Girls tourney recaps: Ottawa, Marion, Benton
By Gary Larsen for the IWCOA
Lady Wildcat Wrestling Invite ’26
Twenty-two teams squared off at Marion’s Lady Wildcat Wrestling Invite ’26, and the team champion didn’t have to take a bus ride home.
Host Marion snared the team title, out-pointing second-place Waterloo 149-101, with Freeburg (85.5) third and two Kentucky teams placing fourth and fifth, in Paducah Tilghman (81) and McCracken County (68).
Marion coach Lukas Cullum got an individual title from Joelene Nappier-Feth (130) to lead his Wildcats, which saw nine girls place in the top six of their weight classes. Marion also tied with Waterloo for the most pins in the tournament with 16, and led all teams with four tech falls on the day, three of which came from Alauni Muex (120). Marion also led all teams with 214 total match points.
“This Lady Wildcat team is hungry. Not a single one of them will back down regardless of experience,” Cullum said. “They came out and showed what we are creating here at Marion — a high-level, competitive women’s program.
“The team is currently 10-3 in dual play, a record we are very proud of with six freshmen in our lineup. We expect this squad to continue to get better.”
1st-Marion (149)
The Wildcats’ Nappier-Feth improved to 16-0 on the season and pinned her way to the title at 130 pounds, as she “put on a dominant performance, securing the outstanding wrestler (award),” Cullum said. “She put the whole 130-pound weight class on notice.”
Marion also got second-place finishes from DJ Tucker-Lester (140) and Sofia Hernandez-Pina (190), thirds from Vida Follis (115) and Alauni Muex (120), and fourths from Kishelle Gray (115), Addison Arnold (135), Natalie Davis (170) and Carmen Holderfield (235).
“A big shout-out to Alauni Meux, who continues to impress at 120,” Cullum said. “And to D.J. Tucker for crushing through the 140’s and taking second. Vida Follis came out looking strong and Sophia “Mija” Hernandez put on an incredible performance at 190. I’m immensely proud and excited to coach such a hungry and driven team.”
2nd-Waterloo (101)
Coach Ryan Wiggers’ Bulldogs got an individual championship from Izabell McBride (190) to lead the way, along with a second from Niyah Stein (235), and fourths from Brooklyn Truman (130) and Neveah Gentelin (140).
3rd-Freeburg (85.5)
Coach Dan Quartz got individual titles from Brielle Becker (105) and Grace Stratton (155), a second from Elise Byman (145), and a third from Aubrey Rutmanis (110) in spearheading the Lady Midgets’ third-place finish.
Additional champions
100 Dalis Johnston (Paducah Tilghman)
110 Madison Poll (St. Thomas More)
115 Haydyn Williamson (Anna-Jonesboro)
120 Eelynn Hayden (McCracken County)
135 Jacee Mardirosian (Cartersville)
140 Kaileigh Hall (Paducah Tilgham)
145 Daniya Musgrave (Mt. Vernon)
170 Jemeriah Hopkins (Paducah Tilgham)
235 Lillian Harned (McCracken County)
Additional runners-up
100 Charlee Emmerich (Effingham)
105 Brylee Russell (Pinckneyville/Trico)
110 Jillian Conn (McCracken County)
115 Kenni Lafollete (Johnston City)
120 Emmery Evans (McCracken County)
130 Sophia Bechelli (W Frankfort)
135 Alana Finney (Salem)
155 Nahima Mateo (Murphysboro)
170 Braeliana Gosney (Mt. Vernon)
Team scores
Marion 149, Waterloo 101, Freeburg 85.5, Paducah Tilgham, KY 81, McCracken County KY 68, Murphysboro 65, Carterville 63, Mt. Vernon 58, Anna-Jonesboro 56.5, West Frankfort 56, Pinckneyville/Trico 46, Benton 39.5, Johnston City 37, St. Thomas More 35.5, Carbondale 35, Sparta/Steelville 31, Breeze Central 20, Salem 20, Fairfield 16, Effingham 14, Herrin 7, Red Bud 3
The unbeatens (10 match-minimum)
McCracken County, KY’s Eelynn Hayden (22-0 at 120), Marion’s Joelene Nappier-Feth (16-0 at 130), Freeburg’s Grace Stratton (18-0 at 155)
The once-beatens (10-match minimum)
Carterville’s Jacee Mardirosian (15-1 at 135), Salem’s Alana Finney (9-1 at 135), Murphysboro’s Nahima Mateo (10-1 at 155)
Statistics
Waterloo and Marion tied for the most pins recorded in the field with 16 apiece, followed by Murphysboro and Carterville with 11 each. Marion’s four tech falls led all teams followed by Paducah Tilgham, KY with two. Marion recorded the most total match points with 214, followed by Carterville’s 109. Murphysboro and Paducah Tilgham tied with 95 total match points each.
