Tickets have been punched for the State competitions across the state of Kansas and over 50 Kanzaland area wrestlers are headed to compete in either Class 4A or 3-2-1A State wrestling competitions set to start on Friday in Salina and Hays.

In anticipation for the State competition the KWCA has released a new set of rankings going into the final competitions of the year.

Latest KWCA Class 4A Rankings -- click here
Latest KWCA Class 3-2-1A Rankings -- click here

Class 4A: 

The Holton Wildcats continue to dominate the 4A rankings holding the top perch as the number one know all season, as the Wildcats look primed to defend their 4A State title from last year with 12 wrestlers at the State competition. Six of those 12 grapplers continue to remain ranked in the latest KWCA polls after great individual showings at Regionals on their home mats last weekend. Wildcats also won the team title at Regionals by 120-plus points.

Four of the six Holton ranked grapplers captured Regional championships last week as Justin Rieschick (138lbs), Lucas Lovvorn (152lbs), Andrew Rieschick (160lbs) and Cooper Zeller (285lbs) all won their weight class. Both Lovvorn and Zeller currently ranked second in their weight classes and tout records of 35-4 and 27-4, respectively on the season. Both Justin and Andrew each are ranked third in their weight classes and head into State with records of 31-5 and 21-1 on the season. 

Jonah Lutz (132lbs) continues to remain ranked checking in at number four after taking second at Regionals and boosts a record of 30-2, while Tyler Price (120lbs) continues to remain ranked sixth in the rankings after a second place showing at Regionals. Price has a record of 30-7 headed into State.

One Jeff West and Atchison continues to be ranked in the polls after strong showings at Regionals and both qualifying for State. For the Tigers Justin Scott (285lbs) continues to remain ranked number one despite losing for the first time this season and taking second at Regionals, falling to Holton's Zeller in the championship bout. Scott goes State with a 33-1 record, while Atchison's Tyler Harris (170lbs) will head to State with a perfect 35-0 record after winning a Regional championship. Harris continues to remain ranked number two in his weight class.

Class 3-2-1A:

In 3-2-1A its ACCHS and Marysville that continue to highlight the wrestling scene for the area as both teams finished second and first in Regionals in that order as teams and are sending multiple wrestlers to the State competition.

ACCHS Tigers this week sit at number two in the latest KWCA team polls, as they will send nine wrestlers to State, while Marysville ranks eight as a team after winning the Regional crown with seven State qualifiers.

The Tigers are led by four ranked grapplers with Logan Bowen (132lbs) leading the way as he continues to be ranked second after winning a Regional title and goes into State with a record of 22-1. Scott Birkinsha (170lbs) checks in at number three in his weight class again this week after taking second place at Regionals and touts a record of 27-6. Justin Wagner (152lbs) and Hunter Ostertag (106lbs) both continue to be ranked for the Tigers at number three and four, respectively in their weight classes after qualifying for State. Wagner has a record of 29-9 and Ostertag is 25-8 on the year heading into State.

For Marysville three of their seven State qualifiers are ranked including a pair of Regional champions in Chris Deters (106lbs) and Josh Nelson (160lbs) who both remained ranked this week at number three and two in their weight classes. Deters heads into State with a 26-3 record, while Nelson is 27-4 on the year. Casey Hilton (220lbs) continues to remain ranked after taking second place at Regionals and heads into State with a 26-7 record.

Doniphan West/Troy is sending three wrestlers to State as all three guys that have been ranked throughout the year qualified for State. Tristan Speer (195lbs) of Troy leads the way after winning the Regional championship he continues to remain ranked number one in the polls and touts a record of 33-0. While, Garret Dunlap (160lbs) and Trevor Fee (170lbs) both remain ranked after finishing second and fourth at Regionals. Dunlap with his 32-6 record is ranked third in his weight class, while Fee who is 25-9 on the year and ranked sixth.

Pair of Sabetha Bluejays continue to remain ranked as Michael Baumgartner (170lbs) and Jacob Leuthold (285lbs) are ranked at number four and six this week in their weight classes. Baumgartner earned a spot at State after taking third at Regionals and is 28-9 on the season. Leuthold took home the Regional championship at the heavyweight division and heads into State with a record of 25-10.

Teammates, Andrew Beck (152lbs) of Centralia and Dustin Blow (195lbs) of Onaga both are headed to State also and each remained ranked in the latest KWCA rankings. Beck ranks second in his weight class after taking second in Regionals and heads into State with a record of 33-6. While, Blow ranks sixth in his weight class and heads to State with a record of 35-7 after a second place at Regionals.

Twenty-two area wrestlers are ranked and many others from the area are headed to State this weekend with one thing on their mind to finish the season on a strong note.