Girls’ recaps: Normal, Rantoul, 618 Scramble

By Gary Larsen for the IWCOA

NORMAL INVITATIONAL

In the four seasons prior to Monday’s 27-team Normal Invitational, Joliet Central had finished 9th, 3rd, 12th and 3rd again at the formidable tournament.

This year, the Steelwomen put their collective foot down.

Joliet Central coach Marcus McCullum’s girls took the team title in Normal, 192-139 over Homewood-Flossmoor, getting individual titles from Valerie Ruiz-Flores (115) and Izabel Barrera (135) to lead the way.

“The girls have really been trying to step it up a notch as the season ends,” McCullum said. “They showed great pose and wrestled well against a good field. We now go back to clean up our mistakes as we go into conference and regional play. The team has been working hard all season to get to this point. We look forward to the postseason.”

1st- Joliet Central (192)
In addition to titles from Barrera (24-2 at 135) and Ruiz-Flores (15-7 at 11), McCullum got seconds from Ariadna Arciniega (12-6 at 100), Alisa Carter (19-2 at 105) and Shaila Aguirre (14-6 at 110), a third from Emma Guethle (19-6 at 140), a fourth from Leilani Robles (2-2 at 155), fifths from Bella Patino (4-1 at 120), Yaretzi Arenas (11-10 at 135) and Jewel Mister (4-1 at 190), and a sixth from Jaylin Ingram (11-8 at 145).

“Izabel Barrera and Valerie Ruiz-Flores were our champs and key to the team title run on Monday,” McCullum said. “I was impressed with how they kept pushing the pace throughout the day. My other placers did a good job staying on the mats as long as they could. Overall, I think the team wrestled well with a good attitude.”

2nd- Homewood-Flossmoor (139)
Vikings coach Scott Aronson got a trio of runner-up finishes from Kennedy Dade (27-11 at 140), Olivia Haywood (21-15 at 155) and Kendra Hayden (22-11 at 190), a third from London Gandy (25-9 at 125), fifths from Diilailah Lopez (19-14 at 110) and Amara Nwoye (31-7 at 130), and sixths from Mariah Perkins (3-3 at 115) and Taniyah Bradley (19-11 at 120).

3rd- Collinsville (124)
Coach Adam Gillespie got titles from London Long (28-4 at 125) and Leann Cory (29-3 at 145), a third from Ivana Torres (21-9 at 110), fourths from Jazelle Young (16-14 at 115) and Emma Ford (18-12 at 120), and a sixth from Jaylah Harris (12-13 at 130).

Team scores
Joliet Central 192, Homewood-Flossmoor 139, Collinsville 124, Mahomet-Seymour 95.5, Galesburg 92, Normal Community West 86.5, East Peoria 81.5, Pekin 76.5, Washington 74.5, Ottawa 72, Urbana 55, Plainfield South 52.5, Unity 52, Metamora 44, Bloomington 42.5, Moline 42, Olympia 41.5, Lemont 38, Morris 38, Peoria Notre Dame 36, Mt. Zion 28, PORTA 23, Heyworth 20, Clinton 17, Rochester 17, Mackinaw-Deer Creek 7, Pontiac 6

SM-state medalist; SQ-state qualifier
Additional champions
100 Chloe Collins (Olympia) 
105 SQ Tessa Donaldson (Pekin) 
110 Lily Gwaltney (Ottawa) 
120 Ava Mayer (Pekin) 
130 SM Sydney Cannon (Mt. Zion) 
140 Rickasia Ivy (Urbana) 
155 Alicia Swank (Bloomington) 
170 Grace Mordhorst (Washington) 
190 Karsyn Robinson (Normal Community West) 
235 SM Phoenix Molina (Unity)

Notable
The Normal field at 235 featured girls that placed third, fourth, and sixth in Illinois last year. Third-place state medalist Phoenix Molina of Unity topped fourth-place medalist Lillian Disanto of Urbana by fall in Monday’s title match, while sixth-place medalist Juliana Thrush of Ottawa won by fall for third place against Ubana’s Violet Porter. Disanto won by fall over Thrush in their semifinal match, with Molina pinning Porter in the other semifinal.

