Girls’ tournament recaps: Gardner, Murdale, SWC
By Gary Larsen for the IWCOA
JEFF GARDNER MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT
The 16-team Jeff Gardner Memorial tournament at Lanphier saw the Springfield co-op team take the team title by a nose, 66-58 over second-place Urbana. Champaign Central was third with 45 points followed by Quincy (33) and Metamora (27) to round out the top five finishes.
Girls from host Lanphier, Springfield, and Southeast high schools make up the Springfield team for coach Cody Watts. Phoenix Criss (105) won an individual title for Watts, which saw nine girls place in the top six of their weight classes.
“The girls battled hard in their respective weight classes despite a lot of their team currently nursing injuries to get our first official trophy of the season,” coach Cody Watts said.
1st- Springfield co-op (66)
In addition to Criss’ title, the girls from Springfield co-op got second-place finishes from Alliyah Powell (130) and Arryia Foster (135), thirds from Katie Beall (120) and Kimoreyee Ballard (140), fourths from Alina Edwards (105), Lily Walden (125), and Abigail Kinison (170), and a fifth from Tala Asad (135).
2nd- Urbana (58)
The Lady Tigers entered seven wrestlers and four of them won individual titles in Tamya Terry (135), Rickasia Ivy (140), Madelyn Franklin (190) and returning 4th-in-state Lillian Disanto (235). Urbana also got a pair of runner-up finishes from Jocelyn Arreola (190) and Violet Porter (235).
3rd- Champaign Central (45)
The Maroons got a pair of titles from Christy Murphy (155) and ly’Jah Grant (170), a second from Paola Oviedo (120), a third from Rita Grant (125), a fourth from Ashley Alquicira (135), a fifth from Londyn Grant (130) and a sixth from Zaiyrah Bailey (140).
Team scores
Springfield co-op 66, Urbana 58, Champaign Central 45, Quincy 33, Metamora 27, Hillsboro 21, Eisenhower 18, Mt. Zion 16, PORTA 14, Rantoul 8, North Mac 8, Normal University 7, Abindon-Avon 5, Camp Point Central 5, Rochester 5, Taylorville 2
Additional champions
100 Jasmine Johnson (Rantoul), 115 Asher Ronan (North Mac), 120) Lucie Eisenbarth (Rochester), 125 Calliope Willman (Metamora), 130 Sydney Cannon (Mt. Zion)
Additional runners-up
100 Jaylynn Devore (Taylorville), 105 Karsynn Vogel (Quincy), 115 Kaydence Klein (Metamora), 125 Maryn Tarver (Hillsboro), 140 Zoe Bloyd (Quincy), 155 Tyonna Patterson (Eisenhower)
Still unbeaten (10-match minimum)
130 Mt. Zion’s returning state runner-up Sydney Cannon (15-0)
15-plus match winners
Springfield Co-op’s Phoenix Criss (18-5), 125 Metamora’s Calliope Willman (22-3)
Statistics
Urbana led all teams with 11 pins, followed by Champaign Central with seven and Quincy with six. Springfield Co-op had the most tech falls with four, and Camp Point Central and Champaign Central followed with two techs apiece. Urbana scored the most match points with 123 followed by Springfield Co-op with 108 and Champaign Central with 101.
Individually, Urbana’s Lillian Disanto had the most pins in the least time, with three falls in 3:44, while Champaign Central’s ly’Jah Grant posted the fastest pin at 21 seconds. Camp Point Central’s Amber Louderback had the most tech falls in the least time, with two at 5:50, and Champaign Central’s Zaiyrah Bailey had the fastest tech fall at 1:50.
Springfield Co-op’s Makenna Smith scored the most single-match points with 23, while teammate Phoenix Criss scored the most total match points with 43, followed by Urbana’s Rickasia Ivy with 38 and Camp Point Central’s Amber Louderback with 33.
Urbana’s Tamya Terry and Rickasia Ivy tied for the largest seed-place difference as No. 8 seeds who won individual titles.
