Park Hill junior Allison Gonier is a reigning state champions in the 120-weight class.
KANSAS CITY – The Missouri girls’ wrestling program hasn’t been around long, but that hasn’t stopped Park Hill’s dynamic duo of Angelina Vargas and Allison Gonier from making a name for themselves and that won’t change in their junior campaigns.
Vargas has an opportunity to be one of the only 4-time girl state champions in Missouri history, having been the last wrestler standing in the 115-weight class each of the last two years. Gonier ended her freshman year with a third-place finish in the 120-weight class and walked away with a state title as a sophomore.
“We have a great junior class that has had quality results,” Park Hill head wrestling coach Jacob Beck said. “They’ve taken this new group of girls under their wings and shown them how Park Hill girls’ wrestling does things. Our expectations of work are high, and everyone is meeting those on a daily basis.”
Junior Rylin Beatty is the only other state qualifier coming back, although she didn’t have as much success there as her classmates. Beatty went 1-2 in the 2023 Class 2 State Championships in the 135-weight class.
Nellie Dantzscher (100), Ava Myers (105) and Bryanna Priest Tapia (190) will fill out the talented junior class as the only returning starters in that class. Senior Miranda Grantham (155) and junior Crystal Tachibmai (235) are two more upperclassmen set to take on larger roles.
“We see everyone that we put out on the mat as a threat to make the state tournament. We need to continue to trust the process and compete to the best of our ability each time out. The training is looking great, they’re all working hard to be focused and intentional in practice and skill work,” Beck said.
There is a trio of freshmen who join Park Hill this year. Alice Keefe (110), Stella Grothaus (130) and Rylee Kastner (135) will all be starters.
“We’ve had a good group of girls take up the sport as freshmen and find success. What we do in our room works, believe in it and work to improve daily and trust in coaches and teammates to push you daily,” Beck said.