El Dorado High School has officially separated its wrestling program into independent boys and girls teams—an important milestone driven by the explosive growth of female participation and the evolving landscape of high school athletics in Kansas. While girls have long been welcome to wrestle at EHS, the recent surge in interest and opportunity has transformed the program and necessitated a new structure aimed at supporting all athletes more effectively.
Why the Split Became Necessary
Before the 2025 season, the EHS boys and girls programs operated under a unified structure. Coaches attempted to maintain separate practice spaces whenever possible, but logistics often required overlap. Most competitions—tournaments and dual meets—occurred at the same locations, and staffing had to be shared.
But as the girls roster grew dramatically, it became clear that the previous structure could no longer support the athletes effectively. Not all boys tournaments offer girls divisions, which often limited competitive opportunities for female wrestlers.
To ensure proper development, equal access to competition, and individualized coaching, USD 490 officially recognized the boys and girls teams as separate programs in 2025. This change allows both groups to pursue competitive schedules that best fit their needs while ensuring that each athlete receives the specialized coaching necessary to grow in the sport.
A Tradition of Excellence Continues
“Over the past 15 years, wrestling has been one of the most successful and consistent programs at EHS,” Coach Wes Reynolds said. The boys team boasts three regional championships, two league titles, a state runner-up finish, six individual state champions, and 25 state placers.
The girls program, despite its relatively young history, has already begun adding to that legacy. In 2025, the team earned an “unofficial” league title and, over just four seasons, has produced eight individual state placers—an extraordinary achievement for such a new program.
The Coaching Staff Leading Both Programs
The success and growth of EHS wrestling can be attributed in large part to its dedicated coaching staff, many of whom are alumni of El Dorado High School and former standout athletes themselves:
· Wesley Reynolds (Head Girls Coach)– 17 years coaching at USD 490; two-time state champion and multi-sport EHS alumnus.
· Brad Demo (Asst. Girls Coach)– 14-year EHS coach; multi-sport EHS alumnus and Friends University graduate.
· Dacota Motter (Asst. Boys Coach)– 3 years coaching; EHS alumnus, four-time state placer, 2017 state champion.
· Chadlee Humphries (Head Boys Coach)– 2 years coaching; former Harrah High School (OK) athlete and Southwestern College football player.
· Jake Knowles (Asst. Boys Coach)– 1st year coaching; EHS alumnus, state wrestling placer, and four-year collegiate wrestler at Friends University.
· Bella Wernli (Asst. Girls Coach)– Former EHS trailblazer and the school’s first official female competitor in 2019; two-time state qualifier and current Butler Community College student.
This collective of experienced coaches has guided the program through tremendous growth and is poised to shepherd EHS wrestling into a new era of opportunity.
A New Chapter for EHS Wrestling
The split of the wrestling program marks not a division—but an evolution. It reflects the school’s commitment to meeting the needs of all student-athletes and ensuring that both boys and girls have access to equitable opportunities for advancement.
With participation rising, competitive achievements mounting, and a deeply experienced coaching staff leading the way, both the boys and girls wrestling programs at El Dorado High School are positioned for continued success.