Championship match results
100 Chloe Collins (Olympia) F 3:55 Ariadna Arciniega (Joliet C)
105 Tessa Donaldson (Pekin) Med Fft. Alisa Carter (Joliet C)
110 Lily Gwaltney (Ottawa) MD 11-2 Shaila Aguirre (Joliet C)
115 Valerie Ruiz-Flores (Joliet C) F 3:33 Ciara Bolf (Ottawa)
120 Ava Mayer (Pekin) F 3:05 Amyah Pruitt (Galesburg)
125 Londyn Long (Collinsville) F 0:45 Calliope Willman (Metamora)
130 SM Sydney Cannon (Mt. Zion) F 1:14 Ava Beldo (Unity)
135 Izabel Barrera (Joliet C) F 2:36 Sammy Baker (Notre Dame)
140 Rickasia Ivy (Urbana) TF Kennedy Dade (H-F)
145 Leann Cory (Collinsville) F 2:21 Taylor Sutton (E Peoria)
155 Alicia Swank (Bloomington) TF Olivia Haywood (H-F)
170 Grace Mordhorst (Washington) D 10-3 Jaycee Weitekamp (Mahomet)
190 Karsyn Robinson (Normal W) F 4:49 Kendra Hayden (H-F)
235 SM Phoenix Molina (Unity) F 1:25 SM Lillian Disanto (Urbana)

Third-place match results
100 Amie Fuentes (Plainfield S) F 1:37 Sierra Tuttle (Mahomet)
105 Ariana Baier (Lemont) Med Fft Alexia Glover (PORTA)
110 Ivana Torres (Collinsville) F 1:20 Kaydence Klein (Metamora)
115 Autumn Starr (Bloomington) F 3:57 Jazelle Young (Collinsville)
120 Lucie Eisenbarth (Rochester) D 12-6 Emma Ford (Collinsville)
125 London Gandy (H-F) F 1:40 Izy Paranto (E Peoria)
130 Dai Driana Wilford (Galesburg) F 4:51 Molly O’Connor (Lemont)
135 Kyah Kaonohi (E Peoria) F 3:14 Brynn Dergo (Morris)
140 Emma Guethle (Joliet C) F 5:01 Zola Burdette (Plainfield S)
145 Diem Bryan (Mahomet) BYE
155 Alyssa Artman (Pekin) F 3:36 Leilani Robles (Joliet C)
170 Jasmine Dillard (Galesburg) F 1:06 Alisa Reyes (Washington)
190 Tatiana Cuellar (Moline) F 2:19 Brooke Knee (E Peoria)
235 SM Juliana Thrush (Ottawa) F 3:01 Violet Porter (Urbana)

Statistics
TEAM: Joliet Central finished with the most pins (22) of any team in the tournament, followed by Homewood-Flossmoor with 18 and Collinsville with 16. H-F posted the most tech falls in the least time with two in 5:24, followed by Peoria Notre Dame with two techs in 536. Joliet Central led in total match points with 196, followed by H-F with 191.

INDIVIDUAL: Homewood-Flossmoor’s Amara Nwoye posted the most pins in the least time with four falls in 4:27, followed by Normal West’s Arian Sabu with four pins in 4:42. Notre Dame’s Lesley DeLaCruz had the most tech falls in the least time with two in 5:36, followed by Urbana’s Rickasia Ivy with two techs in 8:48.

Morris’ Nicolette Boelman posted the fastest fall in 8 seconds, followed by Plainfield South’s Sammie Ntone with a fall in 9 seconds. DeLaCruz had the fastest tech fall in 1:23, followed by Washington’s Paytyn Dykes with a tech fall in 1:37.

Normal West’s Kitzia Racey and Mahomet-Seymour’s Jaycee Weitekamp tied for the most single-match points with 22, followed by East Peoria’s Taylor Sutton with 20. DeLaCruz led the way in total match points with 59, followed by Ivy and Olympia’s Chloe Collins with 48 total match points each.
The largest seed-place difference came from Joliet Central’s Izabel Barrera, as the No. 15 seed won the title at 135 pounds.

