Canton’s Hedges wins Clutch Sports Media 2026 Girls Wrestler of the Year

Canton’s Chloe Hedges is on a big upward trajectory in one of the fastest-growing high school sports in the country. 

Only a sophomore, Hedges won over 85 percent of her matches and took home several notable titles throughout the 2025-26 season while leading a Canton team that saw plenty of success. A Mid-Illini, regional and sectional champion, Hedges is Clutch Sports Media’s 2026 Girls Wrestler of the Year. 

The Little Giants’ underclassman went 35-5 with and advanced to the consolation quarterfinals of the one-class IHSA State Finals, just one win shy of a state placement. Before reaching state, she tore through the postseason by winning the Geneseo Regional before taking first at the DeKalb Sectional with an 18-13 win over Streator’s Laila Vaughn. She was the only girls wrestler in the Clutch Sports Media coverage area to win both a regional and sectional title this season.

Chloe Hedges poses with a medal. Photo provided.

A dominant regular season saw her win all of her matches at the Morris Reindeer Rumble, Washington Scramble and Canton Girls Invitational. Hedges won a Mid-Illini Conference title for the second straight season. She finished second at The Munch Invite in Pontiac and also added a pair of wins at the Wonder Woman Tournament in Missouri. Hedges’ efforts helped the Little Giants win the Canton Invitational and take home top-five finishes at Morris and Pontiac. 

Hedges made a marked improvement from her freshman season, where she finished second at regionals and sectionals before reaching the second round of the consolation bracket at state. She was a first team selection on Clutch Sports Media’s 2026 Girls Wrestling All-Area team and also earned first team all-Mid Illini honors.

Hear from Hedges about this season and her career in our interview with her below. 

What have you been able to reflect on and look back on since the season has ended? 

“This year has had a few challenges that I had to overcome, but it's all worth it when I get to wrestle with my teammates,” Hedges said. “I am happy with the improvements I made during the season. Going on the journey with my teammates is what made the biggest difference. They inspired me to keep pushing myself.”

What inspired your love for wrestling?

“Watching my older brothers, Andrew and Trevor, wrestle really inspired me at a young age and over the years, I developed my own appreciation for the sport,” Hedges said. “Though I must admit, deep down, I love dominating my opponent.”

What’s been your favorite tournament to wrestle at?

“My favorite one this year was the Morris Tournament,” Hedges said. “Me and my teammates, Annalee [Haschemeyer] and Abella [Brown] were all champs and they gave us the cutest reindeer that said ‘champ’ on it.”

What’s a motto or mindset you take when youŕe competing?

“Trust in your preparation,” Hedges said. “This is something my coach said to all of us before the state series and it helped me stay focused and trust in all the work I had put into the season.” 

Aside from winning, what was your favorite memory of the season?

“Making it to state with my two wrestling partners, Annalee Haschemeyer and Abella Brown,” Hedges said. 

What are your future plans or aspirations? 

“I hold myself to a high standard,” Hedges said. “My current plan is to maintain a high GPA and improve in the areas I am invested in (such as wrestling). I plan to pursue post-secondary education in the future. My goal is to be the best at what I commit to doing.”