IHSA Girls Individual State Finals preview
By Curt Herron – for the IWCOA
The IHSA will hold its fifth Girls Individual State Finals this Friday and Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.
Friday’s session begins with round 1 at 9 a.m. with round 1, while the quarterfinals and round 1 wrestlebacks start at 11 a.m. and the round 2 wrestlebacks are set for 1:30 p.m.
Saturday’s session features the semifinals and round 3 wrestlebacks at 9 a.m. and the consolation semifinals are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. The placement matches are at 12:15 p.m. with the Grand March at 1:45 p.m. and the championship matches, beginning at 190, are set ti begin at 2 p.m.
A total of 224 girls representing 145 teams will be on hand for the two-day competition and those who finish in the top-six at their weight classes receive all-state honors.
The top-scoring team wins the IHSA championship and the second- and third-place teams also get trophies.
Three-time medalists in the field include Lockport Township senior Claudia Heeney, a champion at 135 last season and at 130 in 2024 after taking second at 125 in 2023.
Other three-time medalists are Mt. Zion’s Sydney Cannon (2nd at 115 in 2025, 4th at 115 in 2024, 3rd at 110 in 2023), Batavia’s Lily Enos (5th at 100 in 2025, 3rd at 100 in 2024, 5th at 100 in 2023), Wheeling’s Jasmine Rene (4th at 190 in 2025, 3rd at 190 in 2024, 4th at 190 in 2023) and Glenbard East’s Nadiia Shymkiv (2nd at 105 in 2025, 3rd at 105 in 2024, 4th at 105 in 2023).
Kaneland’s Angelina Gochis is another two-time defending champion, placing first at 110 last and first at 105 in 2024. Cumberland’s Natalie Beaumont took first at 145 last season and was second at 135 in 2024.
Heeney and Gochis look to become three-time IHSA champions and join Hononegah’s Angelina Cassioppi (2022 to 2025, 4 titles), Freeport’s Cadence Diduch (2022 to 2024, 3 titles), Glenbard North’s Gabby Gomez (2022 to 2024, 3 titles) and Batavia’s Sydney Perry (2022 to 2024, 3 titles) as the only individuals who have won three or more state championships.
Other defending state champions are Hinsdale South’s Callie Carr (155), Rockford East’s Saya Hongmoungkhoune (100) and Roxana’s Chloe Skiles (105).
Additional two-time medalists are Lincoln-Way co-op’s Zoe Dempsey, Glenbrook North co-op’s Ariella Dobin, DeKalb’s Alex Gregorio-Perez, Unity’s Phoenix Molina, Huntley’s Janiah Slaughter and Ottawa Township’s Juliana Thrush and Litchfield/ Mt. Olive co-op’s Rilynn Younker.
Lincoln-Way co-op (Lincoln-Way Central/ Lincoln-Way East/ Lincoln-Way West) has the most qualifiers with seven while Edwardsville ranks second with six qualifiers.
Five other teams advanced four individuals to state, Collinsville, DeKalb, Hampshire, Lane Tech and Schaumburg.
District 230 co-op (Andrew/ Carl Sandburg/ Stagg) won last year’s IHSA title with 66 points while Hampshire took second with 51 points and Kaneland was third with 45.5 points.
