Even as a favorite, which Brenya Crahan is at every tournament, the Nixa 135-pounder vows not to be outworked.
Entering the Class 2 State Tournament this weekend in Columbia, Crahan is well aware as a two-time State champion that the other 135 wrestlers all have their sights set on her and in some cases will be looking for revenge.
She draws motivation from the work she knows they are putting in to try to knock her off.
"It's kind of stressful because they're the underdog and kind of have nothing to lose and I have everything to lose," Crahan said. "I know they're working to beat me. They're out there practicing what they think I'm going to do. I rely on my training and know I need to be working twice as hard as them. I know I'm working harder than them and it pays off."
Crahan is 46-0 and riding a 75-match winning streak. She hasn't lost since falling 4-2 to Lebanon's Quincey Glendenning in the 125 final at the Nixa Invite in December, 2021. She has been No. 1 at 135 in the MissouriWrestling.com rankings all season.
Crahan suspects her biggest challenge at State will be Parkway South's Janiah Jones. Crahan pinned Jones in 2;40 at the finals of The Wonder Woman. Jones (25-2) finished first in Class 2 District 1.
"She was beating me 6-4 before I pinned her," Crahan said.
Last year's 135 state champ, Parkway West's Paige Wehrmeister, graduated after a 51-0 senior season. The runner-up, Lebanon's Bailey Joiner, moved to 145.
Cassville's Faith James (40-3), who took Crahan to overtime at the Nixa Invite, is in Class 1.
Nixa's Cali Dupree is ranked No. 3 at 155 after winning a District championship. She owns a 44-3 record and feels primed to make her way to the final round.
"My expectation is to make it to the podium. I'm going to work hard to make it to the finals, that's also my expectation," Dupree said. "Then, I will wrestle like an underdog and fight in the final."
Dupree anticipates she will have to beat Rebecca Strong of Marquette, and/or Taylor Ward, of Fort Osage, to win a championship.
Nixa's Kelsey Watts and Mylee Harper will both be competing at State for the first time, after they also won District titles. Watts attended State last year to cheer on the Lady Eagles.
"It was overwhelming for me just being there," Watts said, "It's probably going to be 10 times more overwhelming for me wrestling there. I'm excited, but very nervous."
Watts is 40-5 at 115 and Harper 35-13 at 120.
Nixa will also be represented at State by Ava Hansen at 105, Addison Harkins at 125, Ava Frye at 130 and Taelon Don-Tilla at 145. Harkins is 42-5 ranked second by MissouriWrestling.com at 125 to Lebanon's Haleah Bartel.
Ozark's first contingent at State will be made up of Maelynn Sundlie (40-7) at 120, Claire Wheeler (38-9) at 130, Alivia Myers (31-12) at 115, Sarah Cazier (38-11) at 155, Tori Dunn (35-10) at 110 and Adilyn Hoelzle (31-18) at 100.
