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Ranking the top 25 Missouri girls high school wrestlers (12/27/2024)

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Ranking the top 25 Missouri girls high school wrestlers (12/27/2024)


With the Holiday break upon us, it’s time to rank out our midseason rankings of the top 25 high school girls wrestlers in the state of Missouri.

While some teams are still only getting their seasons going – or are choosing to pace themselves for the second half stretch – others have been participating in highly-competitive tournaments both in-state and across the country.

Newcomers and decorated champions alike highlight this talented crop of wrestlers. With several competitors moving weight classes this season, production volume during the 2024 Missouri high school wrestling season played a factor in these rankings.

Only wrestlers listed on active Missouri high school rosters were eligible for these rankings.

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Other Missouri high school sports stories:

2024-25 National High School Wrestling Rankings (12/27/2024)

Top 25 Missouri high school football rankings (12/24/2024)

Top 25 Missouri Girls High School Basketball Rankings (12/25/2024)

Top quarterbacks in Missouri high school football: Vote for best in 2024

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Ranked one of the top 140-pound girls high school wrestlers in the nation by flowrestling entering the season, Juitt is off to a 19-0 start after winning the daunting Kansas City Stampede last week.

A 2023 state champion, Lilly Breeden is proving why she’s one of the best pound-for-pound high school girls wrestlers in Missouri. Off to an 18-0 start in 2024, Breeden cruised to the 100-pound title at the Kansas City Stampede in convincing fashion last week.

Ward would probably sit a bit higher on this list if she had a few more matches this season. Through no fault of her own, she’s only competed in one tournament so far – the Wentzville Liberty Girls Invite – and took first at 130. She currently sits at 5-0 and is easily one of the state’s premier talents.

The defending Class 1 state champion at 100 pounds, Hairston swept the Festus Girls Tuesday Night Scramble, Fort Zumwalt North Tournament, Fort Zumwalt East Tournament and Union Girls Tournament to start 18-0.

Ranked No. 38 nationally in the class of 2005 and No. 10 at 110 pounds by flowrestling, Joiner cruised to the 115-pound championship of the KC Stampede to improve to 9-0.

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Wrestling at 145, Haynes has already won the Lady Longhorn Roundup, Valkyrie Clash Tournament, Fort Zumwalt East Tournament and swept the Schuman Scramble for an 18-0 start.

Winning the 130-pound title at the KC Stampede shouldn’t have been as easy as Benson made it seem. She’s now 23-0 to start 2024.

Wrestling at 100 pounds, she’s already won the Valkyrie Clash Tournament, Holiday (Fl.) Knockout, Wentzville Liberty Girls Invite, Bolivar Girls Wrestling Tournament and went 3-0 at the Schuman Scramble. She’s currently 17-0.

While her schedule this high school season hasn’t been as busy as some others, Shelton – reigning Class 1 champion at 155 who has bumped up to 170 this season – managed to sweep the Indian Girls’ Classic with five wins. Her only loss came in a major decision to Highland (Ill.) standout August Rottman in the finals of the Wentzville Liberty Girls Invite.

The reigning Class 1 champion at 170, Thelin is off to a 17-0 start after winning the KC Stampede last week. She bested another person on this list – Willard sophomore Emily Brixey – 8-1 in the finals of the Stampede.

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At 190, Vargas is 14-0 with wins at the Wild West Kickoff Classic and Battle at the Katy Trail while also sweeping the Excelsior Springs Girls Tournament.  

Nope. You’re not seeing double. Sandy Breeden joins Lilly Breeden on this list as the sisters continue to be a dominant force at Liberty. The reigning Class 2 champion at 105, Sandy Breeden took the 105 crown at the KC Stampede with a 4-2 decision over Oklahoma City’s Krystan Perez. The win improved Breeden to 17-1.

Opponents haven’t stopped her and neither did moving up weight classes. Gibbs, 2023-24 Class 1 Champion at 145, remains undefeated at 155 this season – winning every match by fall. She’s competed at the 2024 Tiger Mat Classic, Lady Longhorn Classic and Blair Oaks Tournament.

Another stellar 155-pounder, McNack is 21-0 after winning the KC Stampede, Nixa Girls Invite, NKC – Tussle for the Tiara and Versailles Girls Tournament.

Stinson has been dominant so far this season. She won every match by fall to win the 235-pound title at the KC Stampede. She also had a big win over Jayden Moehle (Grain Valley) to win the Lady Pirate Invitational. Stinson’s only loss was to Iowa standout and eventual champion Reese Baxter (Raccoon River-Northwest) in the semifinals of the Dan Gable Donnybrook in Iowa City, Iowa. She rebounded with a pair of pins – both in under 1 minute – to take third in that tournament.

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Fuglsang has been singing a winning tune. Wrestling at two weight classes (110 and 115), Fuglsang remains unbeaten at 20-0. She won the Versailles Girls Tournament at 115 before going to 110 to win the Bolivar Girls Wrestling Tournament, 2024 Union Girls Tournament and the Nixa Girls Invite.

A defending Class 2 state champion at 170, Calvert hasn’t been beaten this season and owns a head-to-head victory over Willard standout sophomore Emily Brixey.

