Area girls wrestling qualifiers

Maddie Wells
Champaign Central, Oakwood, St. Joseph-Ogden, Unity and Urbana will all be represented at the state meet. Several wrestlers captured titles or placed high to secure advancement.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Urbana's Lily Disanto pins Lockport's Rebekah Ramirez during their first-round 235-pound match on Friday, February 28, 2025, on her way to a fourth-place finish at state her junior year. The senior returns to Grossinger Motors Arena for another shot at a state title.


VIRDEN - Nine area wrestlers are headed to the state stage after qualifying at sectional competition, earning berths in the Illinois High School Association Girls Individual Wrestling State Finals set for Feb. 27-28 in Bloomington at Grossinger Motors Arena.

The group represents programs from Champaign Central High School, Oakwood High School, St. Joseph-Ogden High School, Unity High School and Urbana High School, with each wrestler navigating a deep postseason bracket to extend her season.

At Champaign Central, sophomore Iy'Jah Grant advanced at 170 pounds after battling through the consolation side of the bracket. Grant rebounded from a loss to Granite City’s Demi Barnes, pinning Mahomet-Seymour’s Weitekamp at 4:37 to secure her state berth. She later defaulted due to injury during her bid for third place, but her earlier win guaranteed a spot in Bloomington.

Oakwood will be represented by two qualifiers. Freshman Kate Wochner earned a state bid at 115 pounds, while senior Taylor Owens captured the 155-pound sectional title. Owens, the No. 3 seed, defeated Addison Mabry of Benton and Nahima Mateo of Murphysboro before her opponent could not continue in the championship match’s second period.

Maddie Wells
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Spartans' Maddie Wells, wrestles Mother Mcauley's Maggie Zuber at last year's state championships. Wells is another area grappler hoping to medal at this year's state tournament.

St. Joseph-Ogden senior Maddie Wells advanced at 155 pounds with a resilient run through the bracket. After a quick first-round win, Wells dropped into the consolation side following a loss to Freeburg’s Grace Stratton. She responded with three consecutive pins — against Champaign Central’s Onisty Murphy, Civic Memorial’s Izabella Darr and Murphysboro’s Mateo — to clinch a state berth before finishing fourth.

Unity will send two wrestlers to Bloomington, led by junior Ava Beldo at 130 pounds. Beldo went 3-1 at sectionals, advancing to the title match with wins by technical fall, major decision and sudden victory before finishing second to Mt. Zion’s Sidney Cannon. Senior Phoenix Molina remained unbeaten at 235 pounds, going 4-0 to claim the sectional championship and secure her fourth trip to the state finals.

Rickasia Ivy wrestles at state
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Urbana's Rickasia Ivy wrestles Lincoln-Way Central's Ella Giertuga in their state first-round consolation match 2025. Ivy, who recently earned her 100th win, qualified for her third trip to state after earning the 155 pound title at the North Mac sectional tournament on Saturday. Stronger and better technically, Ivy is heavily favored to finish in the top three.

Urbana, which placed third in the team standings, qualified three wrestlers. Senior Tamya Terry earned a fourth-place finish at 135 pounds, while junior Rickasia Ivy dominated the 140-pound bracket with three falls, including a first-period win over Granite City’s Audrey Barnes. Ivy, now a three-time state qualifier, also surpassed the 100-win mark for her career. She is the first female Tiger to surpass the milestone. At 235 pounds, senior Lilly Disanto finished second after a finals loss to Molina.

Team results underscored the depth of the sectional field. Edwardsville captured the North Mac sectional title with 132 points, followed by Collinsville and Urbana. The state finals later this month mark the fifth installment of the IHSA girls wrestling championship, with the Illinois High School Association continuing to see participation and competitive depth grow across the state. Lincoln-Way Central will send the largest contingent to Bloomington with seven finalists.

Unity's Phoenix Molina wins her match at Saturday's state finals
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Phoenix Molina is declared winner after pinning Moline's Kirsten Kpoto in their 235 pound match in 2025. Molina qualified for her fourth state appearance on Saturday, celebrating the win with the sectional champion title.