RANTOUL GIRLS TOURNAMENT

Bradley-Bourbonnais captured the title of Rantoul’s 15-team girls tournament on Monday, winning 127-80 over second-place Champaign Central.

The Boilermakers’ 15 pins and 150 total match points led the field for coach Max Schumer, who got individual titles from Aubrianna Rapier (135), Sophia Domont (140), Alexis McCullough (170) and Kaylee Morris (235).

The mission for the girls program in the fifth year of IHSA girls wrestling in Illinois is clear for Schumer and assistant coach Mickey Spiwak.

“Bradley-Bourbonnais is in its second official year as a girls program,” Schumer said. “The girls are trying to make a stand in the state of Illinois, as a program that takes this sport seriously and wants to be known to other teams as a dominant force in the sport.

“Our girls work really hard and have great leadership in Sommer Boswell, Aubrianna Rapier, Kylie Rapier, and Sophia Domont.  They hold the rest of the team accountable and have a very high standard.”

St. Joseph-Ogden (76.5) finished third, followed by Oakwood/Salt Fork (61) and Robinson (51.5) to round out the top five finishes.

1st- Bradley-Bourbonnais (127)
In addition to titles from Rapier, Domont, McCullough and Morris, the Boilermakers got a second from Leighlah Duda (190), thirds from Rihanna Randall (105) and Mya Robinson (170), a fourth from Kylie Rapier (155), a fifth from Ember McGarvey (145) and a sixth from Alyssa Larios (155).

McGarvey had two tech falls and led the field in single-match points with 21. She was also second in total match points with 41.

Aubrianna Rapier has won four individual tournament titles this season “and she has led the charge when it comes to introducing girls wrestling to our school,” Schumer said. “She is adamant about striving for a state title and continuing her wrestling career post-high school.”

Domont put in a ton of off-season work “and it’s really nice to see all that hard work pay off,” Schumer said. “(McCullough) shows not only resilience and determination in the face of the challenges associated with this sport, but compassion and love for her teammates as well…(Morris) is a first year wrestler

who has been an essential part of this team at the 235 weight class.  We have not seen many girls in this sport be as physically dominant.”

2nd- Champaign Central (80)
Maroons coach Tristan Birt got an individual title from Londyn Grant (130), a runner-up finish from Jasmine Palestino (145), thirds from Rita Grant (125), Ashley Alquicira (135) and Zaiyrah Bailey (140), and a fifth from Onisty Murphy (155).

3rd- St. Joseph-Ogden (76.5)
Spartans coach Bill Gallo got an individual title from Maddie Wells (155), seconds from Ainsley Freeman (125), Sophia Douglas (130) and Candice Wright (135), and fourths from Madison Alsip (120) and Taylor Vaughn (145).

Team scores
Bradley-Bourbonnais 127, Champaign Central 80, St. Joseph-Ogden 76.5, Oakwood/Salt Fork 61, Robinson 51.5, Charleston 40, St. Thomas More 39.5, Rantoul 36.5, Kankakee 29, Ottawa Marquette 20, Unity Christian 18, Danville 16.5, Effingham 9, Mount Carmel 9, Lawrence County 6.5

Additional champions
100 Jasmine Johnson (Rantoul) 
105 Lily Deibel (Ottawa Marquette) 
115 Lainey Ehler (Oakwood/Salt Fork) 
120 Kate Wochner (Oakwood/Salt Fork) 
125 Yariah Shaw (Danville) 
130 Londyn Grant (Champaign Central) 
145 Claire Simons (St. Thomas More)  
190 Alexus Dodge (Charleston) 
 
Notable
In the finals at 115, Oakwood/Salt Fork’s Lainey Ehler and St. Thomas More’s Madison Poll locked horns to a near-stalemate, with Ehler ultimately coming away with a 1-0 decision win for the title.
Not to be outdone, St. Joseph-Ogden’s Maddie Wells and Oakwood/Salt Fork’s Taylor Owens wrestled all the way to sudden victory, with Wells winning 3-0 in overtime to secure the title at 155 pounds.

