Manhattan High’s girls wrestling team proved it belongs among the state’s elite Saturday, punching 13 tickets to state and finishing runner-up at the Class 6A West Regional at Wichita South.
The Indians totaled 239 points, finishing just 8.5 behind team champion Garden City (247.5) in one of the toughest regionals in the state.
“It actually taught us a lot,” head coach Shawn Bammes said. “We were closer than we thought at the beginning of the year to running Garden City down. So we learned a lot from it.”
The West Regional featured over half of the top 10 teams in 6A, making advancement a battle from start to finish.
“West Regional is always really, really tough,” Bammes said. “If we make it through that one, there’s a very good chance to place at state. The competition is good for us. We like seeing kids have to work to get there.”
Manhattan’s senior leaders delivered. Alayna Slifer (135 pounds) and Sophia Hoeme (140) each captured regional championships, leading a group that put six wrestlers into title matches.
“They both had good solid days,” Bammes said. “They’ve been feeling their best and still went out there and put on performances and brought home regional championships. I’m proud of the girls, proud of our senior leadership with this group, and those two both kind of leading the way for us.”
