East Aurora girls snare Larkin Royal Rumble crown
By Mike Garofola for the IWCOA
A terrific 16-team field, headlined by 11 state qualifiers and four state medal winners would treat a big audience in Elgin at the Larkin Girls Royal Rumble.
When the final match was over, it would be reigning Upstate Eight Conference champion East Aurora who would lift the championship trophy.
“To be honest, we lost so many great kids to graduation, so I wasn’t sure what we had coming into this new season,” began East Aurora head coach Ryan Mick.
“What I didn’t know is how hard this group wants to train to get better. When it’s time to go home (the) girls want to stay and put in extra time – they just never seem to want to stop.
“It’s a wonderful quality about this group, and right now I have to say how proud I am of all of them, and it looks like all of the hard work paid off today.”
Mick would be quick to praise his 125-pounders Valentina Barboza, who was a sectional qualifier a year ago despite missing nearly all of the regular season with a torn ACL.
Joselyn Llanos, the Royals 110-pounder, is another that impressed on the day, according to Mick, as did all of his medal winners (12) to be exact.
“It was a great tournament, with some really terrific individuals who will do really well in the postseason, and thanks to Gerardo Pina (Larkin head coach) and everyone at Larkin who did such a great job,” Mick said.
Pina enjoyed the day.
“The Royal Rumble is a highly competitive event, and it provides an early season benchmark that truly shows athletes where they stand right out of the gate,” Pina said.
“For us, we are a very young team, but they are willing to put in the work every day in the room to strengthen their overall wrestling skills, and they are a terrific group to be around.”
The Royals’ very own Mariana Flores would earn the most team points from her place at 170 pounds, while reigning state champion Andrew won a tourney-best 46 matches during the course of the day.
West Chicago recorded the most pins (36) with the tourney champions next with 31.
Let’s now take a glance at each weight class:
100- Lily Enos (Batavia)
Three-time state medal winner, and the current No. 2 wrestler in the state at 100 pounds, Lilly Enos proved to be far too much for her competition on her way to her Larkin Royal Rumble crown.
The Batavia senior, who is also a three-time All-American, would sandwich a 17-2 tech-fall victory in between a pair of pins – the second coming in her final at 1:35 to defeat Evelyn Torres from Maine East.
“I spent a lot of time training during the offseason, did Team Illinois once again, and just been working hard in order to get myself ready for my last year at Batavia,” said Enos, who was fifth at state a year ago with a 45-7 record, the second straight season of 40-plus wins.
Enos, who is looking at Simpson College (Iowa) and nearby North Central, is planning on a degree in political science.
Sharleen Barrera (Bolingbrook) was third after her pin over Lilyana Iman from Glenbard West, and Reese Kruen (Andrew) took fourth over Paola Patino of Bartlett.
105- Lily Deibel (Marquette)
What a remarkable, and quick comeback it has been for Lily Deibel, who not even a year ago tore her ACL yet made a valiant recovery – highlighted by her 5-3 decision over Brissia Buccio (West Chicago) to claim the 105-pound title.
“I tore it in practice, but I knew if I put a lot of extra hard work into my rehab that I could be back out on the mats sooner than later,” said Deibel, who enjoyed plenty of IKWF success prior to the start of her prep career.
“It feels good to win this tournament, and that first takedown of my match was so important,” continued Deibel, who took a 3-0 advantage into the third period where Buccio was able to get back live 90 seconds from time.
Deibel’s reversal with one minute remaining gave her the lead for good, which she made sure of with a hard ride during the final thirty seconds of the match.
Leah White (Richwoods) won her third place match over Barbara Vargas (Metea Valley) with a fall, while Reese Nicolas from Lake Park earned fifth place after her pin against Esme Grugel of Dundee-Crown.
110- Tatum De La Vega (Andrew)
A 1-2 record at the 2025 state tournament was all the inspiration needed for Tatum De La Vega to train like she never has before.
“I wasn’t really happy at all about winning just one match last year at state, so I spent so much more time in the room – working on my neutral positions, and taking more shots, and I will continue working hard so that I can get back to state, and on the podium,” says De La Vega, who fell short in her bid to advance to Fargo to compete in freestyle.
The junior, who was 19-9 during her rookie season and 32-15 last year, used an escape at the start of the second period to double her advantage to 4-2 over Joselyn Llanos from East Aurora.
