Graygets the
Gold D uring her high school career, junior Mady Gray has never lost a match in girls wrestling. In fact, Gray has never lost a state championship she has qualified for. Gray first went out for the middle school wrestling team in seventh grade as a way to find her interests and meet new people. She had no idea what laid ahead of her. As a freshman in 2018, Gray competed for the boys team. At the time, wrestling was only sanctioned as a boys’ sport by the Kansas High School Activities Association. This meant she competed against boys at meets and in practice unless there was another girl competing in her weight class. She was unable to compete in an official state championship that season since KSHSAA did not host a distinctive championship for girls. Gray won an
unofficial state championship in the 130-pound weight class through an organization outside of KSHSAA. However, 2019 marked the first year girls wrestling was sanctioned by KSHSAA. This didn’t bar female wrestlers from competing against boys, Gray primarily wrestled girls in the 2019-2020 season but faced off against boys on occasion. Gray celebrated the inaugural state tournament with a victory in the 130-pound weight class, a proper finish to her undefeated 34-0 season. Entering her junior year her goal was clear, her eyes were set on a third state title. Randy Streeter, first-year head coach, shared her expectations for the season. “It was clear that Mady had her goal of another state title locked in,” Streeter said. “There was no negotiating that. We just did whatever we could for her
“It was very exciting to become an official state champion for the second time, it means I’m one step closer to being a 4-timer”
Junior Mady Gray is focused while she scrimmages with teammate senior Clare Benton. According to Gray, Wrestling demands mental and physical persistence. “One of the most amazing feelings in wrestling is all that hard work paying off and all the adrenaline and relief from winning that match,” Gray said. It’s a mind blowing feeling.”
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