2026 Clutch Sports Media Girls Wrestling All-Area Team: 56 Central Illinois athletes earn honors

Girls wrestling is continuing to grow in Illinois and dozens of wrestlers around Central Illinois grew with it in the 2025-26 season. 

Fifteen athletes from the area qualified for state with four of them finishing among the top eight in their class. The future is especially bright as five of those state qualifiers were freshmen and three more were sophomores. 

Many of the area’s top programs were concentrated in the Mid-Illini but Richwoods, Bloomington, Normal West, Peoria Notre Dame, Olympia and El Paso-Gridley all had multiple Clutch Sports Media All-Area selections as well. 

Clutch Sports Media’s girls wrestling All-Area team, which features a total of 56 honorees, is composed of athletes from the 39 schools in the CSM coverage area surrounding Peoria and Bloomington/Normal.

Clutch Sports Media will also have a Coach of the Year and a Girls Wrestler of the Year, which will both be announced shortly. 

Clutch Sports Media All-Area First Team

Chloe Collins, freshman, Olympia - 100 pounds

Collins was one of four Central Illinois girls wrestlers and one of two area freshmen to reach the consolation quarterfinals at the IHSA State Finals. Collins put up an impressive 32-7 mark during the season, finishing second at the Virden North Mac Sectional and Jacksonville Regional. She won tournaments at Normal Community, Erie-Prophetstown, Maple Park Kaneland and Princeton and picked up several runner-up finishes as well. 

Tessa Donaldson, senior, Pekin - 105 pounds

One of the most experienced and successful wrestlers in the area, Donaldson chalked up 29 wins to four losses in her senior campaign. She reached the consolation quarterfinals at state after finishing fourth at the DeKalb Sectional and winning the Geneseo Regional. Donaldson’s accolades include being on the Mid-Illini all-conference first team and winning the Normal Community Invite, Canton Invitational, Joe Bee Memorial and Pontiac’s The Munch Invitational. 

Annalee Haschemeyer, sophomore, Canton - 110 pounds

Haschemeyer went 31-7 as a sophomore, winning the Mid-Illini title at 110 pounds and qualifying for the IHSA State Finals. One of several strong lightweights for the Little Giants, she won the Geneseo Regional and finished fourth at the DeKalb Sectional. Haschemeyer added first-place finishes at the Canton Invitational and the Morris Girls Reindeer Rumble. 

Chloe Hedges, sophomore, Canton - 115 pounds

Hedges was one of the top wrestlers regardless of class in Central Illinois as a sophomore, reaching the consolation quarterfinals at state and putting up a record of 35-5. Hedges didn’t lose in the postseason until state, winning the Geneseo Regional and DeKalb Sectional at 115, both of which came after winning the Mid-Illini title. Hedges also finished atop the podium at the Canton Invitational and Morris Girls Reindeer Rumble.

Ava Mayer, freshman, Pekin - 120 pounds

Mayer made a strong dent toward placing at state as just a freshman, reaching the consolation quarterfinals after a pair of wins. The Dragons’ 120-pounder went 28-8 and won the Mid-Illini Conference title to receive first team all-conference honors. Mayer finished second at the Geneseo Regional and DeKalb Sectional and took first at both the Joe Bee Memorial and Normal Community Invite.

Calliope Willman, freshman, Metamora - 125 pounds

Willman had a busy schedule — wrestling over 50 matches — and flourished as a freshman, winning the Mid-Illini crown at 125 and qualifying for state. Willman went 46-10 on the year, finishing fourth at the Normal West Regional, third at the DeKalb Sectional and winning a match at state. She took first place at the Canton Invitational and Pontiac’s The Munch Invitational. 

Jaydah Green, senior, Richwoods - 130 pounds

Green was limited in her appearances during her senior season but the veteran Knight still made an impact. She went 17-4, finishing second at the Metamora Girls Holiday Classic, third at the Ottawa Holiday Hootenanny, third at Elgin Larkin’s Royal Rumble and fifth at Pontiac’s The Munch Invitational. 

Sami Baker, sophomore, Peoria Notre Dame - 135 pounds 

Baker enjoyed a 20-plus win campaign and a regional championship as a sophomore as one of PND’s top wrestlers. After winning the Geneseo Regional, Baker reached the second round of the consolation bracket at a competitive DeKalb Sectional. The Irish 135-pounder, who went 21-14 on the year, finished second at the Normal Community Invite and third at the Jacksonville Crimson Classic. 

