#WomensWednesday: Seven super sophomores heading into the high school season
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Alex Szkotnicki of Maryland, shown competing at the 2019 Cadet World Championships, is among the rising sophomores in high school who are expected to be a force this coming season. Photo by Kadir Caliskan, United World Wrestling.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the cancellation and postponement of so many important wrestling tournaments, including numerous USA Wrestling age-group national events. You can add in the fact that the international wrestling schedule for young athletes has also been put on hold for months.
The spring and summer has traditionally been a time for young high school wrestlers to make their mark on the national level. Success at the USA Wrestling national events in folkstyle and freestyle at the U15, Cadet, UWW Cadet and Junior levels has helped discover talented athletes who move on to success at the college and international levels. This is where girls who have completed their freshman year in high school are able to get on the podium and take a big step forward in the rankings and in their careers.
Now is a time in which state high school associations are determining exactly when the wrestling season will be held once school starts. Many seasons have already been altered, and many others have been shortened. Nobody really knows what kind of opportunity will be available during the upcoming traditional high school season.
Based upon the results of the 2019-20 high school season, as well as the events held before the shutdown, let’s review seven rising sophomores who have already shown that they are among the elite in girls high school wrestling based on their freshman year. All finished in the top 10 in the National Girls High School rankings at their weight class when the season finished.
We list their 2020 weight class and their March 2020 national ranking, understanding that some may grow and move up in weight next season.
No. 2 at 100 pounds - Paige Morales, Clovis, Calif., Central High School
Morales was the highest ranked freshman on the national level at the end of the 2019-20 high school season. She entered her freshman year after a summer of success, winning a silver medal at the 2019 U15 World champions. She had a spectacular freshman season going, winning a few preseason tournaments. She beat then No. 1 Sterling Dias of Nevada at the Battle Heights tournament, and added titles some of California’s top in-season events, the Women’s West Coast Championships and the Napa Tournament. Her first CIF state championships did not go as planned. Seeded No. 1, she was pinned in the first round by Abbygael Cabbaug, then battled back with seven straight wins to claim third, including a pin over Cabbaug.
No. 3 at 144 pounds - Destiny Rodriguez, West Linn, Ore., West Linn High School
Rodriguez came into high school with some high achievements on the international level. She was a 2018 U15 Pan American champion, then came back in 2019 and won the U15 World Championships. She entered the Mike Clock Open and won a bronze medal in a tournament featuring college athletes. While in eighth grade, she was also fourth at the UWW Cadet Nationals. Her high school season was impressive, winning the respected Kelso Tournament during the season, then capping it off with an Oregon state high school title at 145 pounds. Rodriguez competed at the Western States Championships this past weekend, winning silvers in all three style, with her only losses to graduated star Tristan Kelly, who was No. 2 last season at the next highest weight class.
No. 6 at 100 pounds - Alex Szkotnicki, Riva, Md. Calvert High School
Well known on the East Coast girls wrestling circuit, Szkotnicki was a frequent placer at major USA Wrestling and international events. She had a busy spring in 2019, capped off with a U15 World gold medal and an 8th place finish at the 2019 Cadet World Championships. She also won a gold medal at the Vorobyeva Cup in Russia, an international Cadet-level tournament. Among her 2019 spring season achievements were gold medals at the UWW Cadet Nationals and the U15 Nationals, and a fifth place finish in Fargo at the 16U Nationals. Her 2019-20 year featured titles at Super 32, the Shogun tournament and an undefeated record at the Finger Lake Duals. At the Western State Championships this past weekend, she was the 102-pound champion in freestyle, placed second in folkstyle and was third in Greco-Roman.
No. 8 at 132 pounds - Maddie Kubicki, Kansas City, Mo., Park Hill South High School
Another young star active on the USA Wrestling national circuit, Kubicki had a number of achievements in the summer of 2019. She was second in the 16U Nationals in Fargo and third in the 16U Folkstyle Nationals in Oklahoma City. At the Junior National Duals, she had an impressive 5-1 record. Her freshman year started with a fourth-place finish at the Preseason Nationals. Her high school season was spotless, winning the respected Wonder Woman tournament, and winning the Missouri high school state tournament, finishing with an undefeated record.
No. 8 at 138 pounds - Johanna Forman, freshman, Upland, Calif., Upland High School
Perhaps a bit unknown outside of California, Forman achieved one of the toughest feats at the high school level, winning the CIF California high school state title at 137 pounds as a freshman. Forman was seeded No. 5 in the state meet and powered through the bracket with five straight wins. Included was a pin of then No. 9 nationally Savannah Gomez of Brawley High (another super freshman).