De La Vega would start down for the third period, and would sustain a rough ride for the first minute, before she waited for the right moment to execute a reversal to put her firmly in charge en route to a 6-2 decision.
Norah Cwik (Bartlett) was third following her pin at 3:47 over Eliana Badeen (Maine East) while a fall at 1:48 gave Mikaela Najera (Bolingbrook) fifth place honors over her teammate, Kamila Torres.
115- Khloe Perez (Glenbard West)
Nationally-ranked and No. 2 here in Illinois at 110-pounds, Glenbard West sophomore Khloe Perez overwhelmed her rivals to cruise to the 115-pound crown.
It was the high-tempo, high-octane attack from Perez that allowed the Hilltoppers star to record three consecutive pins to start her day – and a 16-1 tech-fall victory over Janiya Moore (Metea Valley) to earn top honors in her weight class.
“I didn’t do any lifting during the offseason, but I feel like I’m quicker, stronger and more fit than than last year, and much more ready for the long season,” says Perez, who was off and running in her final with a nifty inside trip for a take-down just 30 seconds into the contest.
Perez, who was fourth at state last season with a dazzling 39-2 overall record, lost in heart-breaking fashion (7-6) in her semifinal against eventual state champion Angelina Gochis from Kaneland.
The aforementioned Jade Hardee, No. 3 behind Perez in the state polls, lost to Janiya Moore (5-4) in her semifinal. Moore is No. 8 in the state at 120.
Andrew sophomore, No. 3 Jade Hardee (Andrew) was third overall after her pin of Giselle Varelas (Conant) with Aubree Hansen from Woodstock taking fifth over Itzel Villa from East Aurora.
120- Piper Booe (Andrew)
Andrew sophomore Piper Booe turned in a marvelous four-match effort on Saturday – pinning her way to the 120-pound final following her 38-second fall over Eli Landgrebe from Batavia.
“It’s six days a week for me, working on all parts of my game, and today I felt really good with almost everything that I did,” said Booe, who began in this sport at the age of four.
Booe was a 2025 Fargo qualifier, and a runner-up at freestyle state.
“It was fun to be a part of a state championship team last year – it was a great experience as a freshman, and, for me, I want this year to be better than it was last year,” added Booe, whose ‘second’ sport is judo.
Landgrebe would fly through the front bracket with three pins, before running into Booe on mat No. 1.
A pin by Mackensie Szajda (West Chicago) gave her third place over Brooklyn Jones (Conant) with a 12-9 sudden victory from Jelena Coyomani (East Aurora) over Caitlin Miko (Glenbard West) fifth place overall.
125- Karolina Konopka (Glenbard West)
Karolina Konopka would join teammate Khloe Perez atop the podium after her near-perfect and brief time on the mats en route to her 125-pound title.
The Glenbard West junior needed just a little over 4 1/2 minutes during her three matches to claim the top prize, her first major of this young season.
Konopka, who was third behind state medal winner Emma Engels (Bartlett) and Sabrina Bono (Leyden) at the Schaumburg sectionals last season, went 1-2 in
Bloomington to finish the campaign with an exceptional 39-10 overall record.
“Last year was a good one for me, but when you get to state, it’s all about finishing on the podium, so that’s why I spent a lot of time during the offseason working on freeing myself up for better shots, while improving my moves, and just getting myself ready for the season.
“I am lucky to have such a great partner in the room (Khloe Perez) who is someone that works so hard, and just brings out the best of me, and that’s what I try to do for her as well.”
Junior Ruby Gavina (Dundee-Crown) was third by virtue of her pin over Brynnley Krauchun (Andrew) and it would be Sarah Zuziak from Batavia finishing fifth over Roxanna Santiago from West Chicago.
130- Lilly White (Bartlett)
Lilly White has enjoyed every minute of her four years of wrestling for the Bartlett Hawks, including her fifth-place medal at state in 2024, and a return trip downstate and another 40-win season.
“I just love being a part of Bartlett wrestling, it’s such an important part of my life, and one that has helped me meet new friends, and to experience success, and now being the captain of our team,” said the always affable White.
“I was lucky to be a teammate of Emma Engels (three-time state medalist, state champ in 2023, now wrestling at Aurora University) – we worked hard to be our best, and during the offseason, I really concentrated on my fitness, so that my gas tank is always full.”
