photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High sophomore Goldy Stephens (left) and LHS head girls wrestling coach Carl Springer (right) before a team practice on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, at Lawrence High School. With Stephens' help, Springer has more than doubled his team's roster size.

Note: The Journal-World All-Area teams are carefully selected by the Journal-World sports staff.

Coach of the Year: Levi Green, Baldwin High

Green led four girls to their respective classes at the 4A state championships in Salina, sending off two of his wrestlers as multi-tournament qualifiers.

photo by: Contributed photo

Nora Prather

Player of the Year: Nora Prather, Baldwin High

Prather (140 pounds) marked the end of her senior campaign with a fourth-place finish at state, finishing her career as a two-year state qualifier with 116 career wins.

photo by: Contributed photo

Elee Pittman-Wood

Elee Pittman-Wood, Baldwin High

Pittman-Wood (190 pounds) bounced back from her state quarterfinal loss to take fifth in the consolation bracket. The senior finishes her career as a three-time state qualifier.

photo by: Contributed

Finnley Kellerman

Finnley Kellerman, Baldwin High

Kellerman (235 pounds) finished sixth at state after an impressive runner-up finish at regionals.

photo by: Contributed photo

Harper Andrews

Harper Andrews, Eudora High

Andrews (130 pounds) finished her senior season 34-4 as a regional champion in 4A and a fourth-place finisher at state.

photo by: Contributed photo

Ryan Bretthauer

Ryan Bretthauer, Eudora High

Bretthauer (235 pounds) claimed a third-place title at regionals en route to the state tournament, where the junior closed her campaign 18-14 in the consolation bracket.

photo by: Contributed photo

Kyleigh Musick

Kyleigh Musick, Eudora High

Musick (115 pounds) ended her Cardinal career 27-12 as a Frontier League runner-up and three-time league champion.

photo by: Contributed photo

Autumn Wilson

Autumn Wilson, Tonganoxie High

A sophomore, Wilson (110 pounds) avenged her state quarterfinal loss to win the third-place title match, ending her season 40-6 for the Chieftains.

photo by: Contributed photo

Stella Bradley

Stella Bradley, Tonganoxie High

Bradley (115 pounds) closed her junior season as a regional champion with a sixth-place performance at state. Bradley is tied for ninth place in the state’s single-season pin record with 35.

photo by: Contributed photo

Grace Stean

Grace Stean, Tonganoxie High

Stean (170 pounds) won three straight matches in the state consolation bracket en route to her fifth-place finish, repeating her regional championship in the process.

photo by: Contributed photo

Delaney Earl

Delaney Earl, Free State

A first-year wrestler, Earl (140 pounds) qualified for the state tournament with a strong performance in the consolation bracket at regionals. Earl, who ended up being the sole Firebird state qualifier, finished fourth at the Sunflower League tournament and 10-20 overall.

photo by: Contributed photo

Goldy Stephens

Goldy Stephens, Lawrence High

Stephens (190 pounds) became the first girls state qualifier in school history this season on the back of a 31-12 record and a third-place finish at regionals. A two-time captain for LHS, the sophomore is on pace to make history again as the first girls wrestler to break 100 career wins (56-23).

photo by: Contributed photo

Avery Sutton

Avery Sutton, Lawrence High

A second-year wrestler, Sutton (130 pounds) fell just one match shy of making the state tournament for a second consecutive season. Her season featured a career-high three top-5 finishes.

Honorable Mention: n/a