COLUMBIA – Nixa head girls wrestling coach Dustin Martin remembers the sting of his team’s experience at the Missouri State High School Girls Wrestling Championships during the 2023-24 season.
The Eagles just missed out on winning their first state title that season when they were outscored by Francis Howell Central in the team points 0.5.
Since then, Nixa has been trending toward a dynasty. The Eagles won the Class 2 state girls championship in 2024-25 and repeated as Class 2 state champions this season behind a key individual state title from Natalie Edmisson in the 155-pound bout as they scored 122.5 team points Saturday at Mizzou Arena.
Fellow southwest Missouri team Willard finished in second place with 114 points. Troy Buchanan was third with 96 and Liberty was fourth with 95.
“It feels completely different this year,” Nixa head coach Dustin Martin said. “There were a few more highs than lows. Last year, we won by a huge margin last year, and this year it was tight until the end.
“This gave us a lot of confidence from a program standpoint. We had some girls that were not expected to be in the state finals to make it there.”
Entering the tournament, Edmission said she had a feeling the tournament was going to go well for her. Even though it was her first time competing in the state tournament, she was full of confidence. She pinned all her opponents including Francis Howell Central junior Halen Phillips in 3:07 in the championship bout.
“It’s always been my goal to win it all,” Edmisson said. “I think I wrestled great. I dominated. I got the first takedown and I ended up pinning her. She took me to my back at one point, but I knew I could come back and get her.
Added Martin: “She beat the No. 2, 3, 4 and 5 girls in the tournament. She pinned them all. That was truly incredible.”
Other medalists for Nixa included Avery Muniz (190, fifth place), Ashton Mayes (110, sixth), Addison Harkins (130, second), Brylee James (135, fourth) and Kamryn Bourbon (145, second).
Below is a summary of the championship matches and a list of all state medal winners:
100: Liberty senior Lilly Breeden earned her third career state title and did it in dominant fashion, pinning Francis Howell Central junior Addison Hortgrewe in 2:35.
State medalists:
1st Place – Lilly Breeden of Liberty
2nd Place – Addison Holtgrewe of Francis Howell Central
3rd Place – Isabella Cullen of Troy Buchanan
4th Place – Kinley Harker of Lee`s Summit West
5th Place – Aubrey Schaefer of Blue Springs
6th Place – Chloe Kirksey of Willard
105: Liberty senior Sandy Breeden added a five state championship medal to the Breeden family. She defeated Troy Buchanan sophomore Addilyn Amos 16-9 for her second state title.
State medalists:
1st Place – Sandy Breeden of Liberty
2nd Place – Addilyn Amos of Troy Buchanan
3rd Place – Juliana Tice of North Kansas City
4th Place – Heidi McArthur of Seckman
5th Place – Hannah Herrera of Kickapoo
6th Place – Hailey Moore of Northwest
110: Jackson senior Kayleigh Miliam earned her first state championship after a 11-3 major decision against Blue Springs South senior Killian Evans.
State medalists:
1st Place – Kayleigh Milam of Jackson
2nd Place – Killian Evans of Blue Springs South
3rd Place – Alissa Chanda of North Kansas City
4th Place – Kirra Dunscombe of Eureka
5th Place – A`Shay White of Staley
6th Place – Ashton Mayes of Nixa
115: Republic freshman Mabel Rogers (42-0), who is the first girls state champion in Republic history, joined Liberty senior Alexis Stinson as the only two Class 2 girls wrestlers to finish with a perfect record.
She took a 16-0 tech fall against Branson sophomore Alyssa Salemie to earn her spot atop the podium.
“I thought it was pretty crazy for me to finish with zero losses,” Rogers said. “That’s pretty exciting for me.”
State medalists:
1st Place – Mabel Rogers of Republic
2nd Place – Alyssa Salemie of Branson
3rd Place – Lynnae Dixon of Willard
4th Place – Charley Sims of Platte County
5th Place – Avery Edwards of Lee`s Summit North
6th Place – Anh Ngo of North Kansas City
120: Belton senior Sydney Stifter ended her career with a second straight state title. She pinned Republic senior Millie Waterman inn just 45 seconds.
State medalists:
1st Place – Sydney Stifter of Belton
2nd Place – Millie Waterman of Republic
3rd Place – Kenadee Mcdowell of Francis Howell
4th Place – Abigail Monaco of Park Hill South
5th Place – Dakota Nix of Waynesville
6th Place – Ryah Wurman of Marquette
125: North Kansas City junior Temperance Lowe broke out in her first season with the team. She earned her first state championship following a third-period pin over Northwest sophomore Amelia Robinson.
State medalists:
1st Place – Temperance Lowe of North Kansas City
2nd Place – Amelia Robison of Northwest
3rd Place – Anna Bowles of Francis Howell
4th Place – Savannah Bratten of Republic
5th Place – Yomara Gutierrez of Grandview
6th Place – Keylee Jones of Capital City
130: Willard freshman Scout Puryear had an idea what her opponent wanted to do in the championship.
She wrestled against Harkins, a defending state champion in the title match of the Class 2 District 3 Tournament and fell 4-3.
This time, she was prepared. Puryear Got redemption for the previous loss to Harkins, and earned a 7-1 win by decision to win her first state title.