Championship match results
100 Jasmine Johnson (Rantoul) F 3:26 Serenity Canady (Robinson)
105 Lily Deibel (Ottawa Marq) F 1:19 Madison Siler (Robinson)
115 Lainey Ehler (Oakwood/SF) D 1-0 Madison Poll (St. Thomas)
120 Kate Wochner (Oakwood/SF) F 1:43 Morgan Krone-Smallhorn (Charleston)
125 Yariah Shaw (Danville) F 3:32 Ainsley Freeman (SJ-Ogden)
130 Londyn Grant (Champaign C) F 0:22 Sophia Douglas (SJ-Ogden)
135 Aubrianna Rapier (B-Bourbonnais) F 3:01 Candice Wright (SJ-Ogden)
140 Sophia Domont (B-Bourbonnais) F 4:32 Tamira Welch (Kankakee)
145 Claire Simons (St. Thomas) F 0:32 Jasmine Palestino (Champaign C)
155 Maddie Wells (SJ-Ogden) SV-1 3-0 Taylor Owens (Oakwood/SF)
170 Alexis McCullough (B-Bourbonnais) F 2:54 ly’Jah Grant (Champaign C)
190 Alexus Dodge (Charleston) F 0:11 Leighlah Duda (B-Bourbonnais)
235 Kaylee Morris (B-Bourbonnais) F 2:45 Olivia Rosine (Charleston)

Third-place match results
100 Charlee Emmerich (Effingham) F 2:57 Dasia McCracken (Robinson)
105 Rihanna Randall (B-Bourbonnais) F 1:22 Veronica Mendoza (Rantoul)
115 Mackenzie Gound (Rantoul) F 1:18 Aubrie Norgaard (B-Bourbonnais)
120 Delaney Ledbetter (Lawrenceville) TF Madison Alsip (SJ-Ogden)
125 Rita Grant (Champaign C) F 2:21 Vanessa Arellano (Kankakee)
130 Miley Peach (Mt. Carmel) F 0:48 Julie Roberts (Unity Ch)
135 Ashley Alquicira (Champaign C) F 3:23 Andrea Echevarria (Rantoul)
140 Zaiyrah Bailey (Champaign C) D 5-0 Sarah Renaker (Oakwood/SF)
145 Macee Hammond (Robinson) TF Taylor Vaughn (SJ-Ogden)
155 Lillien Roughton (Unity Ch) F 2:50 Kylie Rapier (B-Bourbonnais)
170 Mya Robinson (B-Boubonnais) fft. Jade Quinn-Brown (Kankakee)
190 Sofia Perez (Kankakee) BYE
235 Kinley Kocher (Robinson) BYE

Statistics
TEAM: Bradley-Bourbonnais posted the most pins with 15, followed by Champaign Central and St. Joseph-Ogden with nine pins each. Robinson led the way in tech falls with three, followed by Bradley-Bourbonnais with two. Bradley-Bourbonnais also led the way in total match points with 150, followed by St. Joseph-Ogden with 95.

INDIVIDUAL: Oakwood/Salt Fork’s Kate Wochner posted the most pins in the least time with four in 9:44, followed by St. Thomas More’s Claire Simons with three in 2:51. Robinson’s Macee Hammond had the most tech falls in the least time with two in 6:14, followed by Bradley-Bourbonnais’ Ember McGarvey with two in 8:33.

Bradley-Bourbonnais’ Aubrianna Rapier and Charleston’s Alexus Dodge tied for the fastest fall in 11 seconds, while Rantoul’s Jasmine Johnson posted the fastest tech fall in 2:19.

Simons scored the most team points with 26, followed by St. Joseph-Ogden’s Maddie Wells with 21.5. McGarvey scored the most single-match points with 21, followed by St. Thomas More’s Madison Poll with 19. Danville’s Yariah Shaw posted the most total match points with 46, followed by McGarvey with 41.