Individually, Freeburg’s Grace Stratton had the most pins in the least time, with four falls in 3:56, while Marion’s Alauni Muex finished with the most tech falls in the least time, with three techs in 8:55. Freeburg’s Aubrey Rutmanis had the fastest tech fall in 1:39.
Freeburg’s Stratton also scored the most team points in the tournament with 28, while Marion’s Vida Follis scored the most single-match points with 26. Marion’s Muex led all wrestlers with 71 total match points, followed by teammate Follis with 49.
The largest seed-place difference came from McCracken County, Kentucky’s Eelynn Hayden, who was seeded No. 13 but won the individual title at 120 pounds.
Championship match results
100 Dalis Johnston (Paducah Tilghman) F 1:06 Charlee Emmerich (Effingham)
105 Brielle Becker (Freeburg) F 2:30 Brylee Russell (Pinckneyville/Trico)
110 Madison Poll (St. Thomas More) MD 10-2 Jillian Conn (McCracken Co)
115 Haydyn Williamson (Anna-Jonesboro) F 4:33 Kenni Lafollete (Johnston City)
120 Eelynn Hayden (McCracken Co) MD 15-4 Emmery Evans (McCracken Co)
125 No wrestlers entered
130 Joelene Nappier-Feth (Marion) F 1:37 Sophia Bechelli (W Frankfort)
135 Jacee Mardirosian (Cartersville) F 3:24 Alana Finney (Salem)
140 Kaileigh Hall (Paducah Tilgham) F 3:25 DJ Tucker-Lester (Marion)
145 Daniya Musgrave (Mt. Vernon) F 5:22 Elise Byman (Freeburg)
155 Grace Stratton (Freeburg) F 2:41 Nahima Mateo (Murphysboro)
170 Jemeriah Hopkins (Paducah Tilgham) F 4:07 Braeliana Gosney (Mt. Vernon)
190 Izabell McBride (Waterloo) F 1:56 Sofia Hernandez-Pina (Marion)
235 Lillian Harned (McCracken Co) F 1:47 Niyah Stein (Waterloo)
Third-place match results
100 Faith Husky (Johnston City) F 1:47 Shaina Pierce (Pinckneyville/Trico)
105 Remi Taylor (Fairfield) F 2:30 Kylie Davie (Carterville)
110 Aubrey Rutmanis (Freeburg) F 1:40 Chloe Williams (West Frankfort)
115 Vida Follis (Marion) TF 4:32 Kishelle Gray (Marion)
120 Alauni Muex (Marion) TF 3:13 Kathleen Loyola (Carbondale)
125 No wrestlers entered
130 Adin Denoon (Mt. Vernon) F 1:31 Brooklyn Truman (Waterloo)
135 Payten Hollenkamp (Breeze C) F 3:55 Addison Arnold (Marion)
140 Marriah Jackson (Carbondale) F 0:50 Nevaeh Gentelin (Waterloo)
145 Josselin Mateo (Murphysboro) F 2:00 Claire Simmons (St. Thomas More)
155 Addison Mabry (Benton) F 2:35 Everleigh Orendoff (Carterville)
170 Biannca Timmons (Anna-J) F 2:12 Natalie Davis (Morton)
190 Lillian Browning (W Frankfort) F 2:21 Madelynn Skidmore (Sparta/Steelville)
235 Payten Roseberry (Pinckneyville/Trico) F 0:45 Carmen Holderfield (Marion)
Ottawa Holiday Hootenanny
Lane Tech had five girls place in the top six of their weight classes, led by individual champions Sofia Guerrero (100) and Eila Barbour (145), to win the team title at this year’s 30-team Ottawa Holiday Hootenanny.