Championship match results
100 Jasmine Johnson (Rantoul) F 2:17 Jaylynn Devore (Taylorville)
105 Phoenix Criss (Springfield) D 6-3 Karsynn Vogel (Quincy)
110 BYE
115 Asher Ronan (North Mac) F 1:59 Kaydence Klein (Metamora)
120 Lucie Eisenbarth (Rochester) F 2:53 Paola Oviedo (Champaign C)
125 Calliope Willman (Metamora) F 0:44 Maryn Tarver (Hillsboro)
130 Sydney Cannon (Mt. Zion) F 1:38 Alliyah Powell (Springfield)
135 Tamya Terry (Urbana) F 1:56 Arryia Foster (Springfield)
140 Rickasia Ivy (Urbana) F 0:42 Zoe Bloyd (Quincy)
145 BYE
155 Onisty Murphy (Champaign C) TF 4:10 Tyonna Patterson (Eisenhower)
170 ly’Jah Grant (Champaign C) F 0:21 Makenna Smith (Springfield)
190 Madelyn Franklin (Urbana) F 4:22 Joceline Arreola (Urbana)
235 Lillian Disanto (Urbana) F 0:59 Violet Porter (Urbana)
Third-place match results
100 Neveah King (North Mac) BYE
105 Grace Aeschliman (Metamora) F 1:06 Alina Edwards (Springfield)
110 BYE
115 Mackenzie Gound (Rantoul) BYE
120 Katie Beall (Springfield) BYE
125 Rita Grant (Champaign C) F 0:36 Lily Walden (Springfield)
130 Aubree Murphy (Quincy) F 0:25 Ryleigh Schoonover (PORTA)
135 Aubree Rogers (Hillsboro) D 17-11 Ashley Alquicira (Champaign C)
140 Kimoreyee Ballard (Springfield) F 2:11 Hailey Watson (Normal University)
145 BYE
155 Libby Scheland (PORTA) BYE
170 Tiara Dyer (Eisenhower) F 0:22 Abigail Kinison (Springfield)
190 BYE
235 Jessalin Kukert (PORTA) F 1:37 Kamryn Body (Eisenhower)
MURDALE GIRLS TOURNAMENT
Talk about a battle.
When Carbondale’s 27-team Murdale tournament ended Saturday, only a half-point separated Cahokia (105), Granite City (105), and Marion (104.5) at the top of the team standings, and Freeburg (99.5) finished a mere 5.5 points behind the leaders.
Team scores
Cahokia 105, Granite City 105, Marion 104.5, Freeburg 99.5, Murphysboro 78.5, West Frankfort 75, McCracken County, KY 74.5, Mascoutah 70, Benton 69, Johnston City 67, Althoff Catholic 61, Anna-Jonesboro 59, Carterville 55, Carbondale 52, Unity 45.5, Vandalia 43, Mt. Vernon 26, Pinckneyville 22, Paducah Tilghman, KY 21.5, Herrin 20, Fairfield 19, Salem 18, Effingham 16, Red Bud 15, Breese Central 6, Mt. Carmel 6, Richland County 2
Cahokia (105)
The Lady Comanches got individual titles from Dakota Bell (125) and Te’Aja Young (130), seconds from Janylah Holman (170) and Kamryn Brown (190), and a third from Gabrielle Conner (190).
Granite City (105)
Coach Matt Warfield got titles from Audrey Barnes (140) and Demi Barnes (170) and a third from Ma’Kayla Bonner (115).
Marion (104.5)
Coach Lukas Cullum’s Wildcats got a title from Alauni Muex (120), a second from Joelene Nappier-Feth (130), and thirds from Addison Arnold (135), Daisjha Cooper (145) and Sofia Hernandez (190), tying Cahokia for the most top-four finishes with five.
