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#WomensWednesday: A dozen rising seniors to watch for upcoming high school season

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by Gary Abbott

Sage Mortimer of Utah on the way to one of her USA Wrestling national titles. Photo by John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com


You asked for it. This week, we review the rising seniors for the upcoming high school season, those athletes who are already top-notch and looking to close out their prep careers in a big way.


The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the cancellation and postponement of so many important wrestling tournaments, including numerous USA Wrestling age-group national events. Many states have yet to determine when they will hold high school wrestling, and others have either pushed back the season or shortened the season. There is a lot of uncertainty.


This group of rising seniors were ranked in the top four in the National Girls High School Rankings, with five of them sitting at the No. 1 spot when wrestling shut down in March. These should be the top college recruits who will look to go to the next level.


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 1 at 100 pounds - Sage Mortimer, Mapleton, Utah, American Leadership Academy

Mortimer has made a big impact at USA Wrestling national events, winning the 2018 and 2019 16UNationals, the 2019 Junior Nationals and the 2019 UWW Cadet Nationals, and a runner-up finish at the 2018 Cadet Nationals. She made big news as the first girl to earn All-American status at the Junior Nationals in Greco-Roman. She has competed at a high level against boys in Utah as well. Add in an appearance at the 2019 Cadet Worlds. She recently competed at the Western States Championships, winning a Triple Crown at 115 pounds. She has agreed to wrestle another No. 1, Mia Palumbo of Illinois, at Who’s #1 in October.

No. 1 at 106 pounds - Mia Palumbo, Oak Lawn, Ill., Richards High School

In Fargo in 2019, Palumbo made a big splash by winning both the 16U Nationals and the Junior Nationals the same year. Prior to that, she had a perfect 9-0 record at the 2018 National Duals. Those in Illinois were not surprised in her success on the national level; she was the first girl to win a match against boys at the Illinois state tournament. An injury kept her out most of the 2019 season. She was back on the mat in 2020, but the Illinois girls state meet was cancelled by COVID-19. She won a match as part of the Rumble on the Rooftop this summer. Palumbo is taking on Sage Mortimer in Who’s #1 to identify the best lightweight in the nation at this time.

No 1 at 112 pounds - Samara Chavez, Arlington, Texas, Arlington Martin High School

There are few high school girls who have wrestled as much at the national level within USA Wrestling than Chavez, who has been winning titles stretching back to 2018. Her 2017 16U Folkstyle Nationals title was the first, followed by the 2018 Junior Folksyle Nationals, the 2018 and 2019 Preseason Nationals and the 2019 Super 32. A runner-up at the 2018 Texas state meet, she won state titles in 2019 and 2020. Add in a boat-load of other medals at major events, and Chavez brings as much experience to her senior year as anybody in high school wrestling.

No. 1 at 138 pounds - Amor Tuttle, St. Paul, Minn., Stillwater Area High School

Tuttle has been a consistent national placewinner within USA Wrestling for three seasons, as well as a star within high school wrestling in Minnesota. Titles include the 2019 Preseason Nationals and the 2020 Minnesota girls state high school title. She was second at the 2019 Junior Folkstyle Nationals, fifth at the 2019 Junior Nationals and fifth at the 2018 16U Nationals and third at the 2018 16UFolkstyle Nationals.

No. 1 at 200 pounds - Olivia Brown, Tulsa, Okla., Broken Arrow High School

Brown broke though on the national level in 2018, winning the 16U Nationals in both folkstyle and freestyle, placing fourth in the Junior Folkstyle Nationals and seventh at the Junior Freestyle Nationals. In 2019, she added a second 16U Folkstyle title and 16 Freestyle Nationals title, with a second place at the Junior Folkstyle Nationals and third at the Junior Freestyle Nationals. Add in a 2018 Preseason Nationals title and a strong showing at the 2019 National Duals. Brown also won the Oklahoma girls state title in 2020.

No. 2 at 138 pounds - Chloe Ogden, Geneva, Fla., Lake Highland Prep High School

Ogden has won Florida girls state titles the last two years, and added medals at big events including third place at the 2019 Super 32, third place at the 2019 NHSCA Nationals and sixth place at the 2019 Junior Nationals.

No. 2 at 144 pounds - Cheyenne Bowman, LaHabra, Calif., Rowland High School

Bowman has won California state titles at three different weights, at 126 in 2018, 131 in 2019 and 143 in 2020. She beat another top national star, Aine Drury, in the California state finals last year. She won 16U Nationals and UWW Cadet Nationals in 2018, and was second at the 2019 UWW Nationals. Add in a 2019 Super 32 title, and some other gold medals at prestigious events and you have an impressive resume with success at the highest levels.

