Meet Iowa's top high school girls wrestlers

The road at the end of the tunnel for girls wrestlers in Iowa is pointed directly at the Xtream Arena in Coralville and this February. 

That is when the second official IGHSAU state championships will take place.

Several state champions are set to return, including numerous with unbeaten career records. There is also a handful of runners-up hoping to make that climb to the top of the podium this season.

One name to keep an eye on is Decorah senior Naomi Simon, as she has yet to suffer a loss and is a three-time state champion. 

Here is a look at some of the top girls wrestlers in the state: 

Kjara Djoumessi, Waverly-Shell Rock, senior

Djoumessi dominated at 140 pounds last year, going 48-0 with the state title added to her resume. She was fifth as a sophomore and has won 78 matches overall.

Emma Peach, Iowa Valley Marengo, junior

Peach guns for her third title in three seasons this winter after putting together 39-0 and 21-0 marks the last two. She is the reigning 145-pound state champion.

Jillian Worthen, Union LaPorte City, junior

Another unbeaten, two-time defending state champion, Worthen comes into her junior campaign off a 28-0 season that included scoring the 105-pound crown. She won at 100 pounds as a freshman, finishing 18-0.

Olivia Huckfelt, Spencer, senior

After coming up just short her freshman season with a loss in the state finals, Huckfelt has yet to feel that same experience. She is 59-0 over the last two years with back-to-back state crowns on her resume.

Jasmine Luedtke, Ottumwa, senior

It has been the perfect climb for Luedtke, as she was third her freshman season, second as a sophomore and reached the top last year at 110 pounds. During that time, she has gone 53-2.

Katie Biscoglia, Waukee Northwest, sophomore

Biscoglia’s story is well known, as her brother was a standout before her. Well, she added her own piece to the family legacy by going 46-0 last year and winning a state title.

Skylar Slade, Southeast Polk, sophomore

Like Biscoglia, Slade also comes from a wrestling family and went unbeaten as a freshman, capping a 49-0 mark with the 155-pound title.

Molly Allen, Riverside Oakland, junior

Allen finished unbeaten as a sophomore, winning all 31 of her matches including the 115-pound state championship.

Abigail Meyer, Pleasant Valley, sophomore

Meyer served notice at 120 a season ago, winning it all with a 48-1 record as a freshman.

Mackenzie Childers, Cedar Rapids Prairie, junior

Childers made a big move from her freshman to sophomore seasons, going from fourth to the top of the podium at 125. She is 73-6 on the mats for Prairie.

Maeley Elsbury, South Tama County, senior

Elsbury has competed at state all three previous years, placing third as a sophomore before winning it at all 135 last year with a 46-1 mark. Prior to that, she went 30-5, giving her a shot at reaching 100 career wins this season.

Mackenzie Arends, Nevada, junior

Arends only saw a handful of matches two years ago but did enough to finish fourth overall. Last year, she went 38-2 and won the 190-pound state title.

Hannah Rogers, Wilton, senior

Two years ago, Rogers capped her run with a state championship at 120 pounds. This past winter, she reached the finals again, settling for second. Overall, Rogers is 76–19 in her career.

Jana TerWee, West Lyon, senior

TerWee comes into her final season looking for revenge after falling in the ultimate tiebreaker for the 190-pound title last year. Prior to that, she won it all as a sophomore and is 41-2 over the past two seasons.

Madison Hinrichs, Waverly-Shell Rock, senior

Hinrichs is another returning state champion, scoring gold at 235 while going 41-3. The year before, she finished 21-6 and was third.

Naomi Simon, Decorah, senior

Unbeaten over her first three years, Simon enters her senior season with hopes of claiming a fourth state title. She has an overall record of 82-0 and is the two-time defending 170-pound champion.

Gable Hemann, Osage, junior

For Hemann, she has twice finished a runner-up, grabbing silver at 100 pounds while going 66-8.

Lexy Petersen, Bettendorf, senior

Petersen is a three-time place winner, finishing a high of third last year. During that time, she has gone 70-12 while also placing fifth and eighth.

Bella Porcelli, Southeast Polk, senior

Porcelli has secured three medals in three state trips, placing second and third twice. She has gone 66-5 overall including a 46-2 mark last year.

Bree Swenson, Vinton-Shellsburg, senior

After competing at state as a freshman, Swenson finished third two years ago and was a runner-up at 110 last winter, going 45-5.

Layla Ewing, Moravia, junior

Ewing earned a runner-up finish at 120 last year, going 41-3. The season prior, she was 10-2 and placed fourth.

Mahri Manz, Lewis Central, junior

Last year, Manz placed second at 140 pounds, improving upon her fourth the season before. She is 73-8 during that time.

Libby Dix, Mount Vernon, junior

Another two-time medalist, Dix went from fifth as a freshman to second last year, competing at 170 both times. She is 59-7 overall.

Molly Sek, Sioux City North, senior

Sek secured her spot on the podium by advancing to the 115-pound finals as a junior, settling for silver. She has gone 43-8 over the past two seasons.

Layla Phillips, Mason City, senior

After failing to earn a medal as a sophomore at state, Phillips reached the finals last winter, taking second at 105. She is 49-14 during those two seasons combined.

Chloe Sanders, Vinton-Shellsburg, sophomore

Sanders had the difficult task of facing current Iowa Hawkeye Lilly Luft in the finals last year, falling at 130 to place second. The sophomore went 47-5 overall on the year.

Taylor Strief, Bettendorf, sophomore

Streif had a strong freshman run, going 37-4 while placing third at 105 pounds.

Breanna Peach, Iowa Valley Marengo, sophomore

Peach is another youngster to watch, as she was fourth at 190 while going 32-3 last year as a freshman.