Here’s a look at the 14 weight classes at the 2026 IHSA Girls Individual State Finals:
190
Returning medalists (from 2025): Samantha Diehl, Hampshire (36-3) 3rd at 190; Nadia Razzak, Schaumburg (42-2) 5th at 190
Sectional champions: Victoria White, Edwardsville (32-0); Courtney Walls, Rock Island (29-0); Valiere Franco, Fenwick (20-4); and Samantha Diehl
Others: Brooke Stellhorn, Belleville West (22-2); Anjanne Haywood, Guilford (18-4); Kimyra Patrick, Plainfield South (43-5); Addison Briggs, Westville/ Georgetown-Ridge Farm co-op (25-5), Izabell McBride, Waterloo (21-6); Joslyn Coon, Lakes Community (17-6); Lucia Terrazas, Thornton Fractional South (30-9); Sadie Kinsella, Kaneland (28-9); Sophie Kelner, Lockport Township (40-10); Karsyn Robinson, Normal Community West (30-11); Kendra Hayden, Homewood-Flossmoor (31-13)
235
Returning medalists: Phoenix Molina, Unity (34-0) 3rd at 235; Jasmine Rene, Wheeling (34-1) 4th at 190; Lilly Disanto, Urbana (40-7) 4th at 235; Juliana Thrush, Ottawa Township (28-4) 6th at 235
Sectional champions: Sophia Fortis, Maine South (23-2); Rebekah Ramirez, Lockport Township (39-5); Phoenix Molina and Juliana Thrush
Others: Esmeralda Bustamante, Noble/ ITW Speer (40-2), Henessis Villagrana, Romeoville (38-4); Karrine Jenkins, Shepard (37-5); Jasmine Enriquez, Sycamore (31-5); Madeleine Cooley, Jacksonville (14-7); Asreilla Wallace, Glenbard North (40-8); Aarianna Bloyd, DeKalb (32-8); Olivia Rosine, Charleston (24-8); Omowonoula Fajimolu, Evanston Township (23-9); Savannah Trevino, Belvidere (24-10)
100
Returning medalists: Riley Kongkaeow, Round Lake (19-3) 4th at 100; Lily Enos, Batavia (37-3) 5th at 100; Alex Gregorio-Perez, DeKalb (36-3) 6th at 105
Sectional champions: Alexandra Sebek, Oak Forest (30-0); Janiah Slaughter, Huntley (33-2); Madelyn Murphy, Roxana (22-5); Alex Gregorio-Perez
Others: Andaira Marron, J Sterling Morton (35-2); Kendra Ege, Oregon (12-2); Kali Declercq, Hononegah (28-4); Sofia Guerrero, Lane Tech (43-5); Abella Brown, Canton (31-5); Chloe Collins, Olympia (29-5); Eva Hermansson, Woodstock co-op (39-7); Kadi Wilbern, Glenwood (30-8); McKenzie Steinke, Lincoln-Way co-op (40-9); Jhayla Lawson, Mascoutah (20-11)
105
Returning medalists: Saya Hongmoungkhoune, Rockford East (24-1) 1st at 100; Nadiia Shymkiv, Glenbard East (35-3) 2nd at 105; Emma Rogers, Edwardsville (31-6) 6th at 100
Sectional champions: Giselle Arambula, Curie (30-1); Charlotte Nold, Saint Viator (17-1); Saya Hongmoungkhoune; Emma Rogers
Others: Tessa Donaldson, Pekin (27-2); Lily Deibel, Marquette Academy (23-4); J Colbert, Lake View (21-4); Annabelle Mueller, Hampshire (37-5); Larisza Gomez Guevara, DeKalb (38-6); Phoenix Criss, Springfield co-op (27-8); Karsynn Vogel, Quincy Senior (24-8); Dakodia Kelly, Thornton Fractional South (41-9); Emmy Hoselton, Lincoln-Way co-op (40-9); Alexia Glover, PORTA/ A-C Central/ Greenview/ Havana co-op (27-9); Tatum De La Vega, District 230 co-op (29-10)
110
Returning medalists: Chloe Skiles, Roxana (25-1) 1st at 105; Jade Hardee, District 230 co-op (41-6) 3rd at 100; Zoey Dodgers, Leyden (29-0) 5th at 105
Sectional champions: Blair Grennan, Newman Central Catholic (32-2); Chloe Skiles; Jade Hardee; Zoey Dodgers