Brixey has three losses and three second place finishes this season. Two of her losses, however, came at the hands of No. 10 Alana Thelin – in the KC Stampede and Lady Pirate Wrestling Invitational. She also took second at the Nixa Girls Invite, losing by fall to Winnetonka’s Autumn Calvert.

Evans went 5-0 at the Raytown Holiday Tournament and 2-0 at Battle of The Braids and currently carries an 18-2 mark. Her losses so far have been a 10-8 decision to Juliana Tice (North Kansas City) in the finals of the NKC – Tussle for the Tiara 2024 and by fall to Sandy Breeden in the semifinals of the Lady Pirate Wrestling Invitational.

The Class 2 runner-up behind Jessa Joiner at 115 pounds as a freshman last season, McDowell is off to a strong start after winning the 120-pound class at the KC Stampede. That performance came on the heels of a third-place finish at the Valkyrie Clash Tournament.

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Won the Valkyrie Clash and Chip Allison Tournaments at 190 pounds and took second at the KC Stampede – her only loss an 8-2 decision to Emma Heaton of Canyon Randall, Texas.

Moehle has been tested early in the 235 class. At 15-4, she has second place finishes at the Steve Leslie Girls Invitational and the Lady Pirate Invitational – losing to Logan Sumner (Blair Oaks) and Alexis Stinson (Liberty) in the finals, respectively. After four wins at the KC Stampede, she suffered consecutive losses to Chloe Vawter (Little Axe, Okla.) and Sophiea Quinn (Lebanon).

A former Class 2 champion, Gonier defeated Crystal Loera (Garden City, Kan.) to reach the 125 finals of the KC Stampede before losing to Violet De La Cruz of Conroe Woodlands College Park (Texas). She also won the Park Hill Girls Invitational and swept her matches at Battle of the Braids and Excelsior Springs Girls Tournament

Freeman hasn’t seen much time on the mat in the early season – she’s won her only recorded match by fall – but her talent is undeniable. Wrestling at 235, she’s one of the best in the state any time she steps into the circle.

The talented senior has seen the podium twice so far this season – winning the Lady Longhorn Classic at 170 pounds and placing second at the Chip Allison Tournament.

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Also considered: Kamryn Bourbon, Nixa; Ellie Higginbotham, Willard; Paige Strauch, NKC; Sophiea Quinn, Lebanon; Kendall Angelo, Oak Park; Keely Fallert, Oak Grove; Calyese Dupree, Nixa; Jacinda Espinosa, Rock Bridge; Ella Healthman, Nevada; Averi Dawn, Nevada.



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Four years after Dobbs, Missouri abortion fight continues in court, ballotbox

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Four years after Dobbs, Missouri abortion fight continues in court, ballotbox


JACKSON COUNTY, Mo. (KFVS) – Four years after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and Missouri became the first state to ban abortion, Planned Parenthood is once again offering abortions.

Medication abortions are returning, too, after a Jackson County Circuit Court ruling. However, the state’s legal battle continues with court cases and a new ballot measure.

The past four years

Four years ago, Missouri politicians used a 2019 trigger law to ban abortion within 20 minutes of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned the limited federal abortion protections of Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey.

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Abortion was put on the ballot in 2024 by an initiative petition that collected more than 380,000 signatures. Missouri became the first state to end an abortion ban by a vote of the people in 2024 and established the Right to Reproductive Freedom in the state constitution.

Another vote this year

This year will mark the second time Missourians vote on abortion. In November, Missourians will once again vote on abortion on the new Amendment Three. A “yes” vote is to ban abortions.

The new ballot measure has limited exceptions for rape, incest and medical emergencies, only if performed before the 12-week gestational period. It’s set to be on the statewide ballot for the November 2026 midterm election.

Bonnie Lee with 40 Days for Life said she hopes Missourians vote in favor of new restrictions in November.

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“Missouri is waking up, and we will make a difference in November,” Lee said.

Missourians will see this question on their ballot:

“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:

Repeal the 2024 voter-approved Amendment providing reproductive healthcare rights, including abortion through fetal viability;

Allow abortions for rape and incest (under twelve-weeks’ gestation), emergencies, and fetal anomalies;

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Allow legislation regulating abortion;

Ensure parental consent for minors’ abortions;

Prohibit gender transition procedures for minors?”

A “yes” vote would essentially repeal the Amendment Three passed in November 2024. But this language may not be final. If lawyers appeal again, it can go to the Missouri Supreme Court.”

“I think voters are now seeing they didn’t know what they were voting on [in 2024]. There was a lot of misinformation, a lot of hidden information, a lot of legalese,” Lee said.

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Maggie Olivia with Abortion Action Missouri said she wants the opposite outcome at the ballot box.

“I feel all the more invigorated having seen the consequences of abortion bans to do whatever it takes to stop this new abortion ban,” Olivia said.

Olivia called the new Amendment Three an overreach by Missouri politicians.

“There are some politicians in Jefferson City who don’t like the decision we just made in 2024, so they think they can muddy the waters, change the rules,” Olivia said.