Coach Liam Cummins’ squad won 128.5-117 over second-place Conant, followed by Glenbard North (110.5) Ottawa (102.5) and Sycamore (92) to round out the top five finishes.
Lane’s 220 total match points were of any team in the tournament.
“Our wrestlers understand they have an obligation to one another, when the obligation is fulfilled we succeed as a team,” Cummins said. “Every match, every medal counts and they wrestle knowing that.”
1st- Lane Tech (128.5)
In addition to individual titles from Guerrero and Barbour, Lane got thirds from Zabby Badru (140) and Layla Moreland (155), and a fifth from Kenaiece Barrett (170).
2nd- Conant (117)
The Cougars and coach Brad Bessemer had a pair of runners-up in Giselle Varelas (115) and Brooklyn Jones (120), a third from Jasmine Zavaleta (135), a fourth from Susan Bilyal (155), a fifth from Ava Adomi (235), and a sixth from Claudia Weglarz (170).
3rd- Glenbard North (110.5)
The Panthers got a title from Suzanne Stalley (155), seconds from Daisy VillaGonzalez (100) and Keagan Edwards (135), and thirds from Ezri Incrocci (120) and Asreilla Wallace (235) for coach Chris Edwards.
Additional champions
110 Rozlyn Mosher (Erie)
115 Autumn Starr (Bloomington)
120 Gracie Meluch (Naperville Central)
125 Kiely Domyancich (LaSalle-Peru)
130 Catherine Diehl (Wheaton Academy)
135 Michelle Naftzger (Erie)
140 Ema Durst (Sycamore)
170 Frankie McMurtry (Sycamore)
190 Anjanne Haywood (Guilford)
235 Jasmine Enriquez (Sycamore)
Additional runners-up
105 Olivia Agajanian (Sandwich)
110 Eliana Badeen (Maine East)
125 Samantha Greisen (Seneca)
130 Riley Kuder (Coal City)
140 Quinn Janssens (Oswego East)
145 Ithandehui Rosas (Harvard)
155 Alicia Swank (Bloomington)
170 Caliyah Campbell (OPRF)
190 Sadie Kinsella (Kaneland)
235 Juliana Thrush (Ottawa)
Team scores
Lane Tech 128.5, Conant 117, Glenbard North 110.5, Ottawa 102.5, Sycamore 92, Bolingbrook 88.5, LaSalle-Peru 86.5, Erie 74, Sandwich 74, Richwoods 70, Maine East 69, Harvard 60, Oak Park and River Forest 53.5, Bloomington 49, Oswego East 49, Streator/Woodland 46, Naperville Central 41.5, Lemont 41, Kaneland 39, Kankakee 35.5, Marquette 29.5, Wheaton Academy 29.5, Seneca 28.5, Larkin 28, Coal City 25.5, Guilford 25.5, Deer Creek-Mackinaw 24, Morris 23.5, Putnam County/Hall 23, Rock Falls 16
Close calls
The closest finals match of the day came when Erie’s Michelle Naftzger won a 1-0 decision against Glenbard Norths Keagan Edwards at 135 pounds.
The third-place final at 125 carried even more drama, with Richwoods’ Jaydah Green winning an 11-8 sudden victory decision over Lemont’s Molly O’Connor.
Statistics
Conant led all teams with 18 pins, Lane with 17and Bolingbrook with 14. Lane had the most tech falls in the least time, with three at 9:25 and Lane scored the most total match points with 220, followed by Ottawa with 169 and Sandwich with 150.
Individually, Deer Creek-Mackinaw’s Kaleigh Mehrkens finished with the most pins in the least time, with five at 7:50, while Zabby Badru had the most tech falls in the least time, with two in 5:03. Badru also scored the most single match points with 22. Conant’s Brooklyn Jones posted the fastest pin at 0:10 and Erie’s Ayden Grawe had the fastest tech fall at 2:22. Larkin’s Susan Cruz scored the most total match points with 61.
