First official Iowa girls state wrestling tournament is here

Fourteen state champions to be crowned

Iowa's first sanctioned girls wrestling state tournament kicks off Thursday. 

By Dana Becker | Photos by Matthew Putney

For the first time, officially, the state of Iowa will crown state champions in girls wrestling. 

The two-day tournament kicks off Thursday in Coralville from the Xtream Arena. A total of 14 champions will be crowned on Friday night, with others securing medals for their efforts.

It has been an incredible climb to the top for the sport here in the state, as over 1,300 girls took part in the super regionals.

Through all of that, 15 girls went undefeated and have the chance to put a final exclamation point on this season with a state championship. Six of those 15 are returning champions in Molly Allen from Riverside Oakland, Lilly Luft of Charles City, Emma Peach of Iowa Valley, Naomi Simon from Decorah and Olivia Huckfelt of Spencer.

Cedar Falls is one of the squads that could contend for the state title with nine state qualifiers. 

Under different banners and organizations, state events were held for girls in Iowa. Luft and Simon are both seeking a third title, while Jillian Worthen of Union, Hannah Rogers of Wilton, Alexis Ross from Fort Dodge, Isabella Deeds of Ridge View, Jana TerWee from West Lyon, Savannah Sistad of Creston, Rachel Eddy of Independence and Jannell Avila from Iowa City West also know what it feels like to win crowns.

Eddy and Avila both won their state titles back in 2020.

Other undefeated wrestlers in action will be Katie Biscoglia of Raccoon River-Northwest, Jalynn Goodale from Osage, Jamines Luedtke of Ottumwa, Mackenzie Childers from Cedar Rapids Prairie, Colbie Tenborg from Saydel, Kiara Djoumessi of Waverly-Shell Rock, Nicole Olson of Missouri Valley, Skylar Slade from Southeast Polk and Averie Wittkop of West Marshall.

Four weights feature two undefeated wrestlers, as Goodle and Luedtke are at 110, Luft and Tenborg at 130, Slade and Olson at 155 and Simon and Wittkop at 170.

A number of teams will be looking to grab that overall championship including Lewis Central, Ridge View, Spencer, Cedar Falls, Ankeny, Southeast Polk, Bettendorf, Waverly-Shell Rock and East Buchanan.

Cedar Falls pushed nine wrestlers through to state in Natalie Blake, Lauren Whitt, Hope Chiattello, Jasmine Oleson, Apryl Halsor, Anna Johnson, Lauren Nicholas, Emmalee Sharar and Briar Ludeman.

East Buchanan, Lewis Central, Osage and Ankeny all have eight qualifiers, while Ridge View, Southeast Polk and Spencer feature seven. Bettendorf earned six qualifying spots.