White has a visit scheduled for Northern Michigan University, where she will continue to wrestle while pursuing a degree in exercise science.
Jaydah Green (Richwoods) recorded a 12-1 major decision over Ayelen Higuera (East Aurora) in the third place contest, and later, Hala Salem (Andrew) took fifth with a medical forfeit over RIchwoods’ JaNylah Robertson.
135- Jasmine Zavaleta (Conant)
No. 9 Jasmine Zavaleta, who would share the most team points accumulated on the day (30) with 120-pound champ Piper Booe (Andrew), is closing in on 100 career victories, and if the Conant star continues to wrestle at the level she is now there is no telling what number she will eventually finish at.
“Jasmine has made great strides in her game, she is an accomplished wrestler, and one that is always working hard to make herself better,” says Conant head coach, Brad Bessemer.
“It was nice to get downstate last year, but I am hungry this season, and want more, and I am confident that I will get on the podium at state,” says Zavaleta, who went 38-13 a year ago.
The Cougars senior would roll past her first three opponents with a trio of pins in just over five minutes, before using just 12 seconds to put away Ava Burns of Lake Park to seal her victory.
Alena Oshana from Maine East used a 16-1 tech-fall over Yasmin Lopes (Batavia) to earn third place honors, with Isabella De La Vega (Andrew) finishing fifth after her pin of Montasia Robinson from Bolingbrook.
140- Alketa (Rosie) Picari (Metea Valley)
Metea Valley had a busy two days of competition with a visit to Fenton for its Weiss Invite, followed by a trip to Elgin where Alketa (Rosie) Picari would turn in a sensational second straight day of work to capture the 140-pound title.
The Mustangs junior would run her overall record to a perfect 9-0 after a fall at 25 seconds over Ewa Krupa (Conant) ensured a second consecutive tournament crown.
“Rosie had a very solid showing for both tournaments – she actually had been injured since the first week of the season, and was not cleared for contact until this Thursday,” began head coach Kevin Garbis.
“We obviously could not be happier with her results, but she also knows she needs to get better, and work harder if she wants to make it downstate.
“The 135-140 pound weight class in the state is really solid, so Rosie knows she cannot be satisfied after the results from this weekend.”
According to Garbis, the two-time Fargo qualifier put in a lot of work over the summer, and is looking to erase the back-to-back blood round defeats at sectionals.
“Rosie has beaten multiple state qualifiers and placers throughout her first two years with us, and I could not be more proud of her maturity, and dedication she has shown.”
2025 state qualifier Annabelle Guthke (Batavia) was third due to a medical forfeit, and in the fifth place match, it was Alana Smith (West Chicago) over Carolina Ascencio (East Aurora) with a pin at 2:00.
145- Lupita Garcia (East Aurora)
By her own admission, and that of her head coach, Lupita Garcia has come a long way since her first year in the East Aurora room, and her performance said it all for this 145-pound champion.
“My freshman year I wasn’t very good, and to be honest, my next two years were not really that terrific as well, but I put in a lot of work during this last offseason, and with the support of my mother, coaching staff, my partner in the room (Jaylene Dealba) and my faith in God, I feel like this could be a very good year for me,” opined Garcia.
Garcia went out to an early 3-0 advantage before eventually recording a pin over Analiese Aberman (Conant) at 3:54 to give the affable Tomcat senior her first ever tournament title.
“Lupita wrestled really well today – she put in a lot of work during the offseason – competed all throughout the summer, and you can see how she has gained more confidence (and) how all the extra work is beginning to pay off,” coach Ryan Mick said.
“I am very proud of the growth she has shown, not just as a wrestler, but as a person as well.”
Jordan Slager (Metea Valley) was third after her pin at 2:47 over Alexandra Olague (West Chicago), while Liliana Chavez from Bartlett was fifth when she pinned Jadenise Velazquez from West Chicago.
155- Audrey Sheldon (Batavia)
Audrey Sheldon would give Batavia its second individual title of the day, and her first ever after her terrific four-match effort that would end when the Lady Bulldogs freshman registered her fourth pin of the day at 2:38 over Savannah Burns from Bolingbrook.