Championship match results
100 Sofia Guerrero (Lane) F 0:45 Daisy VillaGonzalez (Glenbard N)
105 Lily Deibel (Marquette) TF 15-0 Olivia Agajanian (Sandwich)
110 Rozlyn Mosher (Erie) F 2:33 Eliana Badeen (Maine E)
115 Autumn Starr (Bloomington) F 4:55 Giselle Varelas (Conant)
120 Gracie Meluch (Naperville C) F 1:14 Brooklyn Jones (Conant)
125 Kiely Domyancich (LaSalle-Peru) MD 11-3 Samantha Greisen (Seneca)
130 Catherine Diehl (Wheaton Ac) TF 19-3 Riley Kuder (Coal City)
135 Michelle Naftzger (Erie) D 1-0 Keagan Edwards (Glenbard N)
140 Ema Durst (Sycamore) F 4:57 Quinn Janssens (Oswego E)
145 Eila Barbour (Lane) F 4:53 Ithandehui Rosas (Harvard)
155 Suzanne Stalley (Glenbard N) D 5-0 Alicia Swank (Bloomington)
170 Frankie McMurtry (Sycamore) F 5:10 Caliyah Campbell (OPRF)
190 Anjanne Haywood (Guilford) D 5-1 Sadie Kinsella (Kaneland)
235 Jasmine Enriquez (Sycamore) D 4-2 Juliana Thrush (Ottawa)
Third-place match results
100 Evelyn Torres (Maine East) F 1:10 Sharleen Barrera (Bolingbrook)
105 Ivette Quintana (Bolingbrook) MD 16-6 Susan Cruz (Larkin)
110 Lily Gwaltney (Ottawa) F 5:53 Mikaela Najera (Bolingbrook)
115 Laila Vaughn (Streator/Woodland) F 1:59 Payton Henson (Streator/Woodland)
120 Ezri Incrocci (Glenbard N) F 1:28 Karlie Hardekopf (Sandwich)
125 Jaydah Green (Richwoods) SV 11-8 Molly O’Connor (Lemont)
130 Alena Oshana (Maine E) F 3:34 Anaya Campbell (Bolingbrook)
135 Jasmine Zavaleta (Conant) F 0:40 Jaiyden Provance (Ottawa)
140 Zabby Badru (Lane) F 2:51 Isabella Miller (OPRF)
145 Alivia Butler (Ottawa) D 12-9 Ashlyn Fargher (Rock Falls)
155 Layla Moreland (Lane) F 5:02 Susan Bilyal (Conant)
170 Ella Irwin (Putnam Co/Hall) Founder 1:46 Sydney Johnson (Richwoods)
190 Kaleigh Mehrkens (Deer Creek-Mac) F 0:41 Sofia Perez (Kankakee)
235 Asreilla Wallace (Glenbard N) F 1:47 Lily Higgins (LaSalle-Peru)
Benton’s Rangerette Rumble
Frankfort’s Lady Redbirds carried the day at this year’s 10-team Rangerette Rumble, hosted by Benton. Frankfort got individual titles from Chloe Williams (110), Catelynn Reese (125) and Lillian Browning (190) among a field of eight girls who placed in the top six of their weight classes.
Frankfort edged Anna-Jonesboro 123-111, followed by Carterville (94), Robinson (86) and host Benton (85) to round out the top five team finishes.
1st- Frankfort (123)
Nobody in the finals survived the first period against champions Williams, Reese and Browning, and Frankfort got a third-place finish from Sophia Bechelli (130), and fourths from Aleah Davidson (120), Kolbie Wortman (130), Autumn Pulliam (145) and Alexa McKeown (155).
2nd- Anna-Jonseboro (111)
Coach Chase Hargrave got individual titles from Haydyn Williamson (115) and Biannca Timmons (170), and the Lady Wildcats got seconds from Izzy Giron (120), Jozilyn Kerr (145) and June Markham (190), a fourth from Kinley Leek (125) and a sixth from Lyra Casper (155).
3rd- Carterville (94)
Lady Lions coach Daniel Alderman got a pair of individual titles from Jacee Mardirosian (140) and Everleigh Orendoff (155), thirds from Lizzy Morehead (115) and Marlie Lloyd (190), fifths from Emily Hawkins (110) and Peyton Applehans (130), and sixths from Kendyl Bilderback (110), Joplin Harrison (120), Lilah Mowrer (145) and Joanna Lee (235).