618 Scramble

One day after placing third at the Normal Invitational, Collinsville claimed the crown at this year’s 15-team 618 Girls Scramble, at the Jon Davis Wrestling Center in Edwardsville.

Coach Adam Gillespie’s girls had five individual 618 champions and one second-placer among a group of eight girls who placed in the top four of their weight classes.

Collinsville won 153-119 over Belleville West, followed by Triad (111), Waterloo (94) and Edwardsville (90.5) to round out the top five finishes.

Winning titles for the Kahoks were Ivana Torres (110), Jaezelle Young (115), Emma Ford (120), Londyn Long (125) and Addyson Bailey (135).

“They had their most dominant performance of the season,” Gillespie said of his girls. “The first-place finish was a tribute to all the hard work these athletes bring into the room every day.”

Collinsville has finished in the top three in six tournaments this season, including two team titles. The Kahoks also finished with an 8-1 record in dual meets this year.

“I am so insanely proud of this team for the way they have come together and pushed themselves in the pursuit of victory,” Gillespie said. “Every day they look for reasons and ways to get better and be the best teammates to each other. I am a very lucky coach to coach this team and cannot wait to see what the postseason holds for them.

“They have done a tremendous job of putting Collinsville on the map as a wrestling town. They all take pride in wearing the purple and white and representing CHS.”

1st- Collinsville (153)
In addition to titles from Torres, Young, Ford, Long and Bailey, the Kahoks got a second from Harlee Hart (100), a third from Jaylah Harris (130), and a fourth from Neveah Hamer-Burries (235).

Hart’s second-place finish was her highest of the year, Torres has now finished in the top three of five tournaments, and Young “had an outstanding performance at both the 618 invite as well as the SWC tournament,” Gillespie said.

“Emma (Ford) has taken a massive leadership role on this team this season and it was amazing to see all of her hard work finally pay off.”

Long won her fifth tournament title of the season in Edwardsville and leads the team in points with 259.5. 34 of her 37 wins this year have been by fall.

“Londyn has been a huge leader for this team, she is a prime example of what selfless service looks like,” Gillespie said. “She takes the time both in and out of season to make sure that those around her know the importance of not taking any reps off and pushing their limits so they don’t crack under the pressure of a live match.”

Gillespie noted the growth that Harris has taken in her first season on the mat, sees Bailey hitting her groove, and despite the absence of Leann Cory (145) from the lineup, Gillespie applauded her contributions this year.

“Leann Cory is on an incredible run this year,” Gillespie said. “She has placed top two at every tournament she has competed in this year to include a second-place finish at Wonder Woman. She has brought home three championships for the Kahoks this year and 253.5 team points.

“Leann has been an incredible leader to have in the room, she has been beyond selfless with her schedule ensuring she is in the room ready to train any time she gets the opportunity. She has been an incredible example of what a Kahok wrestler is to all of the underclassmen and new wrestlers in our line up.” 

2nd- Belleville West (119)
Maroons coach Mech Spraggins got an individual title from Andre’a Kirkpatrick (235), a second from Riley Weems (110), thirds from Alyssa Hardt (140) and Moriah Lampley (155), and fourths from Kendyll Otten (125), Ja’yla Hurst (135), Akiya Jett (145) and Ineta Grubbs (155).

3rd- Triad (111)
Triad coach Lucas Bernal got an individual title from Adaliah Roth (145), seconds from Makenna Steele (135) and Kaitlin Woods (155), thirds from Daisy Smith (120), Addi Wilson (190) and Beckah Burrelsman (235), and a fourth from Amelia Branson (190).

