Introducing the 2026 Wichita Eagle high school boys wrestling All-Metro team
Star power was everywhere on the mat this season and the proof can be found on The Eagle’s 2026 All-Metro boys wrestling team.
This year’s team honors some of the best high school wrestlers in Kansas, recognizing the top performers from Sedgwick, Butler and Harvey counties after a standout season that was punctuated by strong postseason runs and state-tournament success.
The All-Metro squad is selected based on season-long achievement with an emphasis on state results, and it also includes a coach of the year who helped lead one of the area’s top programs.
Leading the way is Maize South junior Josh Kerr, who was named The Wichita Eagle’s All-Metro Boys Wrestler of the Year after a record-breaking perfect season that ended with a state championship.
Here is the rest of the team:
2026 Wichita Eagle All-Metro Boys Wrestling team
Dresden Beard, Andover sophomore
After coming up just short of a state title, Beard cemented himself as one of Kansas’ top wrestlers at 175 pounds this season. The 5A West regional champion capped a dominant junior campaign with a 47-3 record and a runner-up finish at the 5A state tournament, a significant leap after placing fifth at state a year ago.
Ethan Eck, Andale senior
Eck put an exclamation point on another dominant season by winning his second straight state championship, capturing the 4A title at 175 pounds to finish 47-1. Ranked Kansas’ top wrestler at 175 all season, Eck added to an already decorated résumé after winning the 165-pound state title last year, giving him back-to-back crowns as a two-time state champion.
Oscar Gauna, Goddard junior
Gauna capped another stellar season by winning the 5A state title at 113 pounds, finishing 31-2 and securing his second straight championship. The No. 1-ranked wrestler in Kansas at 113 this season, Gauna also won the 106-pound title last year after finishing as a state runner-up as a freshman, giving him three straight trips to the state finals.
Donnie Jackson, East junior
Jackson turned in a breakthrough senior season, finishing as the 6A state runner-up at 157 pounds to cap a 43-4 record. The City League and 6A West regional Wrestler of the Year, Jackson made a major leap on the state stage after placing sixth last season.
Everett Joyce, Maize junior
Joyce completed a flawless season in dominant fashion, going 43-0 while winning the 6A state title at 190 pounds. The No. 1-ranked wrestler in Kansas at 190 this season, Joyce claimed his second straight state championship and reached the state finals for the third consecutive year.
Josh Kerr, Maize South junior
Kerr capped a historic season in dominant fashion, finishing a perfect 52-0 while winning his second straight 5A state title at 144 pounds. After also claiming the 138-pound title last year, Kerr became a two-time state champion and closed this winter by breaking the Kansas state record for most wins in an undefeated season, while reaching the state finals for the third straight year.
Parker Landers, Bishop Carroll freshman
Landers made an immediate impact in his first trip to the state tournament, winning the 5A title at 106 pounds to cap a 37-3 season. The freshman finished his debut high school campaign with a state championship and announced himself as one of Kansas’ top young wrestlers.
Luke Martin, Andale sophomore
Martin finished off a strong season by winning the 4A state title at 113 pounds, capping a 39-9 record. After finishing as the state runner-up at 106 last year, Martin returned to the finals and climbed one step higher to claim his first championship.
Kolton McElwain, Goddard senior
McElwain returned to the top of the podium in impressive fashion, capping a 33-10 season by winning the 5A state title at 157 pounds to become a two-time state champion. After winning the 126-pound crown as a sophomore and placing fifth at 132 last season, McElwain bounced back with another championship run.
Thunder Page, Rose Hill sophomore
Page stayed perfect on the state stage, winning the 4A title at 157 pounds for the second straight year to improve to 2-for-2 in state championship appearances. The No. 1-ranked wrestler in Kansas at 157 this season, Page capped another dominant run with a 42-2 record and a second consecutive state crown.
Vincent Rosas, Maize junior
Rosas broke through in a big way this season, capping a 22-1 record by winning the 6A state title at 138 pounds. The No. 1-ranked wrestler in Kansas at 138, Rosas finally reached the top of the podium after finishing as the state runner-up in each of his first two trips to the finals.
