IHSA will soon crown girls state wrestling champions. Local coaches applaud decision
Since the inception of the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association girls state wrestling tournament in 2017, eight metro-east area athletes have had the thrill of being on top of the victory platform as champions while 10 others have captured medals.
Beginning in the 2021-22 season, top high school girls from Southern Illinois will have the same opportunity as their male counterparts — to be Illinois High School Association girls wrestling state champions.
The IHSA Board of Directors, with the recommendations of its wrestling advisory committee, has approved its first sanctioned state wrestling tournament. The announcement was made Monday during the IHSA June meeting.
The dates, format and site of the ‘22 girls state wrestling tournament are still to be determined. But the news girls wrestling is being added to the IHSA agenda brought positive reactions from local administrators and wrestling coaches.
“I love the fact that IHSA has added girls wrestling, as we have had a number of girls participating the past few years,” Belleville East Athletic Director Mark Larsen said. “I am excited for them to have those same opportunities and look forward to Belleville East being a part of it.”
Belleville has had its share of outstanding girl wrestlers who have competed in the boys programs in recent years, but have not had the opportunity to compete in a tournament of their own.
Of the eight IWCOA state champions, five — Kaylee Foster, Sabrina King and Brook Holt of Belleville West and Grace Kristoff and Genae Sampracht of Althoff — have won the top medal in the past three years.
Althoff coach praises announcement
Althoff wrestling coach Ryne Harris said the decision to add girls wrestling in Illinois is a positive one for the sport in general.
“I was super excited to see girls wrestling continue to take steps right now to grow in the state of Illinois. This is well deserved and needed not only for the women but for the sport as a whole,” Harris said. “Wrestling is a great sport that anyone can compete in, so having girls as an IHSA sanctioned sport is huge and exciting.
“We have had a handful of girls in our program since I have been coaching at Althoff. We have had two IWCOA champions — Genae Sampract and Grace Kristoff. They have both also been Fargo (Tournament) All Americans. Right now we do not have any girls in the program but are welcome to add anyone interested in wrestling.
“This will help the popularity, as starting girls programs and competing against other girls is a huge selling point in getting girls out to wrestle.”
Another wrestler with metro-east ties who has gone on to become one of the top female amateur wrestlers in the world is former Carbondale High School standout Alli Ragan.
Ragan has been on seven straight United States World Teams and is a two-time world championship silver medalist. Ragan is the daughter of Granite City native and longtime Carbondale High School wrestling coach Dennis Ragan.
Belleville East coach lauds IHSA’s decision
Longtime Belleville East wrestling coach Maurice Brown has also mentored several outstanding girl wrestlers in recent years. Like most of his local coaching rivals, Brown is all for anything which gives positive exposure to the sport he loves.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for girls who have an interest and true passion for the sport and who want to strive to be successful,” Brown said. “The IWCOA has a state tournament for the girls and the numbers have been good, you have more interest overall in the sport from girls and you have colleges like McKendree University who have top notch girls wrestling programs.
“Anything to promote and give good exposure to our sport I’m all for.”
Maroons coach ecstatic with the news
Belleville West coach Joe Rujawitz also was thrilled with the fact girls now have the opportunity to wrestle at the state tournament. Rujawitz coached two of the best in Maroons history in Foster and Holt.
“I feel women’s wrestling is getting bigger and bigger every year. Now the fact that it is sanctioned by the IHSA is great for the sport. This brings more and more participants to the sport and supports how popular it is getting,” Rujawitz said. “Belleville West has had girls in our program every year, but the two best we have ever had were both IWCOA state champions: Kaylee Foster and Brooke Holt.
“They were extremely competitive and in fact wrestled some varsity matches for us. That was when girls and boys wrestled together. Both of them went on to wrestle in college.
Rujawitz added, in light of the IHSA’s decision, the sky is the limit for the sport of wrestling.
“We are blessed to have a few colleges that have women’s wrestling in the metro-east. McKendree University is actually national champions in the Division II women’s wrestling world. It will be a great day when they open women’s wrestling in Division I. The idea behind more possibilities to win state titles for the school or the community is always a plus. Women’s wrestling gives that avenue.”