Additional champions
100 Dalis Johnston (Tilghman, KY), 105 Brielle Becker (Freeburg), 110 Jillian Conn (McCracken County, KY), 115 Baileigh Self (Althoff Catholic), 135 Jacee Mardirosian (Carterville), 145 Kyla Ford (Carbondale), 155 Grace Stratton (Freeburg), 190 Lillian Browning (West Frankfort), 235 returning state third-place Phoenix Molina (Unity)
Additional runners-up
100 Charlee Emmerich (Effingham), 105 Shayla Garner (Mascoutah), 110 Tatym Cruz (Johnston City), 115 Eelynn Hayden (McCracken County, KY), 120 Kathleen Loyola (Carbondale), 125 Catelynn Reese (West Frankfort), 135 Alana Finney (Salem), 140 Daniya Musgrave (Mt. Vernon), 145 Josselin Mateo (Murphysboro), 155 Nahima Mateo (Murphysboro), 235 Maihaleigh Browning (Benton)
Close calls
One of the biggest matches in the tournament to decide the team title came at 130, when Cahokia’s Te’Aja Young (16-1) won an 11-7 decision at 130 over Marion’s Joelene Nappier-Feth (24-2).
The field at 130 was loaded and included third-place Ava Beldo (23-5) of Unity. Eventual champion Young won by fall over Beldo in their semifinal match.
Still unbeaten (10-match minimum)
135 Granite City’s Audrey Barnes (19-0), 155 Freeburg’s Grace Stratton (23-0), Unity’s returning state medal-winner Phoenix Molina (22-0)
Once-beaten (10-match minimum)
130 Cahokia’s Te’Aja Young (16-1), 135 Carterville’s Macee Mardirosian (22-1), 235 Benton’s Maihaleigh Browning (10-1), 235 Johnston City’s Kiowa Quillen (10-1)
20-plus match winners
115 Althoff Catholic’s Baileigh Self (22-2), 120 Marion’s Alauni Muex (24-2), 130 Marion’s Joelene Nappier-Feth (24-2), 130 Unity’s Ava Beldo (23-5), 155 Carterville’s Everleigh Orendoff (23-9), West Frankfort’s Lillian Browning (23-2)
Statistics
Granite City finished with the most pins in the tournament with 20, followed by Marion with 17 and Benton with 15. Six teams had one tech fall apiece in Marion, Unity, Paducah Tilghman, Murphysboro, Freeburg and McCracken County. Granite City also led the way in total match points with 143, followed by Marion with 128 and Freeburg with 126.
Individually, Mascoutah’s Gabriela Richards posted the most pins in the least time, with five falls recorded in 1:57; Benton’s Addison Mabry had the fastest fall in just six seconds. Marion’s Alauni Muex posted the fastest tech fall, in 57 seconds.
Althoff Catholic’s Baileigh Self scored the most team points with 28, while Unity’s Ava Beldo, Freeburg’s Grace Stratton, and McCracken County’s Hermayoni Gembe tied for the most single-match points with 18. Gembe led all wrestlers in total match points with 39, followed by Beldo and Johnston City’s Kenni Lafollete with 38 apiece.
The largest seed-place difference went to Cahokia’s Gabrielle Conner, as the No. 8 seed placed third at 190 pounds.
Championship match results
100 Dalis Johnston (Tilghman KY) TF 2:54 Charlee Emmerich (Effingham)
105 Brielle Becker (Freeburg) F 2:13 Shayla Garner (Mascoutah)
110 Jillian Conn (McCracken Co KY) F 3:35 Tatym Cruz (Johnston City)
115 Baileigh Self (Althoff) F 1:43 Eelynn Hayden (McCracken Co KY)
120 Alauni Muex (Marion) F 1:34 Kathleen Loyola (Carbondale)
125 Dakota Bell (Cahokia) F 1:10 Catelynn Reese (W Frankfort)
130 Te’Aja Young (Cahokia) D 11-7 Joelene Nappier-Feth (Marion)
135 Jacee Mardirosian (Carterville) F 5:12 Alana Finney (Salem)
140 Audrey Barnes (Granite City) F 1:14 Daniya Musgrave (Mt. Vernon)
145 Kyla Ford (Carbondale) F 3:27 Josselin Mateo (Murphysboro)
155 Grace Stratton (Freeburg) F 1:27 Nahima Mateo (Murphysboro)
170 Demi Barnes (Granite City) F 5:39 Janylah Holman (Cahokia)
