By CONOR NICHOLL
Scott City swept the GWAC wrestling titles. On the boys’ side, SC edged Colby, 170-169.5. For the girls, SC posted 133 points, well ahead of runner-up Cimarron’s 68.
Scott City girls will compete at the Class 4-1A regional Saturday in Hoisington. Top-four in each class will advance to state. SC boys will go to the McPherson regional the following weekend. Senior MacKayla Miller, the defending state 235-pound champion, is again ranked first in the classification. On the boys’ side, Collin McDaniel is ranked first at 150.
For Scott City, Evan Fry (13-10) captured the 113-pound championship. McDaniel improved to 34-2 at 150. He won all four matches by fall in 21 seconds, 11 seconds, 14 seconds and 1:38. Houston Frank (31-7) went 5-0 at 165. All five wins by fall, in 1:22, 46 seconds, 1:32, four minutes and 3:54.
In 2022, Scott City girls won the GWAC title with 178 points, three ahead of Goodland and 25 in front of Colby.
Multiple Scott City girls have significantly improved from last year. At 115, sophomore Brooklynn Gossman (15-15) picked up a win at league. Gossman was 2-20 at 120 last year.
Senior Paola Mendoza is 6-11, including 2-0 at 120 at conference.
At 125, sophomore Audrey Schwartz is 14-9.
At 135, sophomore Ashlyn Pazdernik (21-9) collected a championship with two first-period falls. Last year, Pazdernik was fourth at regionals and qualified for state at 138. She finished 15-15.
For 140, freshman Dayanara Jimenez improved to 13-8 and won a league title. She posted a 2-1 record.
Senior Johnna Sowers (26-3) won at 155 with four wins, three falls and a decision.
Miller is 24-0 at 235 and a strong favorite for another state championship. As a junior, Miller was 23-1. She won by fall, major decision, sudden overtime victory and by fall in 2 minutes, 32 seconds at state.
