Initial KWCA Pre-Season Rankings released

The first of two sets of pre-season high school wrestling rankings have been released by the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association, and there are several athletes, and three teams, which earned recognition.

In Class 6A, Garden City is ranked No. 1, with fellow WAC school Dodge City ranked 7th in the state. The Buffaloes have 10 wrestlers ranked in the Top 6, while the Red Demons have five wrestlers who are ranked among the best in their weight class.

Garden City has two top-ranked wrestlers - Diago Hernandez (120) and Jacob Holt (138), and three others ranked second - Silas Pineda (126), Josh Janis (152) and Refugio Chairez (285).

Dakota Smith (6th at 106), Ryan Heiman (4th at 113), Eric Dominguez (4th at 145), Jared Arrelano (5th at 160) and Alex Rodriguez (3rd at 182) are also ranked in their weight classes.

Dodge City is led by top-ranked Jashon Taylor at 170 pounds. Other Red Demon grapplers recognized include Damian Mendez (2nd at 113), Danny Rojas (6th at 126), Garrett Edwards (2nd at 145) and Marcelino Otero (4th at 152).

Scott Community is the third area team ranked in the pre-season polls, sitting at No. 8 in Class 4A. They're led by two wrestlers who are ranked No. 1 in their weight class - Kaden Wren at 138, and Justus McDaniel at 145.

Ulysses has two wrestlers in the Top 6 of their weight classes - Quentin Pauda (2nd at 106) and Ayston Perez, who is the top-ranked wrestler at the 285 pound class. Hugoton is also represented by 5th-ranked Michael Mendoza at 160 pounds.

Several familiar names dot the Class 3-2-1A pre-season rankings. Goodland had two wrestlers ranked in the Top 6 of their weight classes - DJ Knox (2nd at 106) and Dawson Holub (4th at 195).

Two area wrestlers are pre-season ranked No. 1 in their weight classes - Tate Seabolt (160) of Cimarron and Hadley Panzer (285) of Lakin. The Broncs has two wrestlers ranked individually, with Kayden Christiansen ranked 5th at 170 pounds. Joining the Southwestern Kansas contingent is Wichita County's Joaquin Castillo, who is ranked 5th at 145 pounds.

In Girls Wrestling - which includes all classes - one area athlete received pre-season recognition - Isabelle Ortiz of Lakin. The sophomore is currently ranked 2nd at 109 pounds.

There will be a second pre-season list released before the start of the season. It will be made public on November 18th.