The Tonganoxie High girls wrestling team had a strong showing Saturday at Olathe South. The Chieftains placed fourth out of 26 teams.

Tonganoxie scored 216 points against a field that included many larger schools. Ozark (Mo.) won the meet with 303 points, while Emporia had 239 and Seaman 229. THS finished just ahead of fellow Frontier League team Baldwin. The Bulldogs had 215.

THS coach Adam Ludwin said the squad has been wrestling well.

“I would say some keys are they stick to basics,” Ludwin said when asked about what has fueled the team’s success. “Nothing fancy, especially since a lot of them are first-year wrestlers. “I tell them daily at this point there’s really nothing more to teach them just fine-tune the little things in the stuff we know and are doing already.”

Two gold medals paced Tonganoxie at the weekend tournament.

Autumn Wilson (16-8) won gold in the 105-pound division. The freshman defeated Baldwin junior Brianna Mitchell (23-7) by major decision, 10-0.

THS senior Holly Colvert also won gold.

Colvert (21-1) pinned KC Washington junior Breanna Neal (26-5) by fall in the first period (1:19).

Mackenzie Colgrove, Sydney Shephard and Grace Stean all placed fifth. Colgrove (17-10) defeated Blue Valley Southwest’s Lillian Hyder (2-2) by fall (0:55) in the 140 fifth-place match. Shephard (17-12) defeated Baldwin’s Jaden Wharton (17-13) by fall (1:04) in the 145 fifth-place match. Stean (20-8) defeated Ozark’s Sarah Cazier (28-9) by fall (1:07).

Anna Tochtrop placed sixth at 235. She moved to 8-12 on the season after losing in the fifth-place match to Emporia’s Alexa Castillo (9-7) by fall in the second period (3:50).

“Last week they finally understood how to bounce back from when matches don’t go your way and bounce back to finish the day strong,” Ludwin said about his team. “We are progressing daily. Like I said we have six returning wrestlers out of 12 starters. The other six are first-year wrestlers and even three of those returners were really green still.”

Abagail Starcher (10-17) placed 12th at 110, while Grae Vanderweide (13-12) placed seventh at 120 after pinning Blue Valley West’s Genevieve Umentum (9-9) in the third period (4:19).

Stella Bradley (19-11) also placed seventh at 125. She defeated Shawnee Mission West’s Alaina Johnston (11-6) by forfeit. Brooklin Rich (9-13) finished 10th after falling to Bonner Springs’ Emmalee Foya (8-9) by fall (1:23).

Finley Keller placed ninth at 135. Keller (10-15) defeated Shawnee Mission Northwest’s Zoe Rice (6-10).

Kendall Smart also finished ninth at 155. Smart (7-11) earned the placing after defeating Emporia’s Yanelli Carranaza (2-3) by a 6-4 decision. Annabelle Hancock (0-4) also placed 12th

Katy Duncan (1-3) placed 13th at 190.

“We progress daily; the girls are coming along just fine,” the THS coach said. “At this point the work is being put in for postseason, the girls just have to get their minds right as in believing in themselves, know that they can compete with any of these girls that step in front of them, and find a way to win, and that’s what wrestling is.”

Next up for Tonganoxie is a 9 a.m. tournament Saturday at Washburn Rural.

The Frontier League Meet will be 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1 at Bonner Springs.

Tonganoxie will compete Feb. 11 in Class 4-1A at the Rossville Regional. Other sites are Coffeyville, Hoisington and Wellington.

“I’m excited for the last couple weeks,” Ludwin said. “I have no doubt that 12-for-12 could make it to the state tournament! That day at regionals it just comes down to who wants it more, and you have to go take it. Nothing is handed to you.

State is Feb. 22-23 at Tony’s Pizza Events Center.

Team results from Olathe South meet

1. Ozark, 303.5; 2. Emporia, 239; 3. Topeka Seaman, 229; 4. Tonganoxie, 216; 5. Baldwin, 215; 6. Blue Valley Southwest, 170.5; 7. Olathe North, 161; 8. Leavenworth, 158; 9. Bonner Springs, 152; 10. Olathe South, 148; 11. Blue Valley West, 124; 12. Olathe Northwest, 91; 13. Shawnee Mission Northwest, 90.5; 14. Olathe East, 79.5; 15. Shawnee Mission West, 76.5; 16. KC Washington, 70; 17. Mill Valley, 64.5; 18. Campus, 60; 19. Shawnee Mission North, 51; 20. Shawnee Mission South, 43; 21. Lawrence High, 49.5; 22. JC Harmon, 36.5; 23. Blue Valley, 22.5; 24. Free State, 20.5; 25. Blue Valley North, 4; 26. Blue Valley Northwest, 0.

Tonganoxie ranked ninth in 4-1A

Tonganoxie girls wrestling is ranked No. 9 in the latest Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association rankings.

Fellow Frontier League team Baldwin is No. 1 in the poll. Pratt, Columbus, Rossville and Chanute rounded out the Top 5. Fort Scott was ranked No. 6, Oskaloosa No. 7, Mulvane No. 8 and Hoisington No. 10.

THS senior is ranked No. 3 at 190, while sophomore Grace Stean is No. 4 at 170.

Colvert is No. 5 among all classes.