“It’s really exciting to win my first tournament championship, but I know there’s still a lot of work ahead of me if I want to continue to do well,” said Sheldon, who recently went 3-0 when she and her teammates traveled to Morton for a quad against Maine East, Round Lake, and the host Mustangs.
“(Getting) that early take down in my final was so important because it helped settle me down, and after that my confidence was so much better after being a little nervous before the start of my final,” admitted Sheldon.
East Aurora claimed yet another top six finish, this one by Alyssa Galarza at 145 over Sudan Bilyal from Conant in the third-place match. Natalie Koprowski (Bartlett) pinned Giovanna Sampognaro (Lake Park) for fifth place.
170- Olivia Halminiak (West Chicago)
Olivia Halminiak would join the ranks of a first-time tournament champion following her major decision victory of the day that led to the 170-pound title.
Halminiak, who opened the tournament with a fall to stay alive in the front draw, recorded another pin (4:43) to guarantee her spot in the final against Daniela Velazquez (Maine East) who pinned top seed Kinzer Mikesell (Batavia) in her semifinal.
“It’s nice to see all the hard work I’ve been putting in paid off today with me finishing in first place,” Halminiak said with a smile,
“I feel really good at (170), and with me spending a lot of time on my (top and bottom) defense, and technique, I feel like my goal of reaching sectionals and getting downstate is a very realistic goal.”
Busola Dinan (Andrew) was third after her 5-0 decision against Jenna Smrha (Bartlett) and it was a Mariana Flores (Larkin) 16-1 tech-fall over Olena Ftoma (East Aurora) that gave her a fifth-place medal.
190- Jadelin Caballero (Larkin)
The pure joy on the face of Jadelin Caballero after her ultimate tie-breaker thriller that gave the Larkin junior her first tournament title of her career (AND) on her home mats was worth the price of admission.
“I felt nervous throughout the tournament, but I was so grateful to be competing in a sport that I love so much,” said an emotionally drained Caballero, who was a sectional qualifier with 34 victories.
“When I won, I felt a huge sense of relief because I did not want to let my teammates down, who all believed in me.
“I thank the lord for today, my teammates, and coaching staff – to win here at Larkin meant so much to me,” continued Caballero after her 2-1 victory over Jaylene Dealba from East Aurora.
“We have all seen tremendous growth from Jadelin since her first year with us, she faced an injury that could have halted her career but instead of giving in, she rose above it,” began Larkin head coach, Gerardo Pina.
“Her perseverance stems from a strong mindset, and her ultimate tie-breaking win would truly highlight Jadelin’s competitive instinct as she fought her to the top.”
Paige Washburn, from Lake Park, was third over Claudia Weglarz (Conant) and Annalizette Gallegos (Larkin) was fifth after her pin (3:33) of Weni Koudi from West Chicago.
235- Marley Clark (Richwoods)
Not only did Marley Clark claim her first major of the season, the Richwoods star would also earn the Athlete of the Week from the local Jersey Mike’s that honors student-athletes in the area.
The Lady Knights two-sport star (softball) was much too strong for the 235-pound weight division as the senior would mow down all three of her opponents via the pin, needing just a tick of seven minutes to put all of them away, including Thanh Dinh from Glenbard West on the title mat.
“I lost in the blood round last year at sectionals, so it is important for me to start the season right, and just keep on working so I can get downstate, and on the podium,” said Clark, who was 26-9 a year ago, and second at the Metamora regional.
“I think most of all, my mindset is way better than last year, which is something that at times gave me a little trouble, but I know that part of my game has really improved.”
Clark would like nothing more to add her name to the Lady Knights state wall that includes six state medal winners, including the two from 2024 by Kaila Williams, and Jaida Johnson.
Ava Adorni (Conant) was third overall after her 4-1 decision over Ameinah Hill (Lake Park) and Mackenzie Mansavage from Conant was fifth after her pin at 4:14 over Angelina Dimas from East Aurora.
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS:
East Aurora 211.0, Andrew 171.5, Batavia 167.5, Conant 164.5, West Chicago 153.0, Glenbard West 131.5, Bartlett 122.5, Maine East 104.5, Metea Valley 94.5, Bolingbrook 91.0, Lake Park 83.5, Peoria Richwoods 71.0, Larkin 67.0, Dundee-Crown 44.0, Woodstock 31.0, Ottawa Marquette 28.0