By CONOR NICHOLL
Oakley girls’ wrestling enjoyed a regional runner-up showing at the Class 4-1A regional meet last weekend. The Plainsmen finished with 78 points. Host Hoisington was first at 107.5. Ellis took third at 68.
Oakley scored 34 more points at regionals this year compared to last year. Class 4-1A is held at Salina’s Tony’s Pizza Events Center on Feb. 22-23.
Oakley’s Bryce Lewis earned the regional coach of the year honor. Plus, senior Citori Bosserman cleared 100 career victories. Bosserman has enjoyed a standout career. Two years ago, she became the first western Kansas girl to win a sanctioned state wrestling title.
At 110, Bosserman improved to 26-4 with a regional crown. She went went 4-0 with all wins by fall, including against Larned’s Liliana McKenna in the championship. Bosserman has won four tournaments this winter. She finished fourth at state at 109 last winter and captured the championship at 101 as a sophomore. Bosserman went 27-1 in her state championship year and 33-6 last winter.
At 120, senior Mikayha Cain took fourth and reached the state tournament. Cain lost her first match, had a bye and then won three in a row to collect the state berth. Cain was third at state in 2021 with a 25-5 mark at 120. However, Cain has had limited mat time the last two years.
At 125, freshman Abbygayl Jackson (28-9) finished fourth. She finished 2-2.
At 170, sophomore Atavia Cain (29-3) earned first with three wins by fall. The championship came against Minneapolis’ Grace Johns, a defending state runner-up who entered with a 32-1 record. Cains had a fall in 4:43. Cain qualified as a freshman at 170 and finished sixth with a 20-11 mark.
Last season, Oakley had three wrestlers qualify for state: Bosserman, Atavia Cain and Jalyn McLean, who finished 14-8 at 235. Oakley was fifth at regionals with 44 points.