No. 9 at 122 pounds - Jaclyn Dehney, Pelham, N.H., Central Catholic High School
One of the tough athletes coming from the New England region, Dehney made an impact on the USA Wrestling circuit during the spring and summer of 2019. She placed in three big national events, placing fifth at the 16U Nationals in Fargo, sixth in the 16U Folkstyle Nationals and fifth at the U15 Nationals. She kicked off her freshman year at the 2019 Super 32 with a second place finish, and had a 5-1 record at the Finger Lakes Duals.
No. 10 at 106 pounds - Olivia Messerly, Gray, Ky., Ryle High School
Messerly started wrestling against high school athletes in major events while still in high school. As an eighth grader, she won the Kentucky state high school title and was third at the Super 32 tournament. The summer of 2019 was fruitful for Messerly, capped off with a U15 World gold medal. She made the team after a victory at the U15 Nationals, and she also won a bronze medal at SEM Lady Open. Her 2019-20 season started with a silver medal at the Super 32, and finished with another Kentucky state high school title.
Because of the loss of major national events this spring and summer, we can expect a number of rising freshmen to make some news in the pre-season competitions such as the USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals.
Other rising sophomores to watch, based upon the National High School Rankings of March 2020.
100 pounds
20. Morgan Johnson, Greeley, Colo., Loveland High School
106 pounds
16. Caitlyn Kelley, Florence, Wis. Florence High School
18. Virginia Foard, Reva, Va., Wyoming Seminary (PA)
20. Zoey Salmons, Branchland, W.Va., Cabell Midland High School
117 pounds
14. Elena Ivaldi, New Castle, Calif., Del Oro High School
122 pounds
25. Alexis Montes, El Paso, Texas, Eastwood High School
127 pounds
19. Kylie Rule, Mineral Point, Wis., Mineral Point High School
132 pounds
14. Hanna Errthum, Mount Horeb, Wis. Mt. Horeb High School
18. Addison Messerly, Gray, Ky., Ryle High School
138 pounds
11. Savannah Gomez, Calexico, Calif., Brawley Union High School
144 pounds
16. Heidi Raines, Trenton, Ga., Dade County High School
22. Keegan Seifert, Boyce, Va., Clark County High School
152 pounds
24. Savannah Bramhall, Monroe, N.C., Parkwood High School
164 pounds
20. Maggie Graham, Bartlett, Tenn., Bartlett High School
23. Mackenzie Konanz, Granger, Ind., Penn High School
180 pounds
12. Alivia White, Lake Stevens, Wash., Marysville-Pilchuk High School
200 pounds
12. Sujeydy Matos, New York, N.Y., Inwood Academy
15. Leah Mindiola, Oconomowoc Wis., Oconomowoc High School
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the cancellation and postponement of so many important wrestling tournaments, including numerous USA Wrestling age-group national events. You can add in the fact that the international wrestling schedule for young athletes has also been put on hold for months.
The spring and summer has traditionally been a time for young high school wrestlers to make their mark on the national level. Success at the USA Wrestling national events in folkstyle and freestyle at the U15, Cadet, UWW Cadet and Junior levels has helped discover talented athletes who move on to success at the college and international levels. This is where girls who have completed their freshman year in high school are able to get on the podium and take a big step forward in the rankings and in their careers.
Now is a time in which state high school associations are determining exactly when the wrestling season will be held once school starts. Many seasons have already been altered, and many others have been shortened. Nobody really knows what kind of opportunity will be available during the upcoming traditional high school season.
Based upon the results of the 2019-20 high school season, as well as the events held before the shutdown, let’s review seven rising sophomores who have already shown that they are among the elite in girls high school wrestling based on their freshman year. All finished in the top 10 in the National Girls High School rankings at their weight class when the season finished.
We list their 2020 weight class and their March 2020 national ranking, understanding that some may grow and move up in weight next season.
No. 2 at 100 pounds - Paige Morales, Clovis, Calif., Central High School
Morales was the highest ranked freshman on the national level at the end of the 2019-20 high school season. She entered her freshman year after a summer of success, winning a silver medal at the 2019 U15 World champions. She had a spectacular freshman season going, winning a few preseason tournaments. She beat then No. 1 Sterling Dias of Nevada at the Battle Heights tournament, and added titles some of California’s top in-season events, the Women’s West Coast Championships and the Napa Tournament. Her first CIF state championships did not go as planned. Seeded No. 1, she was pinned in the first round by Abbygael Cabbaug, then battled back with seven straight wins to claim third, including a pin over Cabbaug.
No. 3 at 144 pounds - Destiny Rodriguez, West Linn, Ore., West Linn High School
Rodriguez came into high school with some high achievements on the international level. She was a 2018 U15 Pan American champion, then came back in 2019 and won the U15 World Championships. She entered the Mike Clock Open and won a bronze medal in a tournament featuring college athletes. While in eighth grade, she was also fourth at the UWW Cadet Nationals. Her high school season was impressive, winning the respected Kelso Tournament during the season, then capping it off with an Oregon state high school title at 145 pounds. Rodriguez competed at the Western States Championships this past weekend, winning silvers in all three style, with her only losses to graduated star Tristan Kelly, who was No. 2 last season at the next highest weight class.
