Breaking down 2026 state wrestling championships for Shawnee County

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Mar 1, 2026 - 21:25

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Breaking down 2026 state wrestling championships for Shawnee County

The high school wrestling season is in the books after another incredible year on the mat. The Kansas state wrestling tournament concluded it’s two-day event on Saturday, Feb. 28.

Shawnee County brought home several state titles. Here’s everything that happened to Topeka-area teams.

Washburn Rural boys secure two individual titles

Washburn Rural boys team was able to reach the podium once again in the Class 6A State Championship. The Junior Blues took home third-place with 180 points, as Maize took the team title with Manhattan earning second-place.

The Junior Blues were highlighted by two state title victories from Landen Kocher-Munoz and Jadyn Baum.

Kocher-Munoz won the 144-pound weight class. He won over Maize’s Talon Verbeck in a 7-1 decision. This was Kocher-Munoz’s third state championship with Washburn Rural.

“Last year, I was focused on revenge, it was a revenge-tour,” Kocher-Munoz said. “This year, it was all about being with my guys and being with my team, being with my family. I’m so grateful for everyone that’s been in my life, that’s trained me for this moment.”

Baum was able to take down the 215-pound bracket with ease. The junior won his first-ever state championship. He defeated Manhattan’s Kadin Dibbini via a 12-4 major decision.

“I’m just happy. It felt great to get the major for the team points” Baum said. “After getting third last year, coming back, it feels great.”

While many other wrestlers flaunt their title victory, Baum calmly walked-off the mat. His job was done and there was zero need to celebrate. It’s what makes him such an enjoyable person to coach, according to head coach Josh Hogan.

Washburn Rural's Landen Kocher-Munoz celebrates after winning the Class 6A State Championship on Saturday, Feb. 28.

“We talk a lot about acting like you’ve been there before,” Hogan said. “Ultimately, it’s just wrestling. I love people like Jadyn. He goes out there and takes care of business, expects to win and acts like he’s been there before.”

Andrew Peterson (113), Ryder Harrison (120) and Cooper Stivers (138) also reached the gold medal match, but their quest for a state title came up just short.

Washburn Rural girls earn another top-three finish

Culture mates and there isn’t a stronger culture in Kansas girls wrestling than Washburn Rural. The Junior Blues simply know how to reach and exceed expectations every year.

Entering the final weekend, Washburn Rural was ranked No. 4 in the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association poll, outside of a podium finish. But, results are not decided on paper, they are decided on the mat.

During the Class 6A State Championship, Washburn Rural put tougher performance after performance.

“Nobody that does the rankings thought that we had any chance of finishing in the top-three,” head coach Damon Parker said. “We won a third-place trophy in the state tournament with the youngest team in the state of Kansas. I’m over the moon.”

Washburn Rural coach Damon Parker hugs Emme Blanco in the Class 6A State Championship on Saturday, Feb. 28.

The Junior Blues took third-place with 175 points. They were four points ahead of No. 4 Manhattan. Garden City took the title with Gardner-Edgerton finishing in second-place.

Washburn Rural did not have an individual champion, but a total team effort helped it reach the podium. The Junior Blues were the only team in the top-eight to not have a state title winner. Instead, Washburn Rural did have seven medalists.

Three of the team’s medalists finished in second-place. Senior trio Lacey Middleton (125), Emme Blanco (145) and Elia Smith (170) all came within inches of earning first-place. But, the always positive Washburn Rural team, saw it as them winning silver, not falling to second-place.

“Anytime that we can bring something home with us, it’s awesome,” Parker said. “We have yet to have a state tournament, since girls wrestling started, where we didn’t take home a trophy.”

Graves, Jones, Morris collect state titles with Shawnee Heights girls

Shawnee Heights girls wrestling had high expectations entering the Class 5A State Championship in Park City. The Thunderbirds met those expectations with three individual state titles.

Cianan Graves, a senior, capped off her career with her first-ever state championship. Graves has improved year-after-year with the Thunderbirds. She took the 155-pound crown by defeating Basehor-Linwood’s Falasteen Shalabi with a pin in the final period.

In her freshman season, Graves took sixth-place. She followed it with a fifth-place finish and last year, she ended in third. During her senior season, Graves was able to go out in style with a state title.

“I’m not going into state being cocky,” Graves told the Capital-Journal before the state tournament. “But, I’m going to go into it confident. Just hoping for a high place, whatever that may be.”

Her confidence allowed her to win the biggest tournament of the season. She’s off to wrestle at Iowa Western Community College next year.

Shawnee Heights senior Cianna Graves celebrates pinning Goddard freshman Maryah Jones in the 155 weight class semifinals in Park City, Kansas on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. Graves advanced to the championship round.

Shawnee Heights enjoyed two other state title winners, too. Brinnley Morris, a freshman, won the 120-pound division. She toppled Salina Central’s Natalia Garcia with a second-period pin. Olive Jones, a sophomore, defeated Kapaun Mt. Carmel’s Grace Hare via a pin in the second-period, too. Jones has dominated the 135-pound weight class all season.

The health of Shawnee Heights’ program continues to be strong. With three state title winners, the Thunderbirds also had two other medalists in Olivia Stevens and Audrey Hinkly. This is also after Shawnee Heights was able to qualify its entire team to the team state tournament.

The Thunderbirds earned third-overall in the team standings with 141.5 points. Basheor-Linwood took the team title with 200.5 points, and Kapaun Mt. Carmel finished in second place. Shawnee Heights did have the most individual champions from one team with three, a program-record.

Shawnee County high school wrestling medalists

Boys

Class 6A

Hayden Broxterman (106), Washburn Rural, 5th
Andrew Peterson (113), Washburn Rural, 2nd
Rydern Harrison (120), Washburn Rural, 2nd
Cooper Stivers (138), Washburn Rural, 2nd
Landen Kocher-Munoz (144), Washburn Rural, 1st
Brodye Kocher-Munoz (150), Washburn Rural, 3rd
Brenner Beninga (175), Washburn Rural, 6th
Jadyn Baum (215), Washburn Rural, 1st
Kaiden Marshall (285), Washburn Rural, 5th

Class 5A

Deegan Frazier (150), Seaman, 3rd
Evan Johnson (175), Shawnee Heights, 6th
Henry Reichart (285), Seaman, 3rd

Class 4A

Caleb Menke (175), Hayden, 4th
Jude Krentz (190), Hayden, 2nd

Class 3-1A

Bryce Cormier (120), Silver Lake, 3rd
Kayden Clelland (175), Silver Lake, 5th
Paxton Willett (190), Silver Lake, 2nd
Carter Spreer (285), Silver Lake, 5th

Highland Park senior Makayla Cadet faces off against Basehor-Linwood senior Izzy Renfro in the 190 weight class championship at Heartland Credit Union Arena in Park City, Kansas on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026.