For the first time since the Missouri State High School Activities Association launched girls wrestling in the 2018-2019 school year, the girls are splitting off from the boys and will host their own state tournament in 2027.
That makes 2025-26 the final school year the boys and girls will compete at state together, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia. The current format groups the Class 1 girls and Class 1-2 boys together in a two-day meet, with the Class 2 girls and Class 3-4 boys wrestling in the same format over the following two days – four days in all.
MSHSAA made the change at its board of directors meeting in June. There have been two classes for girls wrestling since 2023. The growth in the sport spurred the member schools and wrestling advisory committee to separate the tournaments.
The change means a return to the former three-day state format. The girls state finals will be at the Hearnes Center in Columbia Feb. 18-20, 2027. The boys will wrestle Feb. 25-27 at Mizzou Arena. The boys state tournament was held at Hearnes from 1973 until 2005.
While no girls wrestling team in Jefferson County has won a state trophy (top four finish), there’s been plenty of individual success to inspire current and future wrestlers. Jaycee Foeller was a three-time undefeated state champion at De Soto; Fox’s Faith Spicer won state at 235 pounds in 2022; Abby Chandler of Northwest won 235 in 2024, and Festus standout Mya Hairston captured the title at 100 pounds each of the last two years. Many other county wrestlers have won medals by placing in the top eight of their weight class.
Year after year, Northwest has one of the deepest girls wrestling teams in the St. Louis area. The Lions are virtually unblemished in dual meets. Head coach Ron Wilhelm, who has served on the state wrestling advisory committee in the past, said he saw this decision coming a long time ago.
“I absolutely love it,” said Wilhelm, who coaches the boys and girls teams along with his twin brother, Robert. “Us old coaches, we like Hearnes more than the Mizzou Arena. I don’t know if it’s nostalgia. I was worried about what venue they would use for the girls – would they go to Springfield or KC?
“My biggest concern when I was on the advisory committee was a lot of schools have divided boys and girls programs, but a lot haven’t, like us. Now for the postseason, we’re not having to divide coaching staffs. I have to be there for both. (Having) the girls and boys together made for 12- to 14-hour days because they’re going at the same time.”
The Northwest boys won their division at a team camp at Mizzou last month. Junior-to-be Cohenn Stark pinned all of his opponents at 215 pounds. Stark lost in the “bubble round” at 175 at the Class 4 state meet in March. He’s slated to start at quarterback for the Lions football team this fall. Kaleb Belcher, a state qualifier at 157, went undefeated at camp at 165 and Eli Porter was unbeaten at 113.
Northwest, like many schools, has wrestlers who compete in football and other fall sports, and for them July is a relatively quiet month leading up to the start of fall practice Aug. 10.
This past season, Festus finished 2.5 points shy of winning its first team trophy in girls wrestling. Hairston has graduated, but the Tigers have produced state medal winners every year and are the top team in the Jefferson County Activities Association right now.
“I’m excited about (the format change),” Festus head coach Jarad Sheppard said. “It’s a win that they were able to keep everybody at Mizzou in comparable venues. The Hearnes Center is obviously older, but has its own charm and will be a great venue for the girls. It’s a major win to see the return of the three-day tournament format. I know that everyone will love having that electric Friday night (semifinal) round back.”
Hairston was Windsor’s first state qualifier in 2022 before she transferred to Festus. The Owls sent Lily Pauley and Sydney Streckfuss to state last season. Windsor has separate head coaches, with Ryan Nuspl leading the girls and Jacob Gegg in charge of the boys.
“It’s great to be back in the Hearnes Center, where state wrestling has such a rich history,” Nuspl said. “Hosting separate state tournaments truly solidifies girls wrestling as a stand-alone sport in Missouri, rather than something secondary to the boys.
“Having our own state tournament is a big step forward. It benefits the girls, the sport as a whole, and the families who support them. I’m really pleased with what MSHSAA has done to promote girls sports and elevate them to the same level of recognition and respect as the boys.”
The Hearnes Center, named in honor of Missouri’s 46th governor (and Mizzou alumnus) Warren Hearnes, opened in 1972. The university has kept the Hearnes up to date so that it can continue to host NCAAA women’s volleyball, wrestling, gymnastics and indoor track and field.
High school girls wrestling in Missouri has come a long way in a short time. Growth led to the split into two classes and now the girls will stand on their own on the biggest stage. I’ve been a fan of girls wrestling from the beginning and I’m glad to see these talented, determined athletes get their due.