Manhattan Boys Wrestling have earned their place at State once more after placing second in the Regional Tournament at Wichita North. Last year, the MHS Boys had claimed the Regional title, but unfortunately lost this year’s tournament to last year’s fourth place team, Maize.
“I feel that we did good,” senior Cameron Coonrod said. “We still got some things to adjust this week before state but overall great. We’ve been in this situation before and I know that we will be able to bounce back and get the job done with bringing home another state championship.”
Seniors Caeleb Hutchinson (150), Garrison Vikander (285) and junior Max Evans-Pryor (175) won first place. Seniors Cameron Coonrod (144) and Brecken Crist-Funk (165) came in for second; sophomore Jack Hutchinson (126), sophomore Liam Nider, and junior Kaiden Dibbini (215) took third; sophomore Benjamin Busch (138) was forth; sophomores Joe Panfil (132) and Bode Busch (157) for fifth, sophomore Franke Force (106) was sixth; And sophomore Josiah Borge (113) for eighth.
The Boys had also had several landmark moments in their wrestling careers, with Coonrood and Hutchinson reaching 150 wins alongside Evans-Pryor with 100 wins at MHS.
You just got to love the grind,” Coonrod said. “Even when it gets hard, you need to believe in yourself…If you don’t believe, it won’t happen.”
On Feb. 14, Girls Wrestling also came close to the 6A Regional title but lost to Garden City’s score of 247.5 to Manhattan’s 239 points.
“I’m still beyond proud of my team,” senior Alayna Slifer said. “Regionals was just another stepping stone to that State title. We ended up qualifying more than Garden City did, only losing by eight points… The window of success just got a whole lot bigger for this coming week.”
Slifer and junior Sophia Hoeme fought to first place for the 135 and 140 respectively. Alongside were their teammates senior Eva Lucios (100), senior Evelyn Thornburg (125), junior Kayla Kramer (130) and sophomore Tasia Miller (155) for second place. Freshman Kalena Borge (105) and junior Tierra Young (145) placed third, senior Erica Li (170) was third; sophomore Kimberly Altamirano-Cruz (110) placed sixth; freshman Alison Kaupp (115) and junior Eleanor Radi (120) was seventh; and freshman Chloe Ramos (190) went eighth.
“I personally felt good about my performance at Regionals,” Slifer said. “I mean, winning isn’t everything that defines performance. I wrestled freely and that’s what matters.”
Despite getting runner-up, the girls are still excited to get another chance at the State Tournament. Previous State champion Alayna Slifer, former fourth-placeholder Eva Lucios, and other decorated wrestlers are returning for another fight at the title while others, like freshman Kalena Borge, are prepared for their first time at State.
“I feel great,” Borge said. “I know that… All of my work is slowly paying off, especially with my coaches. They really do take their time and just know that the work that we put in will pay off.”
