Brooks, Estrada, Turner, Rodrigues among stars on display in Girls National High School Recruiting Showcase finals

Karlee Brooks works for exposure points in the 117-pound Showcase finals. Photo by Robbert Wijtman.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – In an event with over 100 state champions and weight classes stacked with nationally ranked athletes, many of the nation’s best girls high school wrestlers provided a dazzling display of talent in the finals of the Girls National High School Recruiting Showcase on Saturday night in the South Point Arena.

Karlee Brooks of Arizona, just days after earning a spot on the U.S. U17 World Team in Spokane, Wash., continued her torrid wrestling with a 10-0 technical fall over Isabella Marie Gonzales of California in the 117 pound finals. Brooks repeated as Recruiting Showcase champion and was named Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.

Also winning a Recruiting Showcase national title for the second straight year was Zao Estrada of South Carolina, who blitzed surprise finalist Lorianna Piestewa of New Mexico, 14-4 in the finals at 112 pounds.

The 100-pound finals featured the top two ranked wrestlers in the nation, No. 1 Morgan Turner of Illinois and No. 2 Caley Graber of Minnesota. In a back-and-forth gritty battle between major talents, Turner powered to an 18-9 victory on center stage. Turner also earned a spot on the U17 World Team a few weeks ago.

Another rapidly rising star, Eduarda Rodrigues of California, was powerful in pinning Sklyar Slade of Iowa in the 152 pound finals in just 1:50.

Tilisa Matakaiongo of Utah, ranked No. 4 nationally at 200 pounds, pinned the No. 1 ranked 225-pound wrestler in the nation in the finals, Kiera Ganey of Illlinois, in 1:18 in the 200 pound finals.

Many of the champions are well known within high school girls wrestling circles, including champions Clare Booe of Florida (106), Carissa Qureshi of California (122) and Isis France of Arizona (132), some of the other champions were not as well known and made a big splash on the national stage.

2023 Showcase champions who were not included in the last National Girls High School Rankings were Aubrianna Smith of Oklahoma (127), Ryen Hickey of Colorado (144) and Abena Adu of California (164), all who won weight classes with a number of nationally ranked wrestlers in their draw.

Among the other champions from this year’s competition were nationally ranked Gretchen Donally of Montana (138), Sophie Pollack of New York (180) and Erica Cobos of Texas (225), all who should climb in the national rankings and attract additional interest from college programs moving forward.

GIRLS NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL RECRUITING SHOWCASE
At Las Vegas, Nev., April 30

100 lbs.
1st - Morgan Turner (IL) dec. Caley Graber (MN) , 18-9
3rd - Katey Valdez (CO) tech. fall Mia Zuniga (WA), 13-2
5th - Monee Cordero (CA) tech. fall Madison Heinzer (CA), 11-0
7th - Lilly Breeden (MO) tech. Zoey Haney (MO), 17-6

106 lbs.
1st - Clare Booe (FL) tech. fall Alexsys Jacquez (CO), 16-3
3rd - Kayla Batres (CT) fall. Diana Gonzalez (CA), 4:55
5th - Harlee Hiller (IL) dec. Ana Malovich (PA), 12-11
7th - Taylor Whiting (WI) dec. Libby Roberts (WA), 5-1

112 lbs.
1st - Zao Estrada (SC) tech. fall Lorianna Piestewa (NM), 14-4
3rd - Emma Albanese (NV) tech. fall Janessa George (CO), 12-2
5th - Fernanda Lopez (TX) dec. Aspen Blasko (MN), 12-8
7th - Ashley Naranjo (WA) fall. Noelani Lutz (NV), 1:32

117 lbs.
1st - Karlee Brooks (AZ) tech. fall Isabella Gonzales (CA), 10-0
3rd - Angelina Vargas (MO) tech. fall Mia Hargrove (CO), 14-4
5th - Aleena Navarrete (UT) fall. Ileah Brown (TX), 2:00
7th - Nathalie Erazo (CA) fall. Brooklyn Pace (UT), 2:03