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TAGS: IHSA girls wrestling state qualifiers Bloomington Illinois, Champaign Central Oakwood Unity Urbana girls wrestling state, area high school girls wrestling sectional results Illinois, Bloomington Grossinger Motors Arena girls wrestling finals, local girls wrestling state tournament qualifiers Illinois
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Photo of the Day |
Bracket tough, Wells first to represent SJO at girls state wrestling tournament

Maddie Wells’ state tournament run included two matches against highly ranked senior opponents. After an opening-round loss, Wells battled Morton’s Karen Canchola in the wrestleback.
SJO wrestler Madeline Wells competing at state tournament for the Spartans
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden’s Maddie Wells wrestles Morton’s Karen Canchola during their 140-pound first-round wrestleback match at the 2025 IHSA Girls Individual Wrestling State Finals on Feb. 28. Wells, a junior who entered the two-day tournament with an 18-8 record, faced a challenging path in her weight class.

In her opening match, Wells drew Mother McAuley senior Maggie Zuber (33-6), who went on to finish second. After being pinned at the six-minute mark, Wells moved into the wrestleback round to face Canchola, another senior. Canchola (36-4) was relentless, pinning Wells at 4:17 on her way to a third-place finish.

Wells, the first wrestler to represent St. Joseph-Ogden at the girls wrestling state finals, looks to return to Bloomington at the end of February for another shot at a state title.


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TAGS: SJO's Maddie Wells falls a state tournament, First SJO girls wrestler competes at state, IHSA girls wrestling, Morton's Karen Canchola finishes 3rd at state tournament, Sentinel Photo of the Day
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Photo of the Day |
Urbana's Rickasia Ivy makes strong showing at state

Urbana sophomre Rickasia Ivy finished 2-2 at the 2025 IHSA Girls Individual State Wrestling Tournament back in February. She is back on the roster on the prowl for another chance at a state title with the 5th-ranked Tigers. Here is a look back at her first state match.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Urbana's Rickasia Ivy (right) looks to get head control on New Trier's Jillian Giller during their 140-pound match on at the Illinois High School Association's Girls Individual Wrestling State Finals in Bloomington on Friday, February 28, 2025. Ivy, a sophomore, lost the match by fall at 5:04. She finished the state tourament 2-2 after a 3-1 loss to Karen Canchola in the wrestleback. Giller, a senior, ended her high school career with pin to finish 5th.

TAGS: Urbana sophomore wrestler Rickasia Ivy, New Trier wrestler finishes 5th at state, Trevian senior Jillian Giller
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Loyola's Hiller claims second straight state wrestling title

Loyola Academy's Harlee Hiller
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Ramblers' Harlee Hiller (left) pushes Hampshire's Amelia Nidelea-Polanin head to the mat on her way to winning her second state champion title. In her four-year prep career, Hiller never placed below third at the IHSA state tournament.

BLOOMINGTON – Loyola Academy senior Harlee Hiller capped her high school wrestling career with another championship performance at the IHSA Girls Wrestling State Finals on Saturday. Hiller won all four of her matches in the 115-pound division at Grossinger Motors Arena, earning her second consecutive state title.

Hiller allowed just three points across the tournament while controlling each match. In the finale, she defeated Mt. Zion’s Sydney Cannon by a 12-0 major decision. After a scoreless first period, Hiller broke the match open in the second with a takedown and nearfall to go ahead 7-0. The Rambler added an escape and another takedown early in the third period, then tacked on one final point in the closing seconds.

The title run marked a return to the top for Hiller, who finished as the 115-pound runner-up last season after a 4-3 loss to Gabby Gomez of Glenbard North. As a sophomore, she captured the 105-pound championship, and she placed third in the inaugural IHSA girls wrestling state series during her freshman year in 2022.

Hiller opened her final state tournament with a first-period pin against Metea Valley’s Ashley Basmajian in 1:21. She advanced through the quarterfinals after LaSalle-Peru’s Kiely Domyancich was disqualified in the second period. In the semifinals, Hiller shut out Hampshire’s Amelia Nidelea-Polanin with an 11-0 major decision.

