champion, Elisa Robinson of Junction City, in the quarterfinals.

Colvert then battled back to win three more matches via fall, finishing her first season with a 29-9 record.

“I did a pretty good job for a freshman,” Colvert said. “This is only my first year; I’ve only been doing this for 11 weeks.”

Colvert said THS began the year with 24 wrestlers, but she was the lone athlete to make it to Salina by the end of the season. She finished her rookie campaign with a 29-9 record.

“From the first day of not knowing anything to knowing all the stuff I know now, I think that is pretty impressive,” Colvert said.

Two Baldwin wrestlers also competed but didn’t place: junior Emma Grossoehme (24-8) and freshman Madi Hargett (18-14).

Girls state wrestling tournament

Thursday at Tony’s Pizza Events Center

Team scores: 1. Washburn Rural 84; 2. Great Bend 80; 3. Paola 44; 4. Nickerson 41; 4. Pratt 41; 6. Abilene 38; 7. Lakin 35; 8. Leavenworth 34; 9. Osawatomie 32; 10. Labette County 30; 11. Basehor-Linwood 28; 11. Council Grove 28; 11. KC Piper 28; 14. Onaga 27.5; 15. Junction City 27; 15. Free State 27.

FSHS results

130: Madyson Gray (34-0) placed 1st and scored 27.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 – Madyson Gray (Lawrence Free State) 34-0 received a bye

Quarterfinal – Madyson Gray (Lawrence Free State) 34-0 won by major decision over Courtney Costain (Spring Hill) 27-7 (MD 17-4)

Semifinal – Madyson Gray (Lawrence Free State) 34-0 won by fall over Breanna Ridgeway (Great Bend) 35-2 (Fall 3:31)

1st Place Match – Madyson Gray (Lawrence Free State) 34-0 won by fall over Brianna Randles (Topeka-West) 26-3 (Fall 3:57)

Baldwin results

143: Emma Grossoehme (24-8) place is unknown and scored 6.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 – Emma Grossoehme (Baldwin) 24-8 won by fall over Gloria Peroza (Emporia) 18-10 (Fall 1:07)

Quarterfinal – Livia Swift (Pratt) 32-3 won by fall over Emma Grossoehme (Baldwin) 24-8 (Fall 1:19)

Cons. Round 2 – Emma Grossoehme (Baldwin) 24-8 won by major decision over Ashlyn Kaus (Hoxie) 22-16 (MD 13-3)

Cons. Round 3 – Autumn Perez (Dodge City) 13-8 won by fall over Emma Grossoehme (Baldwin) 24-8 (Fall 2:02)

235: Madi Hargett (18-14) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 – Chelsey Armbruster (Chapman) 15-8 won by fall over Madi Hargett (Baldwin) 18-14 (Fall 4:47)

Cons. Round 1 – Madi Hargett (Baldwin) 18-14 received a bye

Cons. Round 2 – Kyeal Mogbo (Great Bend) 19-12 won by fall over Madi Hargett (Baldwin) 18-14 (Fall 1:00)

THS results

191: Holly Colvert (29-9) placed 4th and scored 20.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 – Holly Colvert (Tonganoxie) 29-9 won by fall over Angelina Gallegos (Wichita-North) 8-16 (Fall 1:22)

Quarterfinal – Elisa Robinson (Junction City) 30-0 won by fall over Holly Colvert (Tonganoxie) 29-9 (Fall 1:36)

Cons. Round 2 – Holly Colvert (Tonganoxie) 29-9 won by fall over Nakitta Macis (Chaparral) 5-6 (Fall 1:25)

Cons. Round 3 – Holly Colvert (Tonganoxie) 29-9 won by fall over Bryleigh Isch (Burlington) 16-7 (Fall 2:58)

Cons. Semi – Holly Colvert (Tonganoxie) 29-9 won by fall over Alicia Martin (Olathe-North) 22-4 (Fall 3:55)

3rd Place Match – Jaliah Johnson (Topeka-Washburn Rural) 23-6 won by forfeit over Holly Colvert (Tonganoxie) 29-9 (For.)

Full list of individual state champions

101: Amanda Newcomb of Osawatomie

109: Alexis Allen of Independence

116: Nichole Moore of Nickerson

123: Jordyn Knecht of Paola

130: Madyson Gray of Lawrence Free State

136: Sara Lake of KC-Piper

143: Livia Swift of Pratt

155: Morgan Mayginnes of Onaga

170: Jolie Ziegler of Council Grove

191: Elisa Robinson of Junction City

235: Dajia Anderson of Topeka-Washburn Rural