5A Senior Wrestler of the Year - 2004

NATHAN PAYNE
Paola High School

Paola’s Nathan Payne capped off a stellar career with his third consecutive 5A state title his senior year. He put together a 33-3 record as a senior, and went 130-11 combined in his four years. He was named to the Kansas City All-Metro first team at 171 pounds. He was a participant and one of only two individual match winners in the annual Kansas City Metro Classic.

Payne was a 160-pound state champion in 2002 before winning back to back titles at 171 pounds as a junior and senior. He placed fourth as a freshman at 152 pounds in 2001. He was also a two-time Frontier League runner-up and regional champion.

Payne, also a standout football player for the Panthers, was truly a “student-athletee” as his hard work in the classroom earned him a 3.9 GPA. He was named to the High Honor Roll and graduated in the top 10% of his class. He was in the National Honor Society and attended American Legion Boys State. He was an Elson Award winner for football and a Jeffery C. Wicina Award winner for wrestling.

He is currently attending Baker University and is undecided on a major. He is playing for the Wildcat football team. In high school, Payne had back-to-back 1,000 yard rushing seasons as well as 100 tackles. He was named an All-Frontier League running back and linebacker, as well as 4A All-State by the Wichita Eagle, Kansas City Prep Football, Topeka Capital-Journal, and Hovpen. He was named Kansas City All-Metro, a GKCFBA Scholar Athlete, and All-Tri County. He helped lead his team to a combined record of 25-8 in three years on varsity .. winning two league titles, two district titles, two bi-district titles, and one sectional title.