Zach Siatka, Maize senior
Siatka made good on last year’s near-miss by dropping to 106 pounds and winning the 6A state title to cap a 28-2 season. The top-ranked wrestler in Kansas at 106 this winter, Siatka climbed to the top of the podium after finishing as the 6A runner-up at 113 last year.
Cooper Smith, Maize junior
Smith proved his championship pedigree once again, moving up a weight class and still finishing on top with the 6A state title at 113 pounds. After winning the 106-pound crown last season, Smith capped a 33-2 record this winter by becoming a back-to-back state champion.
Wade Stubbs, Newton sophomore
Stubbs took the next step this season, winning the 5A state title at 120 pounds to cap a 33-4 record. After finishing third at state at 113 last year, Stubbs returned stronger and climbed to the top of the podium.
Axton Vice, Bluestem junior
Vice finished the job this season, turning last year’s runner-up finish into a state championship by winning the 3-1A title at 144 pounds. He capped a standout 44-2 campaign by climbing to the top of the podium after falling just short at 132 last season.
Tyler Gonzales, Maize coach
In his first season, Gonzales guided Maize to just the second team state championship in program history, and the Eagles did it in overwhelming fashion. Maize piled up 237 points at the 6A state tournament in one of the most dominant performances the classification has seen, powered by four individual state champions and three runner-up finishes. Zach Siatka, Cooper Smith, Vincent Rosas, Everett Joyce, Tucker Verbeck, Talon Verbeck, Antonio Guebara, Baron Rosas and Reese DeMoss helped lead the charge in a memorable title run.
All-Metro second team
Sebastian Bentley, Rose Hill senior
James Bilby, Rose Hill junior
Tristen Cox, Andale senior
Judd Eck, Andale sophomore
Harrison Glover, Goddard senior
Antonio Guebara, Maize sophomore
Max Kerr, Maize South junior
Jayden Kirk-McGowan, South senior
Eli Koster, Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior
Connor Landers, Bishop Carroll juniors
Brayden Luinstra, Augusta junior
Prince Marshall, East sophomore
Matthew Martinez, Goddard freshman
Cash McVay, Rose Hill junior
Remington Merlau, Rose Hill sophomore
Nick Miller, Goddard senior
Adrian Monaco, Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior
Gavin Munoz, Maize South senior
Jordan Noble, East senior
Baron Rosas, Maize freshman
Tucker Saferite, Rose Hill junior
Levi Schmidt, Andale freshman
Enrique Tellez Jr., East freshman
Exavier Torres, Newton sophomore
Talon Verbeck, Maize senior
Tucker Verbeck, Maize junior
Tommy Edgmon, Newton coach
Tucker Trevett, East coach
All-Metro third team
Gavin Axtell, Maize South junior
Phillip Bowers, Northwest junior
Gunner Carey, Augusta senior
Carter Chadwick, East sophomore
Fayven Del Gaudio, Derby sophomore
Reese DeMoss, Maize senior
Campbell Denton, Bishop Carroll senior
Alejandro Dieguez, Derby sophomore
Emmett Eck, Andale sophomore
Nate Eck, Garden Plain sophomore
Karsen Garner, Bluestem junior
Emilio Gauna, Derby junior
Major Giles, Newton junior
Turner Gilman, Bishop Carroll senior
Jackson Hermann, Bishop Carroll junior
Nikko Hinojos, Newton sophomore
Cason Horton, Newton junior
Canon Husen, Maize South sophomore
Keedrin Jones, Rose Hill senior
Leven Jones, Rose Hill senior
Reid Joyce, Maize freshman
Bennett Lerch, Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior
Kaston McElwain, Goddard junior
Colton Nelson, Derby sophomore
Owen Newell, Bishop Carroll senior
Anthony Noble, East senior
Remington Pugh, Campus sophomore
Jayden Reyes, Derby freshman
Malachi Rothenbeger, Eisenhower senior
Gavin Saner, Valley Center senior
K.J. Schanz, Mulvane senior
Luke Seiler, Andale sophomore
Thomas Shields, North senior
Casey Stuart, Northwest junior
Cannon Terry, Augusta freshman
Emrik Torres, Newton senior
Noah Vela, Newton senior
Thomas Walter, Goddard freshman
Quentin Williams, Derby senior
Ethan Worthington, Andover Central junior
Brett Means, Goddard coach
Chris Saferite, Rose Hill coach
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