Others: Carmen Jackson, Chicago Agricultural Sciences (25-2); Valeria Pesantes, Elk Grove (23-3); Sunny Aitzemkour, New Trier (33-5); Annalee Haschmeyer, Canton (31-5); Ariel Woodfin, Thornton Township co-op (26-5); Rozlyn Mosher, Erie/ Prophetstown co-op (34-5); Adleigh DeWerff, Edwardsville (31-5); Lily Gwaltney, Ottawa Township (34-6); Angelina Nettey, Plainfield East (20-7), Norah Cwik, Bartlett (35-10); Ivana Torres, Collinsville (35-11); Riley Weems, Belleville West (29-11)
115
Returning medalists: Annalee Aarseth, Crystal Lake South (26-3) 2nd at 110; Zoe Dempsey, Lincoln-Way co-op (45-2) 3rd at 110; Rilynn Younker, Litchfield/ Mt. Olive co-op (35-11) 5th at 110
Sectional champions: Demertria Griffin, Chicago Hope Academy (19-0); Chloe Hedges, Canton (33-3); Zoe Dempsey; Rilynn Younker
Others: Stella Piazza, Hampshire (25-1); Athena Zappas, Stevenson (36-2); Laila Vaughn, Streator Township/ Woodland co-op (41-3), Genevieve Dykstra, Edwardsville (31-3); Baileigh Self, Althoff Catholic (33-4); Angelina Manlapaz, Willowbrook (17-4); Yazmine Garcia, Kelly (28-6); Lyndzey Brewer, Farmington/ Cuba co-op (16-6); Autumn Starr, Bloomington (25-8); Kate Wochner, Oakwood/ Salt Fork co-op (22-10); Aaliyah Vazquez, Warren Township (37-11)
120
Returning medalists: Angelina Gochis, Kaneland (27-2) 1st at 110; Amelia Nidelea-Polanin, Hampshire (22-0) 3rd at 115; Lydia King, Geneseo (42-6) 4th at 120
Sectional champions: Nina Nesci, St. Laurence (36-1); Alauni Muex, Marion (44-2); Angelina Gochis; Amelia Nidelea-Polanin
Others: Ashley Basmajian, Metea Valley (8-1); Karolina Konopka, Glenbard West (41-3); Aiyanah Sylvester, West Aurora (31-4); Natasia Kobets, Stevenson (16-4); Ava Mayer, Pekin (26-6); Allie Chong, Edwardsville (24-6); Delaney Ledbetter, Lawrence County co-op (14-6); Ava Enright, Marist (37-7); Catelyn Reese, Frankfort Community/ Christopher co-op (25-9); Amyah Pruitt, Galesburg (21-12); Brynnley Krauchun, District 230 co-op (28-16)
125
Returning medalists: Ariella Dobin, Glenbrook North co-op (35-1) 2nd at 120; Kiely Domyancich, LaSalle-Peru (33-3) 5th at 115; Mary Minogue, Libertyville (12-2) 6th at 120
Sectional champions: Yariah Shaw, Danville (15-0); Rain Scott, Oak Forest (18-1); Charlie Dolan, York (30-2); Samantha Greisen, Seneca (41-4)
Others: Londyn Long, Collinsville (46-5); Isabella Rivas, Schaumburg (40-5); Grace Eiland, Chicago Hope Academy (18-6); Calliope Willman, Metamora (45-8); Olive Linhorst, Edwardsville (23-8), Molly O’Connor, Lemont (41-9), Ryleigh Eriks, Rock Falls (42-9); Aryanna Jones, Alton Senior (21-9); Caleigh Nicholson, Lincoln-Way co-op (37-12)
130
Returning medalists: Sydney Cannon, Mt. Zion (37-0) 2nd at 115; Gianna Arzer, Grayslake Central (12-0) 3rd at 125
Sectional champions: Kerby Germann, Fulton (38-1); Lilly White, Bartlett (36-3); Sydney Cannon; Gianna Arzer
Others: Te’Aja Young, Cahokia (25-3); Keagan Edwards, Glenbard North (47-4); Catherine Diehl, Wheaton Academy (36-4); Alena Oshana, Maine East (45-6); Journey Jackson, Oak Lawn (28-6); Dai Driana Wilford, Galesburg (27-6); Jasmine Zavaleta, Conant (37-7); Sabina Charlebois, Minooka (36-7); Ava Beldo, Unity (34-7); Lamia Irby, Belleville East (21-7); Madison Heneks, Harlem (30-8); Mila Rocush, Shepard (34-11)
135
Returning medalists: Claudia Heeney, Lockport Township (38-3) 1st at 135; Avery Crouch, Dwight/ Gardner-South Wilmington co-op (29-1) 4th at 135; Bella Castelli, Hononegah (24-2) 5th at 135; Michelle Naftzger, Erie/ Prophetstown co-op (31-4) 5th at 130
