Top Heavy

Goddard was ranked No. 1 in the 6A wrestling coaches poll released on Sunday, followed by four other teams in the immediate greater Wichita area. Wichita Heights is ranked second, Derby third, Wichita Northwest fourth and Maize fifth. Goddard, Heights and Derby will compete at the Derby tournament on Friday and Saturday, and Northwest and Maize will be at the Maize tournament on Saturday. Goddard looks to be in line to win its third 6A state title in four years. The mighty Lions won state in 2006 and 2008, bookending their state runner-up finish in 2007. Barring the disqualification of one of their top wrestlers in 2007, Goddard likely would be looking at a fourth consecutive state title this February, a feat six schools have accomplished in Kansas history. The Lions are led by Bo Beard (currently listed at 189, though he may wrestle at 171) and Tyler Caldwell (160), both of whom are three-time state champs and ranked No. 1 in the weight classes. Mitchell Means (145), a former state champ, and Ryan Houlden (152), a defending state champ, are also ranked No. 1. Wichita Heights in second place as a team is led by defending state champs Daniel DeShazer (125), Kendric Maple (135) and Chase Nelson (171), all top-ranked in their weight classes. Freshman Matt Reed (145) is a dark horse to challenge Goddard's Means at state. Derby High is no surprise in third, as they return six state medalists from last year's team. Their host tournament this Friday and Saturday will be packed with talent. Bishop Carroll and Valley Center, two top teams in 5A, also will attend that tournament. Wichita Northwest and Maize have slowly crawled up the 6A team standings. Northwest in fourth is led by their big boys, Kyle Caylor (215) and Brock Heithaus (285), both defending state champs. Sean Gaither (152) and Dominique Terrell (171) are also ranked in the top six in their weight classes. Maize High has risen from tenth place in the standings in the pre-season to fifth. Yes, they have been boosted by the transfer of two-time state champ Trent Cox from Andale. But several other wrestlers who were unranked at the beginning of the season are rising. Maize is loaded in the lower weight classes. Sophomore Colby Witten (103) is ranked second, senior Jabez Zinabu (112) sixth, Evan Amaro (119) fourth, and Cox (130) is ranked first. Blake Fulbright (152) and John Close (285) are also ranked.