Of the 20 girls wrestling teams at the Class 2 District 1 meet at Northwest High in Cedar Hill on Feb. 13-14, the top four are from the top-tiered Yellow pool in the Suburban Conference.
Seckman High won its pool title and the District 1 crown after scoring 197 points. Eureka High (195), the host Lions (190) and Lafayette High (150.5) will all be well stocked for the eighth girls wrestling championships at the Mizzou Arena in Columbia on Feb. 27-28. There have been two classes since 2023, but the Missouri State High School Activities Association has added a third for 2026-2027. Since the top four teams in District 1 have some of the state’s largest enrollments, it’s likely they’ll be in Class 3.
Eureka didn’t have any wrestlers in the first- and third-place matches at 235 pounds, and the Wildcats held a 195-191 lead over the Jaguars, who sent senior Madison Clover to the mat in the finals against Oakville senior Zamya Woods-Johnson. Clover scored an escape in the second period and led 1-0 in the third when she pinned Woods-Johnson with six seconds left in the match. Pins are worth six points.
“Wrestling brought me out of my shell,” said Clover, now a two-time state qualifier. “I was never a social kid. I gained a lot of self-confidence in how I look. Not many people understand me because I’m autistic. I want people to know because you’re a big girl and have a disability doesn’t mean you can’t do things. I love all of my coaches and the sport. I am very proud that I get to go with my friends.”
This is the second year in a row Seckman has filled nine of the 14 weight classes at state. Freshman Heidi McArthur (105) and junior Lilly Julius (190) won the other two district weight classes for the Jaguars. McArthur won a 14-9 decision against Northwest freshman Hailey Moore in her final, and Julius benefited from two byes before pinning her first opponent in 10 seconds and sticking Fox junior Adriana Vernaci in the final in 54 seconds.
Northwest sent five to state last year and almost doubled that with a school-record nine with district titles from juniors Abigail Sehnert (100) and Amelia Huncovsky (120) and sophomore Millie Robison (125).
“A magical day for the Lionesses. I could not be more thrilled,” said Ron Wilhelm, who’s twin brother, Robert, and he, are the head coaches of the Northwest boys and girls.
Sehnert won all four matches by fall and in the final pinned Lindbergh junior Sophia Stecher at 1:36. Stecher had pinned Sehnert four times this season.
“We got taken down but got a reversal, put (Stecher) straight to her back and pinned her,” Wilhelm said.
Huncovsky dislocated her elbow at districts last year, keeping her from state. Huncovsky pinned Marquette senior Ryah Wurman at 5:46 in the semifinals before beating Fox junior Stacy Ash with a 20-3 tech fall in the final.
“She came back this year better than ever,” Wilhelm said.
Abby Chandler (Class of 2024) and Robison are the only Lions with consecutive district titles. Robison went through 125 virtually unchallenged with three pins and a 14-3 major decision.
“She dominated her way through the bracket,” Wilhelm said.
Junior Amber Miller finished second at 130 for the Lions and her pin with three seconds left in the semifinals against Eureka’s Raegan Hageman “brought the roof down,” Wilhelm said. “It was the match of the tournament. We were down 10-3 with 15 seconds left, and we went out of bounds, and Bob said, ‘Throw the head and arm’ and with two seconds left we got the pin. At home, it was an awesome moment.”
Cherry Hassler is the only senior who made it to state for Northwest after she finished third at 115. She lost her first match and had to win twice on the backside of the bracket to get to state.
“She pinned a girl who had beaten her Friday. She really showed her guts,” Wilhelm said.
A first-year wrestler, Olivia Poole had been battling a knee injury, was seeded fifth at 235 and won her third-place match.
The Red pool is below the Yellow in the Suburban hierarchy, and that’s where Fox competes. The Warriors turned in a fifth-place district finish with 112 points and also saw their state output double from two to five.
“We’re really excited about the buy-in and direction of the program,” Fox head coach Tim Brengle said. “Being a state qualifier is becoming an expectation.”
After her loss to Sehnert, sophomore Shaylynn Mills wrestled her way back to third place at 100 with two pins.
“She’s done everything I’ve asked of her,” Brengle said. “She’s a hammer on top with her half-nelson. Getting down to 100 was a big deal. I thought she’d have the success she’s had there. She put too much pressure on herself and was wrestling closed off. In her third-place match, you saw her wrestle more free and open.”
Ash was a state qualifier at 125 last year and has become a team leader.
“We don’t have captains, but we do have leaders,” Brengle said. “She wrestles at (Thoroughbred Wrestling Academy) and her offense has caught up with her ability to scramble with anyone. She decided dropping to 120 and it made sense.”
A pair of pins put Fox freshman Skyler Redman in the final against Robison. It was the first match ever between the two. Redman is the first state qualifier out of the Fox Junior Warriors program since it began three years ago.
Junior Angelia Baer wrestled as high as 170 last year but after not getting out of districts committed herself to drop to 145, where she finished fourth. Baer suffered a concussion at the Liberty Tournament earlier this season and missed several weeks.
Brengle said there were times that Vernaci was doubting whether to stay with the sport but worked with former Fox state medal winner Joey Johnson and turned into a state qualifier.