Ongoing lawsuit

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This month, a Jackson County Circuit Court judge issued a permanent injunction striking down several state abortion restrictions.

Planned Parenthood said the decision also clears the way for medication abortion to be available in Missouri for the first time since 2018 and allows Planned Parenthood to resume providing it.

“For too long, politicians forced patients to leave the state for an evidence-based and trusted form of abortion care. Now that care is coming home,” said Emily Wales, president and CEO of Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains.

Attorney General Catherine Hanaway criticized the ruling and said she plans to appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court.

“This radical decision gives abortion providers a free pass to police themselves,” Hanaway said in a statement. “My office will expeditiously appeal this dangerous decision to the Missouri Supreme Court.”

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Copyright 2026 KFVS. All rights reserved.



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Missouri ice cream shop named best in the state. Here’s why.

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Missouri ice cream shop named best in the state. Here’s why.


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Think you know the best ice cream shop in Missouri? Ask ten people, and you’ll likely get ten different answers.

Cheapism, a website focused on budget living, is weighing in on the debate with its recently released list of the best ice cream shops in every state. Here’s what it selected as Missouri’s best ice cream spot:

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What’s the best ice cream shop in Missouri, according to Cheapism?

The media outlet selected the winners by scouring through Reddit threads, Yelp reviews, Google ratings and local favorites to find the best ice cream shop in every state.

Factoring all of that in, the honor of Missouri’s best ice cream shop goes to Clementine’s Ice Cream in St. Louis.

Clementine’s is a locally owned artisanal ice cream shop founded in 2015, known for its “naughty” (alcohol-infused) and “nice” (nonalcoholic) offerings, as well as non-dairy options.

The company has expanded from its beginnings as a single shop to multiple locations, boasting 11 shops across the Midwest, with three more on the way.

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What’s Clementine’s best ice cream flavor?

Clementine’s also landed on Food & Wine’s list of essential ice cream flavors for all 50 states with its gooey butter cake ice cream.

The magazine praised the “super creamy” texture of the cream cheese ice cream and appreciated the large chunks of Clementine’s homemade gooey butter cake mixed throughout.

What is gooey butter cake?

For those not in the know, gooey butter cake is one of the Show Me State’s best-kept secrets, with its origins tracing back to St. Louis in the 1930s.

The cake allegedly came about when a baker accidentally reversed the butter-to-flour ratio while making a batch of coffee cake, resulting in a gooey, custard-like filling. Given it was the Great Depression, the bakery decided to sell the resulting cake rather than waste it, making it a hit with locals in the process.

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It became so popular, in fact, that other bakeries in the city soon began making their own versions, and an iconic Missouri treat was born.

How to find a Clementine’s near you

Clementine’s has more than a dozen locations, mostly centered around St. Louis. It also has locations in Kansas City and Bentonville, Arkansas.

A Clementine’s is scheduled to open in Columbia this summer.

Check out this map to find the nearest Clementine’s location near you:

You can also get Clementine’s shipped directly to your front door via Goldbelly.

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Missouri lawmaker pushes for more transparency from data center developments

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Missouri lawmaker pushes for more transparency from data center developments


JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KFVS) – As more data centers are announced across Missouri, one state lawmaker wants to get rid of non-disclosure agreements.

Republican State Rep. Tricia Byrnes from St. Charles County organized a public hearing for Sept. 16 at the Missouri Capitol for lawmakers to discuss data center regulations. Any legislation that comes out of the hearing will have to wait until January to be introduced in the General Assembly. Byrnes said she hopes local communities take action before January.

The effort comes after Amazon and Google announced multibillion-dollar data center projects in Montgomery County, which Byrnes represents.

Montgomery County farmer Harry Cope said residents have concerns about how the projects have been handled.

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“The transparency that’s gone on with all of this stuff in our county has been about like looking through muddy water,” Cope said.

Byrnes said Missourians are looking for state leaders to respond.

“Missourians should never take a bad deal. And right now, folks are waiting for Jefferson City to stand up and pay attention,” Byrnes said.

Byrnes is not proposing a complete statewide stop to data center projects. She said she wants to get rid of nondisclosure agreements for data center projects and create specific noise standards and water permits. She said she wants the process to happen in public.

Gov. Mike Kehoe, a Republican, has said he supports more data centers in Missouri, saying they are better for the economy.

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“It’s about opportunity, good-paying jobs, investment in our community, better efficiency. And it’s about making sure Missouri remains on the forefront of next-generation technology,” Kehoe said.

Byrnes did not directly comment on whether Kehoe will support her legislation. She addressed a comment the governor made last week, when he implied foreign adversaries such as China are spreading misinformation about data centers.

“We have extremely intelligent people all across Missouri, and what I’m hearing now is this spin that they’re hearing stuff from China. I can tell you, no one from China asked me to have you here today,” Byrnes said.

Missouri House Democratic Leader Ashley Aune said there is an opportunity for lawmakers to craft legislation based on what Missourians want.

“I don’t have a proposal top of mind about what regulation would, should, can look like across the state. But what I will say is that we have a real opportunity to work with our voters,” Aune said.

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Copyright 2026 KFVS. All rights reserved.



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