TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – It is the second weekend of the 2024 Sunflower State Games, and 17 different sports were represented.

Quite a few events were held at Stormont Vail Events Center, including wrestling. A record number of over 550 wrestlers enrolled in this year’s games.

Kids and adults across all weight classes showed up to try for some hardware. The event saw a spike in female competitors as well, given the fact that girls wrestling is the fastest growing high school sport in America.

”We’ve got athletes here from all reaches of Kansas. From Dodge City, down to Ark City, around to Wichita, and back here. So it really gives the kids some place to come on a very hot weekend, and practice what they love to do,” said Wrestling Commissioner Mark Stanley.

But wrestling wasn’t the only sport going on inside the Events Center. Judo, martial arts, and jiu jitsu were also held there.

With these being some of the less popular sports around Kansas, it’s just another example of how the Sunflower State Games aim to provide opportunities that many participants have a hard time finding.

”It’s just great seeing all these happy faces. A lot of these kids, this is the only tournament they’ll go to. And they always get a big medal, a big smile,” said Judo Commissioner Matthew McCormick. “We got a handful of guys that are national level, people nationally ranked. Two girls that are number one in the country fighting here today. It’s great seeing you know, judo so alive in Kansas. It’s an Olympic sport, and it’s an Olympic year.”

There will still be more fun going on around Topeka on Sunday, and 13 more events will be held next weekend to cap off another successful year of the Sunflower State Games.

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