Team scores
Collinsville 153, Belleville West 119, Triad 111, Waterloo 94, Edwardsville 90.5, Freeburg 85, Civic Memorial 81, Roxana 49.5, East St. Louis 48.5, O’Fallon 44.5, Vandalia 26, Alton 22, Highland 18, Jersey 3, Southwestern 0

Additional champions
100 Tamari Price (Civic Memorial)
105 Madelyn Murphy (Roxana)
130 Sidney Ufert (Roxana)
140 Jariyah Powell (East St. Louis)
155 Grace Stratton (Freeburg)
170 Kira Thompson (O’Fallon)
190 Izabel McBride (Waterloo)

Championship match results
100 Tamari Price (Civic Mem) F 2:43 Harlee Hart (Collinsville)
105 Madelyn Murphy (Roxana) D 11-7 Emma Rogers (Edwardsville)
110 Ivana Torres (Collinsville) D 6-2 Riley Weems (Belleville W)
115 Jaezelle Young (Collinsville) F 3:19 Hailey Buckingham (Edwardsville)
120 Emma Ford (Collinsville) F 1:41 Laila Earney (Civic Mem)
125 Londyn Long (Collinsville) F 1:23 Aryanna Jones (Alton)
130 Sidney Ufert (Roxana) D 7-5 Gretchen Taylor (Edwardsville)
135 Addyson Bailey (Collinsville) F 0:54 Makenna Steele (Triad)
140 Jariyah Powell (E St. Louis) F 2:45 Sophia Elkins (Highland)
145 Adaliah Roth (Triad) F 1:35 Patience Anderson (E St. Louis)
155 Grace Stratton (Freeburg) F 2:12 Kaitlin Wood (Triad)
170 Kira Thompson (O’Fallon) F 1:22 Brynn Swyers (Vandalia)
190 Izabel McBride (Waterloo) F 4:46 Geetanjali Janardhan (Edwardsville)
235 Andre’a Kirkpatrick (Belleville W) F 3:13 Kennedy Downs (Edwardsville)

Third-place match results
100 Carmen Cormier-Russel (O’Fallon) BYE
105 Brielle Becker (Freeburg) F 3:23 Lillian McGuiggan (Civic Mem)
110 Aubrey Rutmanis (Freeburg) F 1:08 Natalie Crook (Waterloo)
115 Riley Lay (Freeburg) D 8-7 Kylie Frober (O’Fallon)
120 Daisy Smith (Triad) F 1:27 Samantha Suhre (Edwardsville)
125 Lucy Baldwin (Waterloo) D 6-0 Kendyl Otten (Belleville W)
130 Jaylah Harris (Collinsville) F 1:56 Bryleigh Marshall (Civic Mem)
135 Madelyn Edler (Waterloo) F 5:24 Ja’yla Hurst (Belleville W)
140 Alyssa Hardt (Belleville W) F 0:56 Nevaeh Gentelin (Waterloo)
145 Elise Byman (Freeburg) F 1:34 Akiya Jett (Belleville W)
155 Moriah Lampley (Belleville W) F 2:10 Ineta Grubbs (Belleville W)
170 Audrey Whipple (Civic Mem) F 2:32 Tiffany Ramirez (Waterloo)
190 Addi Wilson (Triad) F 3:29 Ameila Branson (Triad)
235 Beckah Burrelsman (Triad) md. fft. Neveah Harner-Burries (Collinsville)

Statistics
TEAM: Collinsville led the pack with 18 pins, followed by Belleville West with 16 and Triad with 14. Belleville West and Civic Memorial led the way with two tech falls apiece, and Collinsville posted the most total match points with 149, followed by Belleville West with 132 and Triad with 115.

INDIVIDUAL: Collinsville’s Londyn Long had the most pins in the least time with three falls at 2:25, followed by O’Fallon’s Kira Thompson with three falls in 2:31. Edwardsville’s Emma Rogers had the fastest tech fall in 1:11 and there was a two-way tie for the fastest pin in 19 seconds, between Vandalia Brynn Swyers and East St. Louis’ Xanaiya Gibson-McAlister.

Long, Thompson, and Triad’s Adaliah Roth tied for the most team points with 26 each. Ford, O’Fallon’s Kylie Frober and East St. Louis’ Jariyah Powell tied with 20 for the most single-match points. Roxana’s Madelyn Murphy scored the most total match points with 37, followed by Ford with 36.