33 State or Prep National boys and girls champions from 19 states now entered in High School National Recruiting Showcase

Two-time California state champion Lilian Freitas, who now attends Wyoming Seminary in Pennsylvania, is among the early entries at the High School National Recruiting Showcase. Photo by Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors.

Response has been strong among high school state champions or National Prep champions for the USA Wrestling High School National Recruiting Showcase, set for the Xtream Arena & GreenState Family Fieldhouse in Coralville, Iowa, March 25-27.

Current and past state champions and National Prep champions (any year) in grades 9-12 automatically qualify for the High School National Recruiting Showcase, but they must pre-register by March 1.

So far, 33 athletes from 19 different states registered in the first few days since online registration became available. That includes 19 girls and 14 boys. The state that has the most registered champions so far is Oregon, with seven confirmed champions signed up.

Two-time state champions on the list include Avery Kibelbek of Tennessee (girls 112), Celina Cooke of Nevada (girls 138), Tyler Richardson of Oregon (girls 138), Lilian Freitas of California (girls 152) and Alexander Holguin of New Mexico (boys 160).

State champions are defined as state association sanctioned state champions for boys, and both state association sanctioned champions and recognized unofficial state champions for girls in folkstyle.

It will be a busy week for 2021 state tournaments, with Georgia (boys and Girls), Wisconsin (boys), Utah 1A/21 (boys) and Idaho (recognized girls) championships set for this weekend.

State and Prep National champions register for High School National Recruiting Showcase

Numerous high school girls will have an amazing opportunity to compete in two national events during the weekend. Girls who qualify for the National Recruiting Showcase (which is contested in freestyle) will have the opportunity to also compete on the next day in the USA Wrestling Girls Folkstyle Nationals, which has no pre-qualification.

In addition to the state and National prep champions, the rest of the field will include the top five athletes at each weight classes from eight qualifiers held earlier in March. States hosting qualifiers are Pennsylvania, Arizona, Utah, Florida, Wisconsin, Virginia and Indiana.

For information on all of the High School National Recruiting Showcase events and the entire national schedule, please visit the USA Wrestling Events website at:
https://usawrestlingevents.com/

STATE CHAMPIONS LIST FOR HIGH SCHOOL NATIONAL RECRUITING SHOWCASE
As of February 12, 2020

Girls State champions registered

106 pounds
Nyla Valencia – 2020 California champion – 106

113 pounds
Salyna Shotwell – 2019 Washington champion - 110

122 pounds
Katie Ward – 2020 Nevada champion – 121
Carolyna Bellon – 2020 Florida champion – 128
Avery Kibelbek – 2x – 2019 Tennessee – 103, 2020 Tennessee 103
Ava Bayless – 2020 Prep National champion - 121

132 pounds
Lilly Luft – 2021 Iowa champion – 126
Elleni Johnson –2019 Utah champion – 135

138 pounds
Celina Cooke – 2x – 2019 Nevada champion – 131, 2020 Nevada champion – 137
Gabrielle Miller – 2019 New Jersey champion – 147
Kaylie Peterson – 2021 Indiana champion – 138
Tyler Richardson – 2x – 2020 Oregon champion – 140, 2019 Oregon champion – 140
Piper Staniford – 2020 Prep National champion - 185

144 pounds
Naomi Simon – 2021 Iowa champion – 145
Haley Ward – 2020 Missouri champion - 130

152 pounds
Anna McDougal – 2020 Oregon champion – 155
Ashley Reed – 2020 Connecticut champion – 160
Lilian Freitas – 2x – 2019 California champion – 143, 2020 California champion – 150
Maggie Graham – 2020 Tennessee champion - 160

Boys state champions registered

120 pounds
Michael Pizzuto – 2020 Maryland 2A/1A – 106
DJ Gillett – 2020 Oregon 5A - 106
Brayden Sonnentag – 2020 Wisconsin D3 - 106

