One of Kansas’ top wrestling rivalries is complicated and set for its biggest chapter
The Goddard-Maize rivalry goes back to when this year’s seniors were just entering grade school.
The Kansas Young Guns out of Goddard and Maize City Wrestling Club are two of the best youth programs in the state and have competed for years.
The wrestlers know one another off the mat and know how they wrestle. When asked whether the dynamic was friendly, the wrestlers grimaced. They were torn on which side to choose. Many of them compete against each other in high school but together for Team Kansas in the offseason.
That makes Saturday just part one of perhaps the most entertaining two weeks of Class 5A wrestling in the past half decade.
“When you’re fighting for the same goal, it’s easy to make friends,” Maize senior Devin Gomez said. “When you’re not, it’s easy to make enemies.”
Entering the semifinal round at the rivals’ Class 5A regional tournament Friday at Valley Center, Goddard and Maize each had nine wrestlers still alive out of 14 weight classes, by far the most of any of the other 16 teams. No semifinal featured wrestlers from both teams, but three straight will in the finals.
Regional finalists
- 113 pounds - Camden Padgett, Maize, Fr.
- 120 pounds - Jason Henschel, Goddard, Sr.
- 132 pounds - Jerrdon Fisher, Goddard, So.
- 152 pounds - Devin Gomez, Maize, Sr.
- 152 pounds - Jace Fisher, Goddard, Jr.
- 160 pounds - Carson Wheeler, Maize, Sr.
- 160 pounds - Cayleb Atkins, Goddard, Jr.
- 170 pounds - Duwayne Villalpando, Maize, Sr.
- 170 pounds - Nolan Craine, Goddard, Jr.
- 182 pounds - Trevor Dopps, Goddard, Sr.
- 195 pounds - Kaden Glass, Goddard, So.
- 220 pounds - Kyle Haas, Maize, Jr.
- 285 pounds - Devon Dawson, Goddard, Sr.
Maize senior Devin Gomez (21-0) and Goddard junior Jace Fisher (38-9) get the streak started at 152 pounds. Goddard junior Cayleb Atkins (41-2) and Maize senior Carson Wheeler (30-2) will meet at 160. And Maize senior Duwayne Villalpando (28-1) and Goddard junior Nolan Craine (32-8) go at 170.
Those six wrestlers make up less than half of the combined total that will go for regional championships between the two teams Saturday. They are a third of those who have clinched top six placements.
But for two programs that appear to be so similar on paper, they could not be further apart in makeup.
This year, Goddard prides itself on depth. The Lions have eight wrestlers who have a chance at regional championships out of 14 weight classes. That depth has carried them to a 187-163 lead over Maize heading into the second day.
For Maize, it’s about quality over quantity. The Eagles have five competing for regional titles, and at least three of them are sure fire bets to win individual championships Feb. 29 at the state tournament. Among Gomez, Villalpando and junior Kyle Haas, they already have five regional titles and three state championships.
That said, Maize’s depth is much stronger in 2020 than it was last season. The Eagles took seven to state in 2019; they will bring 13 to Hartman Arena if select wrestlers win just one consolation match Saturday.
“Everything is gonna have to fall into place, but we’ve got a better shot,” Maize coach Mike Schauer said.
But the programs have a deeper-rooted difference.
Goddard wrestlers scored 208 match points with 18 pins on the first day of the regional tournament. They celebrated after none. They showed next to no emotion, even after winning their semifinal matches — shake hands and jog off the mat.
“Free yourself from the noise,” Goddard junior Isaiah Holmes said. “Rankings, parents, politics, block it all out. Go wrestle.”
On the other side of the gym, Maize wrestlers picked up 233 match points and 17 pins on day one. The Eagles had passionate reactions out of Gomez and Wheeler after winning their semifinals — Gomez pointed to the crowd and Wheeler bend over with a yell.
“If I want to be passionate, I’m gonna show that to my team and to my family,” Gomez said. “If they don’t want to do that, that’s on them. At some point it’s like, ‘Get excited. You guys are winning,’ but (Goddard) is used to it. For those of us who aren’t, we’re hungry.”
Wrestlers from both teams said the opposing approach can get annoying to watch at times. They also said they try to focus on themselves and their matches.
Schauer said he wants his Eagles to cut it loose and enjoy themselves.
“If you win, by all means be excited about it,” Schauer said. “We’ve got so many kids standing in each kid’s corner. I want that. I want you to be happy and feel like you’re a part of something you can contribute to.”
Goddard coach Brett Means said he was pleased with how his group performed in the opening rounds but that the Lions need to open up and believe in themselves.
“Whether you believe it or not, there’s pressure,” Means said. “It’s regionals. They’re going for state. You just got to look at it as this tournament is probably easier than anything we’ve been to all year. We’ve been there, done that.”
Goddard hasn’t lost a tournament in Kansas in about seven years. Even Means said he wasn’t sure the last time it happened. But there is a chance Saturday.
Although the Lions hold a 24-point lead on Maize, that margin is much closer than it has been in years past. In 2018, Goddard won the Class 5A state tournament by more points than the runner-up team had total.
Goddard senior Jason Henschel said it’s good to get a test.
“It motivates us,” Henschel said. “We’ve been the team that just dominates every year. We go to all of these out-of-state tournaments because in-state, we just don’t have that much competition. So we have to go out to find it, to be better.”
The Lions and Eagles have had some heated meetings in the past. Last year, the teams flared at their annual dual meet, an event that is meant to be more of a tune-up than a battle.
And though the rivalry is great, neither coach said the other’s team was their biggest rival. Historically, Goddard and Arkansas City have been the top two teams in 5A, and they compete for the same league title. And for Maize, Derby has typically been its top target.
But with the contrasting styles and overwhelming talent from both teams, Saturday’s championship matches and final team score will be another thrilling chapter in a still-growing rivalry.
“It’s definitely close,” Gomez said. “This is important, but it’s all gonna come down to next week. It’s not gonna happen all at the state tournament either. It’s going to be that week leading up to it, what these guys have in their heads.
“We can do this. I see it, and I’ve seen it all year. I’m excited to try to go do it.”
This story was originally published February 22, 2020 at 5:12 AM.