photo by: Courtesy photo

Free State's Madyson Gray is the all-area girls wrestler of the year, while Baldwin's coach Kit Harris was named coach of the year following the 2020-21 campaign.

Wrestler of the year: Madyson Gray, Free State

Girls wrestling has only been a sanctioned sport in Kansas high schools for two years, and Gray has dominated in both of them. The FSHS junior earned her second straight state title this season and won all 17 of her matches against female opponents. She is 61-0 against female wrestlers for her high school career.

Coach of the year: Kit Harris, Baldwin

Baldwin’s girls team took home a state title under Harris, with four wrestlers placing at the Class 4A-1A state wrestling tournament. It was an especially impressive feat in comparison to last year, when Baldwin only had two qualifiers and neither of them placed.

First-team selections

photo by: Courtesy photo

Clare Benton, Free State

Clare Benton, Free State — Benton made strides throughout the season and closed the year with a fifth-place finish in the 126-pound weight class at regionals. She finished the year with an 8-5 record.

Tonganoxie’s Holly Colvert competes in a match during the girl state wrestling tournament Thursday afternoon at Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina on Feb. 27. 2020.

Holly Colvert, Tonganoxie — Taking a big step forward in her second year, Colvert finished as runner-up in the 191-pound weight class at state — she’d finished fourth in her freshman season. She went 16-4 during her sophomore season.

photo by: Courtesy photo

Audrey Darnell, Baldwin

Audrey Darnell, Baldwin — Darnell placed third at state in the 138-pound bracket after runner-up performances at substate and regionals. She also won a district title and was voted the most outstanding wrestler at that meet. Her record for the year was 29-7, including 26 falls.

photo by: Courtesy photo

Emma Grossoehme, Baldwin

Emma Grossoehme, Baldwin — In her second trip to state, Grossoehme took fourth in the 143-pound bracket. Before that, she won her weight class in substate, regionals and district. Grossoehme had a 36-6 overall record during her senior season and helped spark the growth of the program over the past two years.

photo by: Courtesy photo

Madi Hargett, Baldwin

Madi Hargett, Baldwin — Saving her best for last, Hargett went 3-1 at the state meet, and all three wins were by fall. She took third in the 235-pound weight class at state and was the team’s leading point scorer in the final event. She also netted top-three finishes at the other three postseason meets. Overall, Hargett went 21-13 for the season.

photo by: Courtesy photo

Hayleigh Wempe, Baldwin

Hayleigh Wempe, Baldwin — Wempe put together an impressive freshman campaign on the mat in the 170-pound weight class. After winning her bracket in the first three postseason meets, she placed fifth at state, capping off a 33-6 season in style. Wempe also led the Bulldogs in falls with 28.

Honorable mention

Daniela Kozacova, Baldwin; Brianna Mitchell, Baldwin; Jasmine Renyer, Baldwin.