Team scores
Frankfort 123, Anna-Jonesboro 111, Carterville 94, Robinson 86, Benton 85, Belleville East 80.5, Mascoutah 65.5, Fairfield 61, Unity 52, Charleston 46
Additional champions
105 Madison Siler (Robinson), 120 Morgan Krone-Smallhorn (Charleston), 130 Ava Beldo (Unity), 145 Macee Hammond (Robinson), 235 Phoenix Molina (Unity)
Additional runners-up
105 Serenity Canady (Robinson), 110 Brooklyn Miller (Robinson), 115 Trinity Phelps (Benton), 125 Zoey Nelson (Mascoutah), 130 Camila Irby (Belleville E), 140 Caitrin Melvin (Belleville E), 155 Jauylin Robinson (Belleville E), 170 Lilianne Johnson (Benton), 235 Olivia Rosine (Charleston)
Close calls
The title match at 105 was a wild one between teammates, with Robinson’s Madison Siler winning a 14-12 decision over Serenity Canady.
Statistics
Carterville led all teams with 18 pins in the tournament, followed by Benton and Frankfort with 17 apiece. Mascoutah led in tech falls with two and scored the most total match points with 148, followed by Carterville with 137.
Individually, Frankfort’s Lillian Browning had the most pins in the least time with four in 1:44, while teammate Sophia Bechelli posted the fastest pin in 0:05. Belleville East’s Camila Irby had the fastest tech fall in 2:26.
Mascoutah’s Shayla Garner and Pakaporn Dunham tied for the most single-match points with 19, and Dunham finished with the most total match points with 51, followed by Robinson’s Madison Siler with 48.
Championship match results
105 Madison Siler (Robinson) D 14-12 Serenity Canady (Robinson)
110 Chloe Williams (Frankfort) F 0:20 Brooklyn Miller (Robinson)
115 Haydyn Williamson (A-Jonesboro) F 1:53 Trinity Phelps (Benton)
120 Morgan Krone-Smallhorn (Charleston) F 5:39 Izzy Giron (A-Jonesboro)
125 Catelyn Reese (Frankfort) F 0:37 Zoey Nelson (Mascoutah)
130 Ava Beldo (Unity) F 5:48 Camila Irby (Belleville E)
140 Jacee Mardirosian (Carterville) F 1:48 Caitrin Melvin (Belleville E)
145 Macee Hammond (Robinson) F 1:19 Jozilyn Kerr (A-Jonesboro)
155 Everleigh Orendoff (Carterville) F 1:55 Jauylin Robinson (Belleville E)
170 Biannca Timmons (A-Jonesboro) F 0:57 Lilianne Johnson (Benton)
190 Lillian Browning (Frankfort) F 1:05 June Markham (A-Jonesboro)
235 Phoenix Molina (Unity) F 1:00 Olivia Rosine (Charleston)
Third-place match results
105 Shayla Garner (Mascoutah) TF Remi Taylor (Fairfield )
110 Klaramae Turpin (Mascoutah) F 1:24 Maliya Rush (Fairfield)
115 Lizzy Morehead (Carterville) F 0:25 Kami Sager (Fairfield)
120 Kylie Davie (Benton) F 2:13 Aleah Davidson (Frankfort)
125 Cecilia Correa (Belleville E) F 2:40 Kinley Leek (A-Jonesboro)
130 Sophia Bechelli (Frankfort) F 0:05 Kolbie Wortman (Frankfort)
140 Gabriela Richards (Mascoutah) F 1:12 Gabrielle Berry (Belleville E)
145 Madelyn Cockrum (Benton) F 1:43 Autumn Pulliam (Frankfort)
155 Addison Mabry (Benton) F 1:03 Alexa McKeown (Frankfort)
170 Destiny Cox (Fairfield) F 1:44 Carlie James (Benton)
190 Marlie Lloyd (Carterville) F 1:43 Ashlynn Blevins (Fairfield)
235 Lexie Desett (Benton) F 0:48 Lexi Karnes (Benton)