Scouting Cook and Lake County girls wrestling

The final day of the girls wrestling season last year proved to be a memorable one with Lakes, Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg collectively flexing its muscles to collect plenty of state hardware including the biggest prize of all.

Led by a quintet of stars, the Eagles from Lakes lifted the first girls state championship trophy late last February in Bloomington when Josie Larson and her teammates edged Lockport, 61-58.

"(Coming) into the state tournament we all kind of thought we could finish top three, but everyone wrestled great during the two days, and in the end it was so exciting to be the first team champion ever in the history of the sport," said Larson.

Zaryia Mouzon, Haven Sylves, Olivia Heft, Ava Babbs and Larson (32-8) claimed over 150 victories together on the season. They would also bring home three state medals, with Larson earning second place at 190 pounds.

Larson, a three-time state qualifier, has built an impressive resume along the way as a three-sport star (flag football, track and field) while also earning All-American honors in wrestling after finishing eighth for Team Illinois last July in Fargo.

"I'd like to think that aside from being a big and strong athlete, that my real strength is the mental part of my game. I feel like that can make a real difference when you're out there with the best opponents," said Larson, whose Eagles flag football team fell one win short of advancing to the state tournament when it lost to eventual state runner-up Guilford.

"Josie is our captain, and she leads by example on a daily basis, and was the catalyst for our state championship team," said Eagles coach Mark Stave. "We had three girls in the semifinals, who both lost, leaving it up to Josie to advance into the finals.

"She did just that, and gave Heft and Babbs a pep talk to inspire both to pin both of their opponents in their place matches, which in the end, helped us win it all."

Larson, who will be a strong favorite to win a state title in February, has yet to firm up where she will wrestle in college. She does know she will be on the pre-med track with plans to become a trauma surgeon later on.

Heft (33-4), Babbs (32-1) and Mouzon (35-6) have moved on to college. Heft is wrestling at Grand Valley State in Michigan with Sylves (28 wins) returning along with Tina Hasner (23 wins) who just missed joining her teammates at state.

Grant Bulldogs fans will certainly miss watching the remarkable Ayanna Jasinski, who won a state title in 2023, and left an incredible legacy with three state medals in all before going on to wrestle at Wartburg College.

"Ayanne is irreplaceable, but our hope is that her success and leadership in our room will have an impact on the next wave coming through," said Bulldogs assistant Mark Jolcover.

"We have four back from a year ago, plus three freshmen, all of whom have been working hard alongside our established wrestlers during the offseason," added head coach Michael Gaughan.

Round Lake coach Ender Kongkaeow welcomes back the fabulous duo of Riley Kongkaeow (100, 33-5) and Ireland McCain (115, 32-10) who between them have made five trips downstate, bringing back a pair of state medals as well.

"Our room is growing all across the grade levels with girls who are committed to learning and growing in this sport,“ Kongkaeow said. ”And with a busy and exciting schedule ahead of us to help push and prepare, we feel we can meet the goals they have all set for themselves.“

Stevenson coach Jonathan Leibovitz feels his club is ready to enjoy regular and postseason success.

"I feel like we're ready for a breakthrough in just our second season," said Leibovitz, who will lean on sophomore Nastia Kobets (120) and junior Karina Lojowski (130) while a trio of freshmen get settled in.

"Our returning girls have set a powerful example, demonstrating exceptional dedication through intensive off-season training," added Leibovitz.

With the star-studded lineups of MSL powers Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg, it was no surprise fans of both clubs would have plenty to cheer last season on an individual basis as well as team.

The two MSL West clubs finished in a tie for fourth overall behind Lakes Community, Lockport and Batavia with 43 points after each dominated at the