“It helped, but it also made me nervous because I know she has been working to beat me,” Puryear said. “It kind of helped for sure, because I have wrestled her two times before.
State medalists:
1st Place – Scout Puryear of Willard
2nd Place – Addison Harkins of Nixa
3rd Place – Reilly Kastner of Park Hill
4th Place – Quinn Hope of Lindbergh
5th Place – Kylie Dunn of Fort Osage
6th Place – Kaitlyn Sparkman of Francis Howell Central
135: Fort Osage freshman Jauzlyean Gray came to the high school girls team with a lot of past success at the youth level.
She was a seven-time USA Wrestling Youth State Champion, a multiple Missouri National Team member, and a WOW All-Star team selection.
She proved that success can translate to the high-school level as she was dominant throughout the 2025-26 season. Gray ended her freshman season with a 49-2 record and she wasn’t challenged. She won by a 22-2 tech fall in 6 minutes over Waynesville sophomore Addison Brown to capture her first state title.
Gray, who normally appears intense and all business in the circle, displayed joy following her title match as she leaped in the air and let out multiple screams as she pumped her fists.
“Not many freshmen can say they are state champs,” Gray said. “My brother (Colby Gray) was a freshman finalist, so I had to one up him.”
State medalists:
1st Place – Jauzlyean Gray of Fort Osage
2nd Place – Addison Brown of Waynesville
3rd Place – Erin Delling of Parkway Central
4th Place – Brylee James of Nixa
5th Place – Aubrey Peterson of Francis Howell North
6th Place – Maleyah Morrow of Mehlville
140: Falling short of a state championship in the 2024-25 season fueled Carthage sophomore Kaylee James to not let that happen again.
Last season, she made it to the championship match at state and fell to three-time state champion Kailey Benson of Francis Howell Central by a 19-3 tech fall.
This time, James broke through. She dominated in her championship match against Staley junior Ja’Ziya Miles and took a 16-3 major decision to earn her spot atop the podium. She is the first girls wrestler in school history to win a title.
“It feels great to be the first Carthage girls wrestler to win a state title,” James said. “My technique was great. I just wanted to shoot, shoot, shoot, and I got those points on her.”
State medalists:
1st Place – Kaylee James of Carthage
2nd Place – Ja`Ziya Miles of Staley
3rd Place – Ariel Biggs of Fort Osage
4th Place – Olivia Vickers of Seckman
5th Place – Clara Meyer of Lee`s Summit
6th Place – Diamond Keytue of Oak Park
145: Eureka senior Mira Richardson wasted no time capturing her first state title as she pinned Bourbon in 1:10 to earn her gold medal.
State medalists:
1st Place – Mira Richardson of Eureka
2nd Place – Kamryn Bourbon of Nixa
3rd Place – Athena Anderson of Capital City
4th Place – Aryana Roberts of Belton
5th Place – Caroline Owens of Seckman
6th Place – Sierra Bromwich of Troy Buchanan
155: Edmisson won her first state title after pinning Phillips.
State medalists:
1st Place – Natalie Edmisson of Nixa
2nd Place – Halen Phillips of Francis Howell Central
3rd Place – Ella Kimbrough of Lafayette (Wildwood)
4th Place – Kaylee Scott of Lee`s Summit North
5th Place – Molly Marischen of Troy Buchanan
6th Place – Ari Bartholomew of Blue Springs
170: In the offseason, Willard junior Emily Brixey said she didn’t find a lot of success in freestyle and folkstyle tournaments.
In fact, she didn’t win a single match.
Her fortunes, however, took a turn during the high school season after she put in more time in the wrestling room. She finished her season 41-3 and defeated Timberland senior Chandi Banks 7-0 to earn her first state title.
“I will always remember this moment,” Brixey said. “After losing every match I had this summer, I locked in and put in the work. It feels great to find success.
State medalists:
1st Place – Emily Brixey of Willard
2nd Place – Chandni Banks of Timberland
3rd Place – Ashlynn Alexander of Francis Howell North
4th Place – Ava Purvis of Jefferson City
5th Place – Malaysia Hunt of Marquette
6th Place – Emma Gaeta of Eureka
190: Oak Park senior Kendall Angelo was the clear favorite to win her bracket this year. That was apparent Saturday as she won her second straight state title following a 15–5 major decision victory over Staley junior Alayna Leslie.
State medalists:
1st Place – Kendall Angelo of Oak Park
2nd Place – Alayna Leslie of Staley
3rd Place – Harmony Moore of Willard
4th Place – Jayden Moehle of Grain Valley
5th Place – Avery Muniz of Nixa
6th Place – Peyton Holland of Francis Howell Central
235: Liberty senior Alexis Stinson ended her high school career with two straight state title, and she did it in dominating fashion. She pinned Lebanon senior Sophiea Quinn in 1:13 as she came back after being taken down early.
State medalists:
1st Place – Alexis Stinson of Liberty
2nd Place – Sophiea Quinn of Lebanon
3rd Place – Jeralyn Spear of Troy Buchanan
4th Place – Hali Windes of Fort Osage
5th Place – Gwen Hillermann of Washington
6th Place – Mackenzie Booth of Webb City