126 pounds
Nash Singleton – 2020 Oregon 6A – 120
Benjamin Miller – 2020 Nevada 4A – 106
Gage Owen – 2020 Maryland 1A/2A – 120

132 pounds
Evan Potter – 2020 Oregon 4A – 120
Antonio Rodrigues – 2020 Maryland 2A/1A – 126
Otto Cate-Cribari – 2020 Nevada 4A - 120

138 pounds
Ethen Doty – 2019 Illinois 1A – 126

145 pounds
Avery Allen – 2020 Montana AA - 132

152 pounds
Austin Dalton – 2020 Oregon 5A – 145

160 pounds
Alexander Holguin – 2x – 2018 New Mexico 4A -138, 2019 New Mexico 3A – 152

182 pounds
Jared Simma – 2020 Kansas 5A – 160

Approved entries by state

California
Entered at 106G - Nyla Valencia – 2020 California champion – 106
Entered at 152 G - Lilian Freitas – 2x – 2019 California champion – 143, 2020 California champion – 150

Connecticut
Entered at 152G - Ashley Reed – 2020 Connecticut champion – 160

Florida
Entered at 122G - Carolyna Bellon – 2020 Florida champion – 128

Illinois
Entered at 138B - Ethen Doty – 2019 Illinois 1A – 126

Indiana
Entered at 138G - Kaylie Peterson – 2021 Indiana champion – 138

Iowa
Entered at 132G - Lilly Luft – 2021 Iowa champion – 126
Entered at 144G - Naomi Simon – 2021 Iowa champion – 145

Kansas
Entered at 182B - Jared Simma – 2020 Kansas 5A – 160

Maryland
Entered at 120B - Michael Pizzuto – 2020 Maryland 2A/1A – 106
Entered at 126B - Gage Owen – 2020 Maryland 1A/2A – 120
Entered at 132B - Antonio Rodrigues – 2020 Maryland 2A/1A – 126

Missouri
Entered at 144G - Haley Ward – 2020 Missouri champion - 130

Montana
Entered at 145B - Avery Allen – 2020 Montana AA - 132

Nevada
Entered at 122G - Katie Ward – 2020 Nevada champion – 121
Entered at 138G - Celina Cooke – 2x – 2019 Nevada champion – 131, 2020 Nevada champion – 137
Entered at 126B - Benjamin Miller – 2020 Nevada 4A – 106
Entered at 132B - Otto Cate-Cribari – 2020 Nevada 4A - 120

New Mexico
Entered at 160B - Alexander Holguin – 2x – 2018 New Mexico 4A -138, 2019 New Mexico 3A – 152

New Jersey
Entered at 138G - Gabrielle Miller – 2019 New Jersey champion – 147

Oregon
Entered at 138G - Tyler Richardson – 2x – 2020 Oregon champion – 140, 2019 Oregon champion – 140
Entered at 138G - Piper Staniford (OR) – 2020 Prep National champion – 185
Entered at 152G - Anna McDougal – 2020 Oregon champion – 155
Entered at 120B - DJ Gillett – 2020 Oregon 5A – 106
Entered at 126B - Nash Singleton – 2020 Oregon 6A – 120
Entered at 132B - Evan Potter – 2020 Oregon 4A – 120
Entered at 152B - Austin Dalton – 2020 Oregon 5A – 145

Pennsylvania
Entered at 122G - Ava Bayless (PA) – 2020 Prep National champion – 121

Tennessee
Entered at 122G - Avery Kibelbek – 2x – 2019 Tennessee – 103, 2020 Tennessee 103
Entered at 152G - Maggie Graham – 2020 Tennessee champion – 160

Utah
Entered at 132G - Elleni Johnson –2019 Utah champion – 135

Washington
Entered at 113G - Salyna Shotwell – 2019 Washington champion – 110

Wisconsin
Entered at 120B - Brayden Sonnentag – 2020 Wisconsin D3 - 106