Lakin girls make climb in KWCA latest rankings

In the first year of having girls wrestling as a KSHSAA-sanctioned sport, teams in Southwestern Kansas have found a way to get noticed. Maybe none more so than the Lakin girls' squad, who became the first area team this season to earn a ranking in the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association.

The Broncs have climbed to No. 4 in the latest girls wrestling rankings, released on Tuesday, led by two wrestlers who are in the Top 2 of their respective weight classes - 101-pounder Josiah Ortiz and 109-pounder Isabella Ortiz, who has been a constant fixture in the individual rankings since the preseason rankings came out in November.

Another fixture is Garden City 130-pounder Anjelina Sarraon, who is ranked 4th individually. Joining the area trio in this week's rankings is Goodland's Rhianon Cacavio, who is ranked 5th at 123 pounds.

There are four boys teams which earn a Top 10 spot in their respective classes this week. Goodland is ranked 6th in 3-2-1A, Scott Community is ranked 4th in Class 4A; Garden City is ranked 3rd and Dodge City 5th in Class 6A.

The Cowboys have two wrestlers in the individual rankings as well - top-ranked DJ Know at 106 pounds, and Octavio Gonzalez, who is ranked second at 113 pounds.

Three other wrestlers are ranked individually in 3-2-1A - Jesse Gardner of Wichita County is ranked second at 160 pounds, Tate Seabolt of Cimarron is top-ranked at 170 pounds, and Lakin's Kayden Christiansen is ranked 5th at 182 pounds.

In Class 4A, Scott Community is led by a pair of top-ranked grapplers in Kaden Wren (138) and Justus McDaniel (145). The Beavers have two other individuals ranked in their respective weight classes in Zach Rohrbough (126) and Gabe Bowers (285), each of whom are ranked fifth.

Ulysses has three individuals ranked, led by the top-ranked 285-pounder, Ayston Perez. Quentin Pauda is ranked third at 106 pounds, while Jace Garrison is ranked 6th at 220 pounds.

Colby also has three individual wrestlers ranked individually in Class 4A - Aiden Cook (113) and Tyler Voss (120) are ranked third, while Hagan Bool is ranked second at 195.

Hugoton 160-pounder Michael Mendoza is ranked fourth individually.

Garden City has six wrestlers individually ranked in Class 6A, led by top-ranked Jacob Holt at 145 pounds. Ryan Heiman (120) and Josh Janis (152) are each ranked third, Eric Dominguez (138) and Jared Arrelano (160) are each ranked fourth, and Steven Sellers (132) is ranked sixth.

Dodge City has eight individual wrestlers ranked - Damian Mendez (2nd at 113), Rudy Hernandez (6th at 138), Garrett Edwards (3rd at 145), Marcelino Otero (5th at 152), Ruben Rayas (2nd at 160), Jashon Taylor (3rd at 170), Ryan Parga (6th at 182) and Cody Terrell (6th at 285).