Latest KWCA Class 4A Rankings -- click here
Latest KWCA Class 3-2-1A Rankings -- click here

The calendar year as turned and the holiday break is in the rear view mirror and area wrestlers and their teams turn their attention back to the action on the mats with action heating up for the second half portion of the season. With the second half of the season upon us the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association as released a new set of rankings and area athletes and wrestlers continue to highlight the rankings.

Class 4A the Holton Wildcats who have started their 2014 portion of the season with a successfull bout against Spring Hill in a dual last Saturday continue to be ranked number one as a team, as they have all season as the defending 4A champs look to continue their momentum. Wildcats are led by seven individuals ranked in their respective weight classes. Senior, Cooper Zeller and junior, Lucas Lovvorn lead the way both being ranked second in their weight classes of 285lbs and 152lbs, respectively.

Junior, Mason Baum, sophomores, Justin Rieschick and Jonah Lutz and freshman, Tyler Price all rank third in the weight classes of 160lbs, 138lbs, 132lbs and 120lbs. While Andrew Rieschick remained ranked this season checking in at number four in the weight class of 170lbs.

Fellow Big Seven League school the Jeff West Tigers have three individual wrestlers ranked including a defending state champion in senior, Justin Scott who ranks number one at 285lbs. Joining Scott in the rankings for the Tigers is senior's, Josiah Dowding and Nate Holloman who both rank sixth in the weight classes of 160lbs and 120lbs.

Atchison is the lone other school from the area that touts a wrestler in the rankings as Tyler Harris remained ranked at 170lbs this week, coming in at number two in the latest polls.

In Class 3-2-1A it's the ACCHS Tigers highlighting the scene from the area as they remained at number two as a team in the latest Top 10 team’s poll. The Tigers are led by senior, Scott Birkinsha and junior, Logan Bowen who currently each rank second at 170lbs and 132lbs, respectively. Junior, Willy Dieckmann continued to remain ranked at 135lbs checking in at number three, while freshman Hunter Ostertag, too stayed in the rankings checking in at third at 106lbs.

Doniphan West and Troy who co-op together for wrestling have the second most area wrestlers ranked at the 3-2-1A level with three. Tristan Speer leads the charge ranking number on at 195lbs yet again this season, while Doniphan West sophomore, Garrett Dunlap ranks third at 160lbs and Mustangs senior, Trevor Fee checks in at sixth at 170lbs.

Marysville Bulldogs have a pair of wrestlers ranked as does Onaga and Centralia who co-op together for wrestlers. Bulldogs are led by junior, Josh Nelson who ranks second at 160lbs, while Chris Deters remained ranked at third at 113lbs. Centralia Panther, Andrew Beck continues to remain steadfast at in the rankings at 152lbs checking in at third in the latest poll, while Onaga Buffalo junior, Kyle Ames jumped in the rankings for the first time this year as he ranks sixth at 182lbs.

Both Riverside and Sabetha, also have a individual wrestler ranked in the latest polls, both of which remained in the rankings in the latest polls. For the Cyclones senior, Cody Walker continues to sit atop the perch of number on at 220lbs, while Sabetha Bluejay junior, Jacob Leuthold ranks fourth at 285lbs.

The 2014 portion of the wrestling season really heats up this coming weekend with many teams taking to the mat in tournament action.