Olivia Curtis, sophomore, Dunlap - 140 pounds

Curtis led a deep Dunlap squad by going 26-11 and reaching the consolation semifinals at the DeKalb Sectional, one win shy of a state berth. Curtis won the Mid-Illini title at 140 and the Metamora Holiday Classic during the regular season before finishing third at the Geneseo Regional. The Eagles’ sophomore competed in the IWCOA postseason as well, winning the Heyworth Sectional and finishing second in the state in her class.

Taylor Sutton, senior, East Peoria - 145 pounds 

Sutton was one of the top wrestlers for Mid-Illini champion East Peoria, winning the conference title at 145 pounds and adding a regional championship later on. Sutton didn’t stop at regionals and finished second at the DeKalb Sectional to qualify for state. She finished with a 26-10 record in her final year as a Raider and took second at the Canton Invitational and Joe Bee Memorial. 

Alicia Swank, senior, Bloomington - 155 pounds 

Swank was a winning machine during the regular season, accumulating 26 wins with titles at the Joe Bee Memorial, Oswego East’s Break The Silence Invite, Canton Invitational and Normal Community Invite. Swank took second at the Normal West Regional before falling in the consolation bracket at the DeKalb Sectional. She beat several top wrestlers in the area during the season, including Normal West’s Arian Sabu, Washington’s Paytyn Dykes, East Peoria’s Dezyrae Murray and Limestone’s Talhia Hostetter. 

Grace Mordhorst, senior, Washington - 170 pounds 

Mordhorst helped accelerate a quickly-improving Washington team by going 29-7 and qualifying for state. The Panthers’ senior finished second at the Normal West Regional and DeKalb Sectional and was the Mid-Illini Conference champion in her class. Mordhorst tallied four first-place finishes during her senior campaign, including the Erie-Prophetstown Invite and Canton Invitational. 

Karsyn Robinson, freshman, Normal West - 190 pounds 

Robinson was the lone state qualifier in her class in Central Illinois, capping off her freshman season in strong fashion. Robinson accumulated 32 wins and 13 losses, won the Normal West Regional title and finished third at sectionals. She placed at every tournament she wrestled in and helped highlight her year by winning tournaments at Normal Community and Hoffman Estates Conant. 

Bella Spampanoto, sophomore, East Peoria - 235 pounds

Spampanoto was one of several Mid-Illini Conference champions for East Peoria and finished her sophomore season with nearly 20 wins. She took home first place at the Geneseo Regional and nearly qualified for state, advancing to the consolation semifinals at the DeKalb Sectiona. Following the IHSA season, she qualified for the IWCOA State Finals as well.

Clutch Sports Media All-Area Second Team

Abella Brown, junior, Canton - 100 pounds

Brown put together a strong junior season, capped off by a state appearance and a 31-7 record. She won the Mid-Illini Conference Tournament at 100 pounds and continued her winning ways at the Geneseo Regional, where she took first before placing fourth at the DeKalb Sectional. Brown also grabbed gold at the Morris Girls Reindeer Rumble. 

Leah White, junior, Richwoods - 105 pounds

White finished second at the Geneseo Regional and went on to advance to the consolation second round at sectionals. She also finished third at the Canton Invitational and fifth at the Ottawa Holiday Hootenanny, putting up a 17-10 record on the season.

Kennedy McMeninmen, senior, East Peoria - 110 pounds

McMenimen was limited in her appearances in her senior season, but the 2024 state qualifier was still strong in her matches. She finished second at the Mid-Illini Conference Tournament and beat Canton’s Annalee Haschemeyer and Dunlap’s Aerith Adams during the season.

Autumn Starr, freshman, Bloomington - 115 pounds 

One of the top freshmen in the area, Starr had a laundry list of podium finishes and qualified for the IHSA State Finals. The Purple Raiders’ standout won tournaments at Ottawa and Springfield and finished second at Oswego East and Normal Community. She took second at the Normal West Regional, third at the DeKalb Sectional and went 1-2 at state to finish with a mark of 26-10. 

Amelia McClure, senior, Normal West - 120 pounds

McClure came back strong after suffering an injury in her junior season and helped make up a dangerous trio for Normal West. She went 17-8 on the season with several notable finishes, including second place at the Normal West Regional. The senior also placed third at the Normal Community Invite and Joe Bee Memorial. 