190 Lillian Browning (W Frankfort) F 1:42 Kamryn Brown (Cahokia)
235 Phoenix Molina (Unity) F 0:13 Maihaleigh Browning (Benton)
Third-place match results
100 Faith Husky (Johnston City) F 1:53 Allyah Lopez (Mascoutah)
105 Prudence Snider (Althoff) F 2:49 Remi Taylor (Fairfield)
110 Aubrey Rutmanis (Freeburg) F 1:30 Zaniyla Cooper (Althoff)
115 Ma’Kayla Bonner (Granite City) F 3:58 Haydyn Williamson (Anna-J)
120 Emmery Evans (McCracken Co KY) F 1:50 Emma Smith (Red Bud)
125 Zoey Nelson (Mascoutah) F 2:37 Juana Hernandez (Murphysboro)
130 Ava Beldo (Unity) F 1:47 Makayla Bush (Herrin)
135 Roxie Royster (Murphysboro) F 1:44 Addison Arnold (Marion)
140 Eloise Hester-Kelly (Pinckneyville) F 1:01 Gabriela Richards (Mascoutah)
145 Elise Byman (Freeburg) TF 3:40 Daisjha Cooper (Marion)
155 Violet Gray (Vandalia) F 4:40 Everleigh Orendoff (Carterville)
170 Brynn Swyers (Vandalia) F 1:20 Biannca Timmons (Anna-J)
190 Gabrielle Conner (Cahokia) F 3:05 Sofia Hernandez (Marion)
235 Kiowa Quillen (Johnston City) F 0:30 Lexi Karnes (Benton)
2026 SWC GIRLS TOURNAMENT
Edwardsville, Collinsville and Belleville West have seen their programs explode in numbers relative to the other teams in the conference, so Friday’s Southwestern Conference tournament figured to be a three horse-race.
After all, Edwardsville entered 25 girls in the tournament, Belleville West entered 17, and Collinsville brought 14 girls to host Edwardsville’s gym. O’Fallon entered six girls, East St. Louis brought three, and Alton entered two. Belleville East did not participate.
The top three teams accounted for 13 of the 14 individual conference champions, with East St. Louis champion Jariya Powell (140) accounting for the other title spot.
When the dust settled, it was Edwardsville who took home the team title for coach Jon Wagner, 206-170.5 over second-place Collinsville. Belleville West finished third with 126 points, followed by O’Fallon (29), East St. Louis (19), and Alton (0).
“There were a lot of great matches, and we had a strong showing coming off a great dual meet victory over Seckman of Missouri,” Wagner said.
1st- Edwardsville (206)
Wagner sent seven girls to the top of the awards stand in Maddy Allen (100), returning state medal-winner Emma Rogers (105), Genevieve Dykstra (120), Brooklyn Alldredge (130), Gretchen Taylor (135), Victoria White (190) and Angie Nunez (235). The Tigers also got seconds from Jayla Taylor (105), Adleigh Dewerff (110) Hailey Buckingham (115), Olive Linhorst (125), Jaylynn Bierbrauer (145), Geetanjali Janardhan (170) and Kennedy Downs (235).
Coming in third for the Tigers were Samantha Suhre (120) and Laura Gonzalez-Salinas (135), and they got fourths from Ava Thomas (120), Kendal Ironwing (145), Abigail Hayes (155) and Izzy Appiah (170).
2nd- Collinsville (170.5)
Individual titles for coach Adam Gillespie came from Ivana Torres (110), Jazelle Young (115), Londyn Long (125) and Leann Cory (145). Four Kahoks took second in Harlee Hart (100), Emma Ford (120), Jaylah Harris (130) and Addyson Bailey (140), while Samantha Varela (100), LeDominique Maston (105) and Neveah Hamer-Burries (235) brought home third-place finishes, and Rylee McCullough (135), placed fourth.
3rd- Belleville West (126)
The Maroons got individual titles from Moriah Lampley (155) and Ju’Bri Edwards (170) for coach Mech Spraggins, plus seconds from Ja’yla Hurst (135) and Amaziah Kemp (190), thirds from Riley Weems (110), Haylee Hooks (115), Alyssa Hardt (140) and Akiya Jett (145) and fourths from Kendyll Otten (125), Michaela Wentz (130), and Andre’a Kirkpatrick (235).