122 lbs.
1st - Carissa Qureshi (CA) dec. Persaeus Gomez (CO), 7-4
3rd - Alejandra Valdiviezo (CA) fall. Regina Stoeser (SD), 1:30
5th - Olivia Moreno (TX) tech. fall Evelyn Holmes-smith (AL), 10-0
7th - Alyssa Randles (ID) dec. Madilyn Peach (WI), 4-0

127 lbs.
1st - Aubrianna Smith (OK) fall. Karianne Baldwin (WA), 0:47
3rd - Bailey Chafin (OR) tech. fall Jamie Laswell (AZ), 16-6
5th - Taylor Miess (CO) fall. Emily Pedro (TX), 5:00
7th - Margaret Buurma (MI) tech. fall Meredith Nash (NV), 14-4

132 lbs.
1st - Isis France (AZ) dec. Estella Gutches (OR), 10-5
3rd - Jordyn Fouse (PA) dec. Kryssceah Ravenelle (RI), 8-2
5th - Morgan Edwards (PA) no contest, Ciara Riner (WV), 0-0
7th - Faith James (MO) dec. Aubrie Molina (HI), 11-9

138 lbs.
1st - Gretchen Donally (MT) fall. Alondra Morales (WA), 5:45
3rd - Kaidance Gerg (ID) tech. fall Bridgette Sotomayor (AZ), 10-0
5th - Belicia Manuel (MI) dec. Sofia Delgado (FL), 19-14
7th - Delarie Juarez (CA) injury default, Gianna Dibenedetto (CA)

144 lbs.
1st - Ryen Hickey (CO) fall. Amelia Fawcett (AK), 1:39
3rd - Morgan Lucio (AZ) fall. Sandilynn Tuinei (NV), 3:00
5th - Clare Waite (ID) dec. Elly Janovsky (IN), 9-0
7th - Jahlia Miguel (HI) tech. fall Kaylie Petersen (IN), 14-2

152 lbs.
1st - Eduarda Rodrigues (CA) fall. Skylar Slade (IA), 1:50
3rd - Sarah Henckel (CT) tech. fall Trinity Bouchal (AZ), 11-0
5th - Lillian Gradillas-flores (AZ) fall. Maria Sifuentes (ID), 4:52
7th - Frances Porteous (WA) dec. Vida Beckel (CA), 8-5

164 lbs.
1st - Abena Adu (CA) fall. Alexandria Alli (OH), 0:50
3rd - Alyssa Favara (PA) fall. Alison Evans (CO), 0:47
5th - Kylee Lindsley (MT) fall. Aime Hernandez perez (AZ), 3:14
7th - Aurellia Ramos (UT) tech. fall Grace Johns (KS), 12-2

180 lbs.
1st - Sophie Pollack (NY) fall. Kassidee Savaria (MT), 2:15
3rd - Maria Aiono (NV) fall. Saiheron Preciado (CA), 1:09
5th - Archer Jones (AR) fall. Katianna Martinez (CA), 2:42
7th - Emma Ford (CA) Bye

200 lbs.
1st - Tilisa Matakaiongo (UT) fall. Kiara Ganey (IL), 1:18
3rd - Maggie Smith (WY) dec. Tirza Twoteeth (MT), 14-10
5th - Destiny Marquez (CA) fall. Anna Bozanic (CA), 2:35
7th - Kyrie Rubio (CA) VSU1 Kennedy Norton GA (Morris Fitness Wrestling Club), 12-1 1:31

225 lbs.
1st - Erica Cobos (TX) fall. Leilani Sanchez (TX), 4:55
3rd - Angie Aguilar (UT) dec. Gemma Templeman (CA), 5-4
5th - Reese Baxter (IA) fall. Natasha Kuberski (CO), 1:44
7th - Kyrie Rubio (CA) tech. fall Kennedy Norton (GA), 12-1