Kansas Freestyle and Greco State Championship marks start of ‘Road to Fargo’ 2025

The competition included age groups ranging from the Kids level through the Junior divisions. Participants in the older age groups were competing for spots to represent Team Kansas on national dual teams as well as positions on the Fargo roster.

USAWKS Men’s FS/GR Director, Scott Rieck, is a veteran coach with USAWKS, but has been in his current position for only several months. He likes what he sees in terms of involvement and people willing to give back. He pointed to Daniel “Dap” Deshazer as an example of someone on the Senior level willing to come back to his roots and help our wrestlers improve. “We have a lot of people wanting to help out and have a lot of positive things going on. Dap is an example of someone on the Senior level (wrestling for Gopher Wrestling Club out of the University of Minnesota) coming back to help. We need to keep that positivity going and keep people like him coming back to help our young men and women learn how to train and compete,” he said. Rieck points to the par terre position, and specifically gut-wrench defense, as targeted areas for improvement based on what he has noticed this spring. “We are relatively better from neutral, but it’s a long match if you aren’t getting and preventing turns,” he said.

Paola’s Brock Johnson, who will be going for his fourth state title next season, is one of the top recruits in Kansas from the Class of 2026. The double champ at Freestyle and Greco State sees the value in participating in the Olympic styles. “You can’t be happy about the success you have during the high school season. You have to challenge yourself and put yourself in uncomfortable situations and Freestyle and Greco do that,” he said. “I plan to compete at Junior Duals and Fargo and want to AA at Fargo to get the attention of college coaches.” Johnson is leaving his college options open at this point but has his sights on competing at the NCAA DI level.

After pinning her way through the 4A State tournament during the scholastic season for her second state title, Kiley Dillow picked up where she left off and pinned or teched her way through the Freestyle and Greco State tournaments. The rising senior will take a 90-match win streak into her final season in a Chanute singlet.

The returning Fargo AA has a plan in place to continue that level of success. “The plan is to stay healthy and compete in selected regional and national tournaments. The next competition will be Southern Plains, then National Duals, and Fargo,” she said. Dillow also plans to take part in training camps and has a unique camp on the agenda where she will host a camp along with her brothers, Brayden and Trey, who both compete for the University of Central Missouri.

Dillow is also involved in volleyball and softball and other activities at Chanute High School. However, the honor student that didn’t start wrestling until her freshman year has landed on wrestling as her long-term commitment. “I’m not sure where yet, but I definitely want to wrestle in college and make that the single sport that I focus on,” she said.

Eighteen individuals in the Junior division won both Greco-Roman and freestyle tournaments. With Southern Plains coming up and various national duals just around the corner, the road to Fargo 2025 is in full swing.