Crusader preview: Wellington girl wrestlers are ranked No. 4, boys have work to do
The 2021-22 Wellington High School wrestling team. (Click to enlarge).
by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — The Wellington wrestling fans have a chance to see the Crusader wrestlers in action this weekend: tonight in a dual against Mulvane and this Saturday for its annual preseason tournament.
Wellington started its season off last weekend. The girls finished second in a team tournament in Caney Valley, losing only to Columbus. Wellington heavyweight Hagen Wright placed first in the boys’ 285-pound division on Saturday starting at 9 a.m.
It will be a tale of two teams. The girls’ team is projected to be very, very good, perhaps a team state placer in Kansas Division II next February. The boys will be inexperienced. For example, Wellington head coach Mitch McComb had just one wrestler placing in the varsity tournament in Caney Valley. The bulk of the team was wrestling in the junior varsity ranks in Winfield.
2021-22 WHS girls wrestling team. (Click to enlarge)
Let’s go with the girls first. Kansas girls wrestling is only in its third year of being a sanctioned KSHSAA sport. But McComb has built the Wellington program quickly. You go to wrestling practice and chances are you will see as many girls as you do boys.
The ratio of Wellington boys to girls has to be one of the closest in the state. As of last week, there were 18 boy wrestling to 14 girl wrestlers.
And he has a solid nucleus coming back from an impressive showing in the state tournament last year.
Wellington is getting statewide accolades. Wellington is currently ranked No. 4 in Div. II in the latest Kansas Wrestling Coach Association poll released Tuesday. The top five is as follows: 1. Pratt, 2. Baldwin, 3. Burlington, 4. Wellington, 5. Douglass. (See state rankings here)
Wellington has three returning state qualifiers from a team that finished fourth in the state tournament in Salina.
Anna Cullens
On the top of everyone’s list is Anna Cullens at 109 pounds, the returning state champion.
As a sophomore last season, she won the state championship in late February defeating Syleigh Pflaster of Abilene 6-5.
Now as a junior she appears to be continuing where she last left off.
“She could wrestle at 101, but she wants to stay at 109 and defend her title,” McComb said.
Cullens has become a premiere Wellington athlete. After accumulating a 31-1 record last wrestling season, she won two state championships in hurdles at the Class 4A state track meet. She was busy during the summer winning various tournaments including a USA Kids state championship. She is currently ranked No. 22 at 106 pounds in the National USA Wrestling poll.
In this week’s KWCA poll, Cullens is ranked No. 1 with E’owynn Cooney of Burlington at No. 2. The only girl she lost to last season, Josiah Ortiz of Lakin in regional competition, is currently ranked No. 5.
“It is going to be a tough division to defend,” McComb said of the 109-pound weight class.
Kaitlyn Hain.
The second returning state placer is senior Kaitlyn Hain at 132 pounds. Hain just signed a letter of intent to wrestle this week at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa.
Hain is a three-year starter and finished sixth at the state tournament at 132. She is currently ranked No. 4 in Div. II behind girls from Mission Valley, Holton, and Pratt.
Averie Burns
The other returning state placer is Averie Burns. She is ranked No. 3 at heavyweight after placing fourth in State a year ago. Not bad for a girl who just got on the wrestling mat for the first time last season.
Wellington is a heavy favorite to win the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Div. IV. Tonight’s opponent, Mulvane, probably will be its biggest test.
McComb grimaces when asked if Wellington has a full slate.
“I came close,” he said. “I, unfortunately, could not fill all the weight classes. I just couldn’t get some girls out.”
At 101, there is some stiff competition within the Wellington ranks. Deighlynn Lea is currently starting. She went 4-1 at Caney Valley last week. However, she could be usurped by Meagan Jackson who will be eligible after Christmas break.
At 115, Next Young returns and could very well be a state qualifier. She finished 3-1 for third place at Caney.
Sophie Parkey is new to wrestling and she is currently at 120. Isabelle Cullens is expected to wrestle at that weight as well. McComb anticipates one of those two girls will wrestle up at 126 when the regional time arrives.
Airalyn Frame, yes that basketball Frame, is wrestling at 143 for her first year. It is doubtful she will wrestle at regional.
Wellington is open at 155 pounds.
Kaylee Horinek, a USA wrestling state placer, is expected to be a huge factor at 170. The problem with her weight class it is probably the toughest in the state.
Aubrey Hunt will be wrestling at 191 pounds. This is her first time competing on the mat.
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2021-22 WHS boys wrestling team. (Click to enlarge)
For the boys, it will be a work in progress.
The most competitive wrestler for the boys will be heavyweight contender Hagen Wright.
Hagen Wright
He is currently ranked No. 4 at 285 in Class 4A, behind No. 1 ranked Nathan Cunningham of Chanute, Dustin Charmock of Holton and Drake Van Skoyoc of Pratt.
Last season, Wright finished in the consolation semifinals at sub-state during that strange COVID year in which there were four post-season tournaments compared to the customary two.
“He would have gone to state if it was a normal year,” McComb said.
Wright is off to a very good start. Last Saturday in Caney Valley he defeated the No. 1 ranked wrestler in Class 3A by pin.
There are three open weights for Wellington, which means a team could automatically get 18 points up on the Crusaders.
At 106, Wellington has two wrestlers: Payton Schwart and Cabel Boggues, who both went 3-2 in the JV tournament in Winfield last Saturday.
“It has been a while since we were able to fill this weight class, McComb said. “Now we have two.”
The 113-pound weight division is open. At 120, Rome Hunt, a freshman is wrestling for the first time.
Talan Cantrell, a sophomore, is slated to wrestle at 126.
Connor Walker is a first-year wrestler who is slated to start at 132. People may remember him from his running in cross country.
Chase Koehler, a senior, will be wrestling at 138.
Taylor Ramirez, a junior, is wrestling at 145.
Kenny Redford, a sophomore, is returning a mat after not going out as a freshman. He is slated to start at 152. His younger brother James Redford is also wrestling at 152.
Jamar Armstrong will be wrestling at 182 as a freshman. Despite only wrestling for three weeks, he finished 3-1 and second place in Winfield and has a lot of potential.
Derek Lowe is expected to start at 220 pounds, but won’t wrestle until after Christmas break.
