Seasoned State placers and newcomers alike propelled Manhattan High girls wrestling to their best State placement in program history. A fourth place team finish (171 points) in Overland Park on Feb. 27-28 marked the second time the MHS girls have placed at State, with last season’s team placing eighth.
“Last couple seasons, we’ve had the growth of our girls program,” head coach Shawn Bammes said. “To come lead the tournament with seven girls, some of them being state placers. Some didn’t quite reach the goals they had set for themselves, but we rebounded a lot better today in round two. Yesterday was a little tough for us, but they battled back and clawed back into trophy contention.”
No. 2 ranked Alayna Slifer, senior, defended her individual State title for the 135-pound class, going undefeated with all four wins by fall.
“She’s one that’s been fun to watch that maturity process as she’s grown up,” Bammes said. “She’s always been a scrappy wrestler, and she’s gotten a little bit more and more technical as the time went on. But she’s kind of been the team parent as the girls team’s grown.”
Slifer puts a bow on her wrestling career as a two-time individual State Champion and a landmark record of 100+ wins.
“This was my last time wrestling ever,” Slifer said. “I started when I was eight, so it was just really meaningful to me to let it fly for one last time with my favorite people.”
Slifer wasn’t the only individual Champion for MHS as her practice partner, no. 2 ranked Sophia Hoeme, junior, earned first in the 140, with two wins by fall, one by technical fall and a 2-1 decision in overtime of the State final. Hoeme went from placing fifth last season at State to now notching an undefeated season.
“I put in so much hard work, so much dedication, so much blood, sweat and tears,” Hoeme said. “I’m so proud of myself and all the hard work that I put in, and I’m so proud of my teammates.”
For Hoeme, the jump to the top of the podium required rigorous training and an ambitious mindset.
“I started going to different places outside of Manhattan, just traveling all around to see all the different types of opponents,” Hoeme said. “Obviously, I have Alayna as a practice partner, and she pushes me to be my best every single day. And so just having a change in mindset, really just wanting to be the hunter and go for something really big is a big deal.”
As for the rest of the girls, seniors Eva Lucios (100) and Evelyn Thornburg (125) placed third, freshman Kalena Borge (105) landed fourth and juniors Tierra Young (145) and Eleanor Radi (120) finished fifth and sixth in their weight classes respectively.
“The numbers have continued to grow, the successes continue to grow,” said Bammes. “I think one of the biggest keys for us is that [boys and girls are] able to practice together side-by-side, and be treated as one team, and send expectations from those.”
