Finally, the results from Detroit. There were 720 girls competing this year in the USGWA Nationals. It was a very hectic and unorganized weekend, and officiating was not so great either. However, I must say, Coach Ed sounds very excited and happy over the girls performance at the hardest girl tourney around and the competition did not disappoint. We had a total of 20 girls that are either from KS or have been with the Krusaders at tournaments for some time now.
I have names and placings. I will start with the NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!
Beth Johnson totally dominated the competition. Per Ed, "No one could touch Beth." Beth is from Garden City and traveled out with Bob and Jeanie Dey.
Morgan Otteson did not disappoint either, she had a round robin to seat the bracket and she did have a loss there, but came back to avenge her loss in grand fashion and take home the gold. Morgan is from Mill Valley and for those that have seen her wrestle...enough said.
That brings me to Emily Newberry. This is the little pint sized KS tornado that Coach Ed calls, "wild thing". Wild thing delivered the gold back to Columbus, KS in grand style.
They added into the competition this year something they called a G3 bracket. It was for all the girls that went out in the regular bracket, they got to wrestle another consolation bracket.
We had three girls go out in the regular bracket and then kicked tail in the "G3". All three took first place in the backside bracket.
Jessica Bowman - Lawrence Coyotes
Janessa Valle - Wichita Wolfpack
Kelsey Murphy - NE KS
We have two girls from OK that we have known forever. Karissa Avallone actually considers herself a Kansas Krusader. She took 7th in a difficult bracket. Hanna Martin that has also traveled the country with Coach Ed many times, she wore OK colors and supported her state that is finally fielding a team this year. I could not do this without mentioning her though as we all love Hanna and I particularly love to watch her eat...she LOVES her foods. Hanna took 3rd with only one loss. If you don't know Hanna check out her creditials. She is hanging right in there with her El Reno teammates and made it to HS state this year. Their state shirt read 8 guys and a Chick!
We had four girls from Lakin travel out with Coaches Frederiksen and Gonzales. They along with Beth Johnson, represented the SW part of the state.
Regina Ward - 6th
Tayler Frederiksen - 7th
Samantha Gonzalez - DNP
Nikki Penthey - DNP
Also, from the Lawrence Coyotes was little Payton Covert. She also had a tough bracket and came out as an All American at 8th place.
Southeast Ks had to represent also. "Wild Thing's" mentor from Columbus HS has really been turning it on and Coach Ed can't quit talking about how much this young lady has improved. Danette O'Hara made some noise in Detroit City and is now an All American placing 7th.
There was another young lady that competed from KS and I can't go without mentioning her. She wrestles for Team Tigers and her name is Krista Revelle, she placed 6th. I hope that some day she will choose to call herself a KS Krusader, as well.
Now for the Central part of the state. From McPherson KS and try NOT to ask them about their trip out to Detroit. Chandra Engel placed 11th and her protege Addie Lanning did very well and place 2nd in her bracket.
We have three other placers that regularly work out with Coach Ed on Wed nights and their teams on the other nights.
Darian Gonzalez from Newton with the Runner Up in her bracket. Her dad is the wonderful man that keeps our webpage updated.
Aerial Groene lives and wrestles for Goddard but has been working out steadily with the Wichita girls. She is an All American with 5th place.
And last but not least, Kaysha Anderson from my very own NW Jr Grizzlies...Kaysha just started wrestling this year and has not had that many wins, but she braved the trip to Detroit anyway. All you guys know that that is how champions are made. Kaysha worked hard in Detroit, got a REALLY BIG win per Coach Ed and comes home an All America with 6th place.
Well, that should be all 20 girls and we at the KS Krusaders couldn't be prouder. We had a fine turnout of girls and a large amount of hardware to take home. On behalf of myself, Coach Ed, Coach Jason Ogden and Coach Brooke Bogren, I want to say thanks for all the effort and time and money to the parents and wrestlers and fans. We are looking forward to a good FS season and hope to see even more at the USAW Women's Body Bar FS Nationals in Colorado Springs on April 21-22, 2007.
Here's to a safe trip home for everyone.
Thanks Girls!!!!!!!!!!!
Ms. Jenni