Sectional champions: Zabby Badru, Lane Tech (46-1); Jacee Mardirosian, Carterville (35-3); Claudia Heeney; Michelle Naftzger
Others: Karina Lojowski, Stevenson (34-3); Izabel Barrera, Joliet Central (34-4); Mercedes Carrassoco, De La Salle Institute (29-4); Sharon Olorunfemi, Schaumburg (38-6); Jane Kelly, Warren Township (35-11); Kara Zimmerman, DeKalb (31-11); Grecia Garcia, Huntley (36-12); Tamya Terry, Urbana (26-12); Madelyn Edler, Waterloo (33-13); Addyson Bailey, Collinsville (33-14)
140
Returning medalist: Ema Durst, Sycamore (31-1) 4th at 140
Sectional champions: Ricky Ivy, Urbana (44-1); Tyanna Jackson, Warren Township (41-2); Ezra Rodriguez, Minooka (39-4); Nicole Dziura, Barrington (32-4)
Others: Maria Green, Glenbard East (42-2); Audrey Barnes, Granite City (31-2); America Cabrera, Phoenix Military Academy (25-3); Isabella Miller, Oak Park and River Forest (24-4); Alketa Picari, Metea Valley (47-5); Zoe Bloyd, Quincy Senior (28-7); Sophia Domont, Bradley-Bourbonnais (18-7); Abby Kunz, Lincoln-Way co-op (41-8); Sasha Johnson, Antioch (40-9); Annibelle Juarez, Geneseo (36-9); Kimoreyee Ballard, Springfield co-op (25-10)
145
Returning medalist: Natalie Beaumont, Cumberland (20-1) 1st at 145
Sectional champions: Natalie Corona, McHenry (35-0); Giancarla Garduno, Saint Ignatius College Prep (26-2); Emily Taylor, Belvidere (27-5); Natalie Beaumont
Others: Iyobosa Odiase, Oak Forest (35-3); Aaliyah Swearingen, Kewanee (21-4); Leann Cory, Collinsville (42-5); Eila Barbour, Lane Tech (32-5); Miranda Tellez, Grayslake Central (28-6); McKenzie Miller, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/ Fisher co-op (27-6); Ella Giertuga, Lincoln-Way co-op (36-7); Louisa Enslen, Wheaton Warrenville South (31-7); Macee Hammond, Robinson (23-7); Taylor Sutton, East Peoria (25-8); Ella Cooper, Oswego East (31-9); Paytyn Dykes, Washington Community (25-10)
155
Returning medalists: Callie Carr, Hinsdale South (35-1) 1st at 155; Allison Garbacz, South Elgin (38-0) 4th at 145
Sectional champions: Taylor Owens, Oakwood/ Salt Fork co-op (17-5); Arian Sabu, Normal Community West (34-8); Layla Moreland, Lane Tech (38-9); Allison Garbacz
Others: Grace Stratton, Freeburg (37-1); Maddie Wells, St. Joseph-Ogden (26-3); Lily Fish, Reavis (32-4); Cait Jones, Crystal Lake Central (20-4); Alyssa Artman, Pekin (28-7); Kaitlin Wood, Triad (27-7); Ariyah Bradford, Thornton Fractional North (20-8); Suzanne Stalley, Glenbard North (40-9); Lauryn Trotter, Yorkville (38-9); NaJeyah Wallace, Freeport (31-9); Melissa Nance, Hillcrest (25-10)
170
Returning medalists: Payton Temple, Clifton Central/ Iroquois West co-op (34-0) 2nd at 190; Sara Martinez Lopera, Kelly (31-4) 4th at 170
Sectional champions: Layla Spann, Plainfield South (44-0); Demi Barnes, Granite City (29-2); Caliyah Campbell, Oak Park and River Forest (23-6); Payton Temple
Others: Kira Thompson, O’Fallon (11-2); Anali Wilson, J. Sterling Morton (39-3); Kylie Eilken, Jefferson (27-3); Iy`Jah Grant, Champaign Central (18-3); Grace Mordhorst, Washington Community (29-5); Janylah Holman, Cahokia (28-6); Riley DePolo, Lincoln-Way co-op (37-7); Frankie McMurtry, Sycamore (31-9); Brianna Crown, Woodstock co-op (40-10); Sarah Parker, Marist (37-13); Maja Brzosko, Schaumburg (36-14)