With two titles and four state medals in as many years, Hiller leaves Loyola Academy as one of the program’s most accomplished wrestlers.

   

More photos from Hiller's 115 pound match against Hampshire’s Amelia Nidelea-Polanin.

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Molina recovers after first match loss, Unity junior still in the hunt for top 3 finish

Phoenix Molina
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
BLOOMINGTON - Unity's Phoenix Molina pulls Lockport's Rebekah Ramirez arm while looking for a takedown in their 235-pound match at the IHSA Girls' Individual Wrestling State Finals at Grossinger Motors Arena on Friday. Molina advanced to the division's consolation quarterfinal after pinning Ramirez in the first period at 1:04. She will face DeKalb's Aarianna Bloyd tomorrow for spot in the semifinals.

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Seven area girls ready to compete for state wrestling titles on Friday in Bloomington

Phoenix Molina wrestles Chloe Hoselton
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Unity's Phoenix Molina wrestles Prairie Central's Chloe Hoselton in the 235 pound championship match at the IHSA Girls Individual Wrestling State Finals in 2024. Molina, a 28-5 junior and last year's runner-up, returns to Grossinger Motors Arena with her eye on besting Hoselton, a senior with a record of 23-0, looking to defend her title.
URBANA - Seven area wrestlers will travel to Bloomington on Friday in search of a state wrestling title at the fourth Girls Individual Wrestling State Finals.

Maddie Wells will be one of the five, heading to Champaign-Urbana's sister twin city as the first female SJO wrestler to compete for an IHSA state title. She finished second at the Pontiac regional meet, falling to Urbana's Rickasia Ivy in the title match by major decision, 15-6. A week later, she took third at the Highland sectional after losing her quarterfinal bout against eventual champion Taylor Dawson from Collinsville. Wells heads to state with an 18-6 record.

"I feel privileged to be able to pave the path, but I'm excited to see the girls that follow," said Wells, coached by longtime wrestling coach Bill Gallo. She is optimistic about the future for other girls taking up the sport. "I hope I inspired girls younger than me to not be afraid of trying new things despite their gender and to follow their dreams."

Representing Urbana High School, Rickasia Ivy (28-5) will compete in the 140-pound category, and Lillian Disanto (34-9) in the 235-pound category. Coached by Phil Sexton, the Tigers secured their girls program's first regional title on February 8.

Unity head coach Logan Patton will returns to the girls' state finals with veteran Phoenix Molina (28-5) wrestling at 235 pounds along Anna Vasey (32-4) at 155.

Centennial's Ava Beldo (24-6) qualified for state in the 130-pound division after finishing second at the Highland sectional meet on February 15. The first and only Charger to advance to state, she is coached by Ron Beldo.

"I love the sport," she told the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association after winning the Pontiac regional title. "It takes dedication and mental strength. That was the biggest part for me—being able to push through no matter what. It doesn’t matter the ranking or the name; what matters is giving it 100 percent on the mat. Win or lose, you learn. I drill a lot with the boys. Last year, I was the only girl on my wrestling team, so it’s amazing to open up the environment for more girls. I just love the environment when I wrestle."

Completing the group of seven area state qualifiers, Mahomet-Seymour freshman Jaycee Weitekamp, under coach Jeff Castor, will also make the trip to Bloomington on Friday. Weitekamp, in her first varsity wrestling season, holds a 19-14 record. She finished fourth at both the Pontiac regional and Highland sectional.

Competition begins at 9 a.m. on Friday with action on six mats. Quarterfinal matches and first-round wrestlebacks start at 11 a.m.

Admission is $10 per session at the arena. Tickets are available online via Ticketmaster or by calling the City Box Office at (309) 434-2777. The tournament will be live-streamed on the NFHS Network.