No. 2 at 180 pounds - Brianna Staebler, Whitewater, Wis., Whitewater High School

Staebler had a great 2019 season, winning the 16U Folkstyle Nationals and the 16U Freestyle Nationals, while placing third at the Junior Folkstyle Nationals and fourth at the Junior Freestyle Nationals. She also went unbeaten at the 2019 National Duals, with wins over other ranked athletes. In 2018, she was an All-American at the 16U Nationals in both folkstyle and freestyle.

No. 3 at 180 pounds - Brittyn Corbishley, The Woodlands, Texas, College Park High School

Corbishley was an undefeated Texas state champion in 2020, and won the Preseason Nationals before the high school season began. She was second in the 2019 16U Nationals in freestyle and seventh at the 2019 Junior Nationals, as well. Add in a third place at the 2018 16U Nationals. She was also a Texas state placewinner two other times, placing sixth as a freshman and fourth as a sophomore.

No. 4 at 112 pounds - Montana Delawder, Gettysburg, Pa., Gettysburg High School

Delawder put herself on the map nationally in Fargo, winning the 2019 Junior Nationals in freestyle at 112 pounds. She has won the Pennsylvania girls state title the last two years. She was third at Super 32 in both 2018 and 2019. Add in Pennsylvania state girls titles in 2019 and 2020, a 2019 NHSCA National title, an undefeated 2019 Junior Duals, and you see how she has been consistent. She was third at the 2017 and 2018 Super 32, fifth at the 2018 U16 Nationals and eighth at the 2018 UWW Cadet Nationals.

No. 4 at 138 pounds - Sara Sulejmani, Buffalo Grove, Ill. Stevenson High School

Sulejmani had a great Fargo in 2019, placing second at the 16U Nationals and third at the Junior Nationals. Her 2019 season also included fourth place at the UWW Cadet Nationals and a title at the Illinois girls state championships. Her first national finals of note was a second-place at the 2018 16U Nationals. She was second in the 2019 Preseason Nationals, and has been in the top four at the last two Super 32 events. Like Palumbo, her 2020 Illinois girls state meet was cancelled by coronavirus.

No. 4 at 164 pounds - Jaycee Foeller, De Soto, Mo., De Soto High School

Foeller has been active at the major events going back to her freshman year. Her first big national titles came in 2018, when she won the 16U Nationals in freestyle and the UWW Cadet Nationals. Her national medal run started in 2017 with a third-place at the 16U Nationals. Her last two Junior Nationals included a second-place finish in 2018 and a third-place finish in 2019. Add in Missouri state girls high school titles the last two years. She has also done well at the National Duals in both 2018 and 2019.


Other rising seniors to watch, based upon the National High School Rankings of March 2020.

100 pounds

9. Heaven Fitch, Concord, N.C., Jay M Robinson High School

12. Sydney Petzinger, Parsippany, N.J., Parsippany High School

16. Taylor Wilson, Richland, Wash., Hanford High School

21. Athena Malik, Toccoa, Ga., Stephens County High School

25. Emma Baertlein, Oregon City, Ore., Oregon City High School


106 pounds


5. Alyssa Valdivia, Bakerfield, Calif., Frontier High School

6. Juliana Moccia, Bel Air, Md., The John Carroll

9. Chloe Ayres, Princeton, N.J., Princeton High School

14. Kendra Ryan, Fenton, Mich., Fenton High School

17. Alexis Miller, Wagoner, Okla., Wagoner High School

22. Samantha Miller, Parkersburg, W.Va., Parkersburg South High School


112 pounds


7. Olivia Shore, St. Paris, Ohio, Miami East High School

8. Catherine Bertrand, Johns Creek, Ga., Mount Pisgah Christian High School

11. Ally Fitzgerald, Lynbrook, N.Y., Lynbrook High School

14. Dianna Holmes , Suwanee, Ga., North Gwinnett High School

16. Adrienna Turner, Davis, Calif., Davis High School

18. Elizabeth Schumaker, North Pole, Alaska, North Pole High School

19. Rose Ann Marshall, Stoughton, Wis., Stoughton High School

20. Amiyah Hart, Jonesboro, Ill., Anna-Jonesboro High School

23. Hannah Hall, Palm Harbor Fla., Palm Harbor University High School

24. Sierrah Thrun, Chandler, Ariz., Corona Del Sol High School

25. Kerra Strevel, Knoxville, Tenn., Heritage High School

117 pounds

5. Adriana Dorado-Marin, Colorado Springs, Colo., Falcon High School

6. Allison Hynes, Broken Arrow, Okla , Broken Arrow High School

9. Charlotte Kouyamtijian, Porterville, Calif., Monache High School

11. Anna Knappenberger, Berlin, Md., Stephen Decatur High School

20. Jordan Johnston, Springfield, Va., West Springfield High School

122 pounds

5. Amani Jones, McDonough, Ga. Ola High School

11. Carolina Moreno, Sammerton, Ariz., Kofa High School

12. Jordyn Knecht, Paola, Kansas, Paola High School

13. Tabitha Wood, Frisco, Texas, Frisco Independence High School

24. Elise Rose, Marysville, Kan., Maryville High School

127 pounds

6. Devin Patton, Plano, Texas, Coppell High School

7. Kendall Bostelman, Napoleon, Ohio, Liberty Central High School

9. Adaugo Nwachukwu, San Jose, Calif., Silver Creek High School

10. Claire Dicugno, Lake Tapps, Wash., White River High School

11. Cayden Condit, Littleton, Colo., Jefferson High School

12. Nonnie Justice, Harrisonville, Mo., Harrisonville High School

13. Samantha Barragan, Hemet, Calif., Hemet High School

17. Solana Mottola, Temecula, Calif, Corona High School

18. Riley Aamold, Vancouver, Wash., Union High School

20. Ngao Shoua Whitethorn, Eyota, Minn., Dover-Eyota High School

132 pounds

6. London Houston, Federal Way, Wash., Federal Way High School

9. Kya Rybachek, Mt. Iron, Minn., Hibbing High School

11. Tiera Jimerson, Moreno Valley, Calif., Northview High School

13. Abby McIntyre, Glenwood, Iowa, Glenwood High School

17. Reese Gonzalez, Cadillac, Mich. Lowell High School

25. Suravieve Robertson, Searcy, Ark., Beebe High School

138 pounds

5. Taryn Martin, Grove City, Ohio, Oletangy Orange High School

14. Lily Sherer, Shohola, Pa., Delaware Valley High School

15. Joanna Qiu, San Pablo, Calif., Albany High School

16. Alicia Pieper, Waterford, Mich., Waterford Ketterning High School

18. Madison Sandquist, Humble, Texas, Kingwood Park High School

25. Jessi Johnson, Manalapan, N.J. Manalapan High School

144 pounds

8. Leilani Hernandez, Plano, Texas, Plano West High School

11. Jade Herzer, Wisconsin Dells, Wis., Wisconsin Dells High School

14. Ayala Wolak, Dublin, Ohio, Dublin Coffman High School

152 pounds

5. Sydney Manos, Rockford, Ill, Stillman Valley High School

6. Skylah Chakouian, East Providence, R.I., East Providence High School

7. Hannah Ricioli, Santa Rosa, Calif., El Molino High School

12. Hannah Thompson, Burlington, Ky., Cooper High School

16. Seda Tsarni, Montgomery County, Md., Watkins Mill High School

20. Hannah Jansen, Webster Groves, Mo., Webster-Groves High School

164 pounds

5. America Lopez, Valencia, Calif., Valencia High School

9. Katja Osteen, Simi Valley, Calif., Royal High School

11. Tiffani Baublitz, Stewartstown, Pa., Kennard-Dale High School

13. Alexia Asselin, Kennewick, Wash., Kennewick High School

16. Shayna Kamaka, Wailiku, Hawaii, Baldwin High School

18. McKenzie Samuels, New York, N.Y., Harry S. Truman High School

19. Jaylen Hyman, Windsor Mill, Md., Randallstown High School

25. Shelby Zacharias, Charlotte, Tenn., Creek Wood High School

180 pounds

7. Fiona McConnell, Milwaukie, Ore., Milwaukie High School

15. Jayleen Sekona, Anchorage, Alaska, South Anchorage High School

17. Rosa Saucedo Ramirez, Connell, Wash., Connell High School

18. Ofa He Lotu Tuifua, Kent, Wash., Kent Meridian High School

20. Hollie Espinoza, Rhonert Park, Calif., Rancho High School

22. Mia Didur, Peoria, Ariz., Centennial High School

23. Tristian Martinez, New Laguna, N.M, Grants High School

200 pounds

6. Asia Rave, Black River Falls, Wis., Black River Falls High School

8. Millie Peach, Marengo, Iowa, Iowa Valley High School

11. Larissa Bryant-Coleman, New Haven, Ind., New Haven High School

14. Myranda Johnson, Olin, N.C., North Iredell High School

16. Victoria Ndeemya, Lexington, Ky., Tates Creek High School

20. Mi’Kel Jiles, Norcross, Ga. Meadowcreek High School

21. Zeriah George, Winnebago, Neb., Winnebago High School

225 pounds

5. Lexie Cole, Holt, Mo., Kearney High School

6. Julia Richey, Newbury Park, Calif., Newbury Park High School

10. Traeh Haynes, Cibolo, Texas, Steele High School

14. Hannah Francis, Coppell, Texas, Coppell High School

18. Raina Herzog, Cottage Grove, Ore., Cottage Grove High School

20. Dominque Diaz, Brooklyn, N.Y., Seward High School

21. Kayleen Way, Staten Island, N.Y., Curtis High School

22. Autumn Burgan, Cynthiana, Ky. Harrison County High School

24. Madison Martinez, Fremont, Neb., Fremont High School

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