Additional champions
140 Jariyah Powell (East St. Louis)
Additional runners-up
155 Addison Last (O’Fallon)
Close calls
The title match at 235 saw Edwardsville’s Angie Nunez win a 2-1 decision over Edwardsville’s Kennedy Downs.
In the third-place match at 120, Edwardsville’s Samantha Suhre won a 3-0 decision over teammate Ava Thomas.
Statistics
Edwardsville led all teams with 33 pins in the tournament, followed by Collinsville with 18 and Belleville West with 16. East St. Louis had the most tech falls in the least time with two in 7:48, followed by Edwardsville with two techs in 10:02. Edwardsville’s 237 total match points led the field, followed by Collinsville with 144 and Belleville West with 94.
Individually, Edwardsville’s Brooklyn Alldredge had the most pins in the least time, with three in 3:56. East St. Louis’ Jariyah Powell had the most tech falls in the least time with two in 7:48. Belleville West’s Ja’yla Hurst posted the fastest fall in 18 seconds, and Collinsville’s Londyn Long had the fastest tech fall in 2:00.
Long and Edwardsville’s Genevieve Dykstra tied for the most team points with 23.5, Edwardsville’s Adleigh Dewerff had the most single-match points with 20, and East St. Louis’ Powell posted the most total match points with 44, followed by Alton’s Aryanna Jones with 40 and Collinsville’s Harlee Hart with 29.
Championship match results
100 Maddy Allen (Edwardsville) F 1:55 Harlee Hart (Collinsville)
105 Emma Rogers (Edwardsville) F 0:21 Jayla Taylor (Edwardsville)
110 Ivana Torres (Collinsville) D 9-5 Adleigh Dewerff (Edwardsville)
115 Jazelle Young (Collinsville) F 3:02 Hailey Buckingham (Edwardsville)
120 Genevieve Dykstra (Edwardsville) TF Emma Ford (Collinsville)
125 Londyn Long (Collinsville) F 0:36 Olive Linhorst (Edwardsville)
130 Brooklyn Alldredge (Edwardsville) F 0:53 Jaylah Harris (Collinsville)
135 Gretchen Taylor (Edwardsville) D 9-2 Ja’yla Hurst (Belleville W)
140 Jariyah Powell (E St. Louis) TF Addyson Bailey (Collinsville)
145 Leann Cory (Collinsville) F 0:52 Jaylynn Bierbauer (Edwardsville)
155 Moriah Lampley (Belleville W) F 3:29 Addison Last (O’Fallon)
170 Ju’Bri Edwards (Belleville W) F 2:22 Geetanjali Janardhan (Edwardsville)
190 Victoria White (Edwardsville) F 1:05 Amaziah Kemp (Belleville W)
235 Angie Nunez (Edwardsville) D 2-1 Kennedy Downs (Edwardsville)
Third-place match results
100 Samantha Varela (Collinsville) F 3:11 Carmen Courmier-Russell (O’Fallon)
105 LeDominique Maston (Collinsville) BYE
110 Riley Weems (Belleville W) BYE
115 Haylee Hooks (Belleville W) BYE
120 Samantha Suhre (Edwardsville) D 3-0 Ava Thomas (Edwardsville)
125 Aryanna Jones (Alton) MD 8-0 Kendyll Otten (Belleville W)
130 Dayza Phillips (Alton) fft. Michaela Wentz (Belleville W)
135 Laura Gonzalez-Salinas (Edwardsville) F 1:28 Rylee McCullough (Collinsville)
140 Alyssa Hardt (Belleville W) F 1:08 Scarlett Gentille (O’Fallon)
145 Akiya Jett (Belleville W) F 4:57 Kendal Ironwing (Edwardsville)
155 Ineta Grubbs (Belleville W) F 1:14 Abigail Hayes (Edwardsville)
170 Dasonni Green (Belleville W) F 1:28 Izzy Appiah (Edwardsville)
190 BYE
235 Neveah harner-Burries (Collinsville) F 0:24 Andre’a Kirkpatrick (Bellville W)