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Off-season work pays off; St. Joseph-Ogden's Maddie Wells heads to state wrestling

SJO wrestler Maddie Wells
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
St. Joseph-Ogden's Maddie Wells (left) wrestles Urbana's Rickasia Ivy in dual meet in December. Wells and Ivy, who took second place, qualified for the IHSA Girls Individual Wrestling State Finals in Bloomington Feb. 28 - Mar. 1.
HIGHLAND - At the beginning of the season in December, when asked what she wanted to accomplish this season, St. Joseph-Ogden's Maddie Wells said, "I'm really hoping to qualify for girls' state for the first time." Mission accomplished.

Wells, a junior who started wrestling three years ago, is a warrior. Yesterday, she became the first St. Joseph-Ogden female athlete to qualify for the IHSA's Girls Wrestling State Finals. Finishing third in the 140-pound division, the junior's grueling path through the bracket to punch her ticket to the state tournament in Bloomington was sealed after six matches at the Highland Sectional.

"I was kind of in disbelief and I was happy for all my friends that I’ve made along the way that also qualified," Wells said after her third-place finish. "I was most excited to eat Chipotle, though."

Except for her quarterfinal loss to Collinsville's Taylor Dawson, who won the sectional title in their division, Wells won four matches by fall and recorded a techfall in her consolation semifinal win over Mt. Vernon's Daniya Musgrave.

Mentally and emotionally, she said her first match of sectionals was the most stressful.

"My qualification match was my toughest," she admitted. "My previous two years I had been knocked out in this round so I was the most nervous."

Wells won her sectional opener, pinning Salem's Alan Finney at 1:44. Her quarterfinal loss to Dawson lasted 42 seconds. She bounced back from the defeat to win her next four bouts.

All the work Wells put in during the off-season paid dividends. She heads to the state tournament at Grossinger Motors Arena with an 18-6 record.

"I do a lot of open gyms," she said. She also attended camps at the University of Illinois during the summer to sharpen her technical skills. "And, I did some off-season girls tournaments."

Now a trailblazer for the Spartan girls' program and one of two girls on this year's squad, she hopes that her success will influence other female athletes to join the sport.

"I feel privileged to be able to pave the path but I feel excited to see the girls that follow," she said. "I hope I inspired girls younger than me to not be afraid of trying new things despite their gender and being able to follow their dreams."

Maddie Wells sectional match results:
  • Champ. Round 1 - Maddie Wells won by fall over Alana Finney, Salem - Fall 1:44
  • Quarterfinal - Taylor Dawson, Collinsville 32-3 won by fall over Maddie Wells - Fall 0:42
  • Cons. Round 2 - Maddie Wells won by fall over Kaisley Shotkoski, Mahomet-Seymour - Fall 1:15
  • Cons. Round 3 - Maddie Wells won by fall over Jacee Mardirosian, Carterville - Fall 3:34
  • Cons. Semi - Maddie Wells won by tech fall over Daniya Musgrave, Mt. Vernon - TF-1.5 2:18 18-0
  • 3rd Place Match - Maddie Wells won by fall over Lillien Roughton, Unity Christian - Fall 3:09
St. Joe-Ogden Athletics
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Unity's Phoenix Molina finishes second at state wrestling meet

BLOOMINGTON - Unity's Phoenix Molina wrestles Prairie Central's Chloe Hoselton in their 235-pound match at the IHSA Girls' Individual Wrestling State Finals. Molina lost the bout in an ultimate tie-break, 2-1. See how she progressed through this year's bracket in the recap below. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Photo: PhotoNews Media
First Round:
Molina won in sudden victory 2-1 over Homewood-Flossmoor senior Jocelyn Williams. After a scoreless first period, Williams grabbed the lead in the second period after an escape. Molina reciprocated in the next period, tying the score at one each. Williams lost the match thanks to a penalty point to Molina in the first overtime.

Quarterfinal:
Molina won by a 4-2 decision over Ottawa's Juliana Thrush. With four seconds left in the match and the score tied at 2-all, Molina scores on a takedown to secure the victory.

Semifinal:
Molina wins by decision against Oak Park-River Forest's Sarah Epshtein by a 3-2 decision thanks to a second-period escape and a third-period takedown.

Championship Match:
Molina, placing second, is defeated by Prairie Central's Chloe Hoselton in the ultimate tie-breaker, 2-1.

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