CAPTION: Kimber Crabbs (left), a two-time Kansas Class 4A state girls wrestling qualifier at Buhler High School, will compete for Hutchinson High School and Class 5A as a junior this season. CREDIT KSHSAA COVERED
By John Mesh
Kimber Crabbs enters her junior season at Hutchinson High School after twice qualifying for the Class 4-1A state tournament for Buhler High School.
Crabbs was profiled by KSHSAA Covered. She has not been ranked by the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association in Class 5A for Buhler her first two years.
Crabbs was ranked third at 105 pounds in the KWCA preseason Class 4A poll and fourth in the All-Class poll.
After making it all the way to the 105-pound final as a freshman, Crabbs rolled into regionals with an unbeaten record last winter before falling to Clay Center’s Alissa Cowing 9-7 in the championship.
At state, Crabbs’ title hopes were derailed in the quarters by Burlingame’s Maliyah Lopez.
Crabbs finished the season 27-3 with a loss to Wabaunsee’s Sophia Castillo in her first consolation match.
She joins the Salthawks with a 53-7 high school record.
Area wrestlers ranked in second KWCA poll
The Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association released its second poll of the 2024-2025 season on Tuesday.
In Kansas Class 4A girls, Halstead sophomore Callyn Divine is the preseason No. 1 at 130 pounds.
Divine set the bar incredibly high in her freshman season, posting a 40-1 record that ended with a 7-2 loss to unbeaten Colby wrestler Amanda Jaeger in the Class 4-1A 130-pound final.
With Jaeger graduated, Divine moves into a favorite’s role in 4A after winning 36 of her matches by pin.
Divine, Halstead’s first regional champion, also collected tournament victories at Nickerson, Fredonia, Circle and in the Central Kansas League meet.
Prior to high school, Divine won under-14 state junior titles in folkstyle, freestyle and Greco-Roman.
Buhler’s Macey Parks, the KSHSAA Covered favorite at 145 pounds, won her first state medal last season as a sophomore.
She won four consolation matches before finishing fourth in Class 4-1A at 145. That capped a 35-13 season for Parks, who qualified for state at 140 as a freshman and went 1-2 to complete a 29-16 campaign.
Parks built momentum down the stretch last season by winning her weight class at the Wichita South and Circle invitationals.
Parks finished third at the McPherson regional.
In Class 321A girls, Haven High School senior Trista Rogers is ranked second at 155 pounds. Rogers is ranked third at 155 pounds in All-Class girls.
Rogers had a breakthrough season last year as a junior, becoming Haven’s first regional champion and posting a 37-7 record that ended with a third-place finish in Class 4-1A at 155.
She finished in the top three at all her meets, winning titles at Clay Center and Halstead.
At the McPherson regional, Rogers pinned all four of her opponents, including Pratt’s Emma Primrose in the final.
Her state title bid ended with a 13-3 semifinal loss to Oakley’s Cali Wagoner, but Rogers pinned Prairie View’s Shawna Case to secure third.
Rogers posted a 25-11 record as a sophomore, but dropped a pair of regional matches and did not qualify for state.
In All-Class boys, Buhler senior Cruz Hershberger is ranked sixth at 144 pounds. Hutchinson senior Kade Smith is ranked seventh at 157 pounds. Halstead senior Connor Herman is ranked ninth at 285 pounds.
In 5A boys, Hutchinson’s Smith is ranked first at 165 pounds, sophomore Cruz Cannon is ranked third at 113 pounds and Jackson Anderson is sixth at 175 pounds.
In 4A boys, Herman is ranked third at 285 pounds. His Halstead teammate Clayton Considine, a senior, is fourth at 132 pounds.
Buhler junior Sammy Hershberger is ranked fifth at 138 pounds, Cruz Hershbeger is second at 144 pounds.
Nickerson junior Kristopher Monroe is fifth at 157 pounds.
In Class 321A boys, Haven senior Jacob Moore is ranked third at 126 pounds and junior Tanner Loghrie is sixth at 138 pounds.
KHSSCA Boys 2024 Kansas All-State Team announced
The Kansas High School Coaches Association announced its All-State Teams for 2024 and several area standouts were recognized.
Hutchinson High School sophomore Griffin Galyon was named to the Class 5A second team. Seniors Landon Nusser, Cole Bleything and Lucas Witt were honorable mention picks.
Buhler junior Reuben Harder and senior Van Wofeslagel were named to the Class 4A second team.
Juniors Lincoln Tanskley and Dylan Andersson and sophomore Jayden Adcock were honorable mention selections.
Soccer referees of the Year included Brad Hallier from Hutchinson.
Hallier is a journalism professor at Hutchinson Community College who worked as a sports writer for the Hutchinson News. In addition to refereeing soccer matches, he umpires at baseball games and also works in radio.