The record · Illinois
Illinois women's wrestlers, written down
8 wrestlers from Illinois, with every placement traced to a source. Home state as her profile records it, so a wrestler who left for college is still listed here.
By Joe Spisak, Pennsylvania state champion and 4x NCAA qualifier at Virginia · Published September 3, 2026
The record
Alexis JaniakPlainfield, IL · Aurora University3x age-group World medalist; 2025 NCWWC champion at 131 pounds; 2026 NCAA runner-up; World Team Trials Challenge champion at 59 kg
Alli RaganCarbondale, IL · King University2x World silver medalist (60 kg, 2016 and 2017); 2x WCWA national champion for King; first head coach of Iowa State women's wrestling
Amanda MartinezRiverside, IL · North Central College2x U.S. Open champion at 57 kg; 2026 Pan American champion; 2x Final X finalist opposite Helen Maroulis
Erin GolstonLake in the Hills, IL · University of Colorado Colorado Springs3x Junior World medalist at 44 kg; U.S. Open champion and Final X finalist at 50 kg; 7 years on the U.S. National Team
Haley AugelloLockport, IL · King University2016 Olympian at 48 kg, ninth in Rio; 2011 Cadet World champion at 46 kg; 3x WCWA national champion for King University
Kennedy BladesChicago, IL · Iowa2024 Olympic silver medalist at 76 kg; 2025 World bronze medalist at 68 kg; 2021 U20 World champion; 2x college national champion for Iowa
Mia PalumboOak Lawn, IL · William Penn UniversityFirst girl to win a match at the IHSA state finals (2018); 2x NAIA national champion; 2023 U20 Pan American champion
Morgan TurnerLockport, IL2x U17 World champion (2023, 2025); U.S. Senior World Team at 50 kg as an 18-year-old; first girl to place at Illinois boys' state
Wrestling in Illinois
The Illinois state championship
Dates, venue and qualifying for the girls' state series, read off the association's own page.
Wrestling clubs in Illinois
Where to practice, with the girls'-only and girls'-practice programs flagged.
Illinois colleges with women's wrestling
10 programs in the state, with the coach's published email.
Photo credits
Photographer and outlet for each photo above. The license each one is used under is printed on that wrestler's own page.
- Alexis Janiak: Steve Woltmann, Aurora University Athletics
- Alli Ragan: John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com
- Amanda Martinez: Jim Thrall, MatFocus.com
- Erin Golston: USA Wrestling
- Haley Augello: WIN Magazine
- Kennedy Blades: Nick Rohlman, The Gazette
- Mia Palumbo: courtesy Mia Palumbo, miapalumbo.com
- Morgan Turner: John Starks, Daily Herald
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