Izabella Paranto, sophomore, East Peoria - 125 pounds 

Paranto highlighted her season with second team all-Mid Illini honors and posted a winning record. She took third at the Canton Invitational and the Joe Bee Memorial before advancing to the consolation quarterfinals at the Geneseo Regional. 

Olivia Ioerger, freshman, Washington - 130 pounds 

Ioerger was a welcome addition to the Panthers as a freshman, winning the Mid-Illini title at 130 pounds and advancing to sectionals. She took fourth at the Normal West Regional and, following the IHSA season, qualified for the IWCOA State Finals. 

Emma Ziegler, sophomore, Washington - 135 pounds 

Ziegler won an impressive 80 percent of her matches as a sophomore, culminating in a consolation semifinal berth at the Normal West Regional. Ziegler won a tournament at Erie-Prophetstown and took third at the Princeton Invitational Tournament. 

Hailey Watson, junior, Normal U-High - 140 pounds

Watson was Normal U-High’s top wrestler and placed at several tournaments, including taking third at the Joe Bee Memorial. She finished fourth at Pontiac’s The Munch Invitational and finished 9-9 on the season. 

Paytyn Dykes, junior, Washington - 145 pounds 

Dykes was a state qualifier for Washington, going 25-12 and winning the Normal West Regional. The junior finished fourth at the DeKalb Sectional and placed third at the Mid-Illini Conference Tournament, Canton Invitational and Princeton Invitational Tournament. 

Arian Sabu, sophomore, Normal West - 155 pounds 

Sabu had a meteoric rise as a sophomore, which was her first varsity campaign, finishing with a 35-11 record. Her work culminated in a state berth after winning the DeKalb Sectional. Her multiple other tournament placements included taking third at the Normal West Regional, Normal Community Invite and Aaron Dudley Memorial.

Sydney Johnson, senior, Richwoods - 170 pounds 

Johnson closed out a strong Richwoods career with a championship at the Geneseo Regional and taking second at the IWCOA State Finals. She reached the semifinals of the consolation bracket at the DeKalb Sectional and finished fourth at the Ottawa Holiday Hootenanny. Johnson won 17 matches in her final prep campaign while losing only five.

Marley Clark, junior, Richwoods - 190 pounds

Clark had a breakout campaign as a junior, placing in the top three at six tournaments and winning over 25 matches. The Richwoods standout took gold at the Canton Invitational, Metamora Holiday Classic and Elgin Larkin’s Royal Rumble. She finished third at both the Geneseo Regional in the IHSA postseason, as well as third at the IWCOA State Finals. 

Kya Norman, junior, Richwoods - 235 pounds 

Norman went 11-7 in her junior season and qualified for sectionals after placing third at the Normal West Regional. She finished second at the Metamora Holiday Classic to her own teammate Clark and also took fourth at Pontiac’s The Munch Invitational. 

Clutch Sports Media All-Area Honorable Mention

Lesly De La Cruz, freshman, Peoria Notre Dame - 100

Kaci Eller, freshman, Midwest Central - 100

Grace Aeschliman, senior, Metamora - 105

LT Diephuis, junior, Canton - 105

Aerith Adams, junior, Dunlap - 110

Lyndzey Brewer, freshman, Farmington - 115

Kaia Hale, freshman, Limestone - 115

Kiana Mayne, freshman, El Paso-Gridley - 115

Madizyn Megrant, junior, Pekin - 115

Paetyn Dickerson, sophomore, Dunlap - 120

Lilyana Malagon, junior, IVC - 120

Shayla Schielein, junior, Canton - 120

Khloe Wright, freshman, Canton - 125

Annabell Southern, freshman, El Paso-Gridley - 130

Kyah Kaonohi, senior, East Peoria - 135

Leah Brammeier, freshman, Olympia - 145

Cali Fulcher, freshman, Heyworth - 145

Alyssa Artman, sophomore, Pekin - 155

Shauna Dvorak, junior, East Peoria - 155

Talhia Hostetter, senior, Limestone - 155

Dezyrae Murray, junior, East Peoria - 155

Alyssa Young, junior, Dunlap - 155

Piper Lambert, freshman, Pekin - 170

Atalyssa Craig, sophomore, Dunlap - 190

Brooke Knee, freshman, East Peoria - 190

Kaleigh Mehrkens, junior, Dee-Mack - 190

Zanasia Simmons, junior, Manual - 190

Destiny Kaeding, sophomore, Dunlap - 235