No. 6 at 100 pounds - Alex Szkotnicki, Riva, Md. Calvert High School
Well known on the East Coast girls wrestling circuit, Szkotnicki was a frequent placer at major USA Wrestling and international events. She had a busy spring in 2019, capped off with a U15 World gold medal and an 8th place finish at the 2019 Cadet World Championships. She also won a gold medal at the Vorobyeva Cup in Russia, an international Cadet-level tournament. Among her 2019 spring season achievements were gold medals at the UWW Cadet Nationals and the U15 Nationals, and a fifth place finish in Fargo at the 16U Nationals. Her 2019-20 year featured titles at Super 32, the Shogun tournament and an undefeated record at the Finger Lake Duals. At the Western State Championships this past weekend, she was the 102-pound champion in freestyle, placed second in folkstyle and was third in Greco-Roman.
No. 8 at 132 pounds - Maddie Kubicki, Kansas City, Mo., Park Hill South High School
Another young star active on the USA Wrestling national circuit, Kubicki had a number of achievements in the summer of 2019. She was second in the 16U Nationals in Fargo and third in the 16U Folkstyle Nationals in Oklahoma City. At the Junior National Duals, she had an impressive 5-1 record. Her freshman year started with a fourth-place finish at the Preseason Nationals. Her high school season was spotless, winning the respected Wonder Woman tournament, and winning the Missouri high school state tournament, finishing with an undefeated record.
No. 8 at 138 pounds - Johanna Forman, freshman, Upland, Calif., Upland High School
Perhaps a bit unknown outside of California, Forman achieved one of the toughest feats at the high school level, winning the CIF California high school state title at 137 pounds as a freshman. Forman was seeded No. 5 in the state meet and powered through the bracket with five straight wins. Included was a pin of then No. 9 nationally Savannah Gomez of Brawley High (another super freshman).
No. 9 at 122 pounds - Jaclyn Dehney, Pelham, N.H., Central Catholic High School
One of the tough athletes coming from the New England region, Dehney made an impact on the USA Wrestling circuit during the spring and summer of 2019. She placed in three big national events, placing fifth at the 16U Nationals in Fargo, sixth in the 16U Folkstyle Nationals and fifth at the U15 Nationals. She kicked off her freshman year at the 2019 Super 32 with a second place finish, and had a 5-1 record at the Finger Lakes Duals.
No. 10 at 106 pounds - Olivia Messerly, Gray, Ky., Ryle High School
Messerly started wrestling against high school athletes in major events while still in high school. As an eighth grader, she won the Kentucky state high school title and was third at the Super 32 tournament. The summer of 2019 was fruitful for Messerly, capped off with a U15 World gold medal. She made the team after a victory at the U15 Nationals, and she also won a bronze medal at SEM Lady Open. Her 2019-20 season started with a silver medal at the Super 32, and finished with another Kentucky state high school title.
Because of the loss of major national events this spring and summer, we can expect a number of rising freshmen to make some news in the pre-season competitions such as the USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals.
Other rising sophomores to watch, based upon the National High School Rankings of March 2020.
100 pounds
20. Morgan Johnson, Greeley, Colo., Loveland High School
106 pounds
16. Caitlyn Kelley, Florence, Wis. Florence High School
18. Virginia Foard, Reva, Va., Wyoming Seminary (PA)
20. Zoey Salmons, Branchland, W.Va., Cabell Midland High School
117 pounds
14. Elena Ivaldi, New Castle, Calif., Del Oro High School
122 pounds
25. Alexis Montes, El Paso, Texas, Eastwood High School
127 pounds
19. Kylie Rule, Mineral Point, Wis., Mineral Point High School
132 pounds
14. Hanna Errthum, Mount Horeb, Wis. Mt. Horeb High School
18. Addison Messerly, Gray, Ky., Ryle High School
138 pounds
11. Savannah Gomez, Calexico, Calif., Brawley Union High School
144 pounds
16. Heidi Raines, Trenton, Ga., Dade County High School
22. Keegan Seifert, Boyce, Va., Clark County High School
152 pounds
24. Savannah Bramhall, Monroe, N.C., Parkwood High School
164 pounds
20. Maggie Graham, Bartlett, Tenn., Bartlett High School
23. Mackenzie Konanz, Granger, Ind., Penn High School
180 pounds
12. Alivia White, Lake Stevens, Wash., Marysville-Pilchuk High School
200 pounds
12. Sujeydy Matos, New York, N.Y., Inwood Academy
15. Leah Mindiola, Oconomowoc Wis., Oconomowoc High School
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