Four returning champions reach finals after Day 1 of Girls National High School Recruiting Showcase

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The biggest stars shone brightly on Day 1 of the 2026 Girls National High School Recruiting Showcase.

Of the 28 athletes who advanced to Thursday evening’s finals, 20 are either #1 or #2 seeds – including 12/14 wrestlers who entered the tournament seeded tops at their respective weights.

Among that group is a quartet of returning champions:

• 110 pounds – Jaclyn Bouzakis (2024-25)
• 130 pounds – Emma Bacon (2024-25)
• 145 pounds – Taina Fernandez (2025)
• 190 pounds – Brooke Huffman (2025)

The foursome was largely dominant en route to their latest final(s).

Taina Fernandez (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) continued her excellence after making U17 and U20 World teams earlier this month. The two-time U17 World champion used a pair of 10-0 tech. falls and a quick pin to breeze through her half of the bracket.

Brooke Huffman (Team Nazar Training Center) was similarly overwhelming up at 190 pounds – pinning each of her three opponents in less than two minutes.

Looking to slow down Fernandez/Huffman in tomorrow’s finals will be Folkstyle Nationals champions Aleksandra Bastaic (Highland Wrestling Club) and Kanata Richardson (Michigan Wrestling Academy).

As for two-time defending champs Jaclyn Bouzakis (Wyoming Seminary Preparatory High School Wrestling) and Emma Bacon (Team Pennsylvania), their lone six-minute bouts both came in the semifinals – preceded by a trio of bonus-point victories.

At 110 pounds, Bouzakis prevailed via 6-3 decision over Elizabeth Valenzuela Smith (Cyclones Wrestling & Fitness), earning herself a premier finals matchup versus Sarissa Tucker (Legacy Dragons Wrestling) – who pinned Bouzakis at U20 World Team Trials less than two weeks ago.

Meanwhile, Bacon topped Emma Chacon (Valiant Wrestling Academy) by a score of 6-2. She’ll face Naima Ghaffar (M3 Wrestling Academy) for the title at 130 after the latter bonused her way through the bottom half of the bracket.

Several other top names cruised to the finals as well – led by U17 World medalists Maisie Elliott (Mat Demon Wrestling Club) and Epenesa Elison (Monster Garage Wrestling).

Elliott will face Justice Gutierrez (Pomona Wrestling Club Colorado) in a compelling title bout at 100 pounds after Gutierrez’s 9-6 semifinal defeat of U17 Pan Am team member Abigail Peterson (Big Game Wrestling Club).

Gutierrez recently lost to Peterson, 6-1, at U17 World Team Trials in Spokane, Washington.

As for Elison, she’ll match up against Presley Beard (Wichita Training Center) at 120 after Beard matched her bonus-point run to the championship bout.

Another weight class featuring a World teamer in the finals is 135 pounds. There, recent U17 Trials champion Landri Von Gonten (Boneyard Wrestling Academy) will have a rematch of her best-of-three final against Isabella Miller (Big Game Wrestling Club).

155 pounds will also feature a rematch from U17 Trials, as top seeds Matilda Hruby (Brighton Wrestling Club) and Julia Araujo (MATPAC Wrestling Club) square off after placing second/third in the same bracket earlier this month.

Another one-versus-two matchup will go down at 125 pounds between Marie Sharp (New Jersey) and Sobina Clendaniel (Marathon Wrestling Club).

So too, will 115 – where Aubree Gutierrez (Surfside X Wrestling) has been on a collision course with Lyric Hetzer (Toss Em Up Wrestling Academy).

Three weight classes with unexpected finalists were 105, 140 and 170 pounds.

At 105, Marcia Nunez (Dethrone Wrestling Club) parlayed an early upset of #1 seed Madison Nieuwenhuis (Michigan Premier WC) into a title shot – where she’ll face Folkstyle Nationals champion Peggy Susan Dean (Betterman Elite Wrestling).

Meanwhile, the 140-pound final will pit the #5 and #7 seeds against one another after Audrey Robinson (Legacy Elite Wrestling Club) and Morgan Lucio (Valiant Wrestling Club) navigated their paths successfully.

And at 170, Jadyn Pense (Peninsula Wrestling Club) upset #1 seed Kiley Dillow (Chanute Wrestling Club) on criteria in the semifinals thanks to an early four-point move. The win earns her a title shot against #2 seed Remington LaFlamme (Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory High School Wrestling).

The last final to be set was at 235.

2025 Fargo champ Deionna Borders (Ohio Greco Boys & Girls) did her part with a 6-0 semifinal decision. She was followed soon after by Kenzie Barrett (Gladiator Wrestling), whose 12-7 victory over 16U Folkstyle Nationals champion Caylee Miller (Cornerstone Wrestling Club) secured her spot.

The 2026 U.S. Open Championships are broadcast live on FloWrestling.

Brackets, mat assignments and other information are available through USA Bracketing.

Day 2 action of the 2026 Girls National High School Recruiting Showcase commences Thursday evening at 6 p.m. (PST) – featuring all medal matches (third, fifth and seventh place) and the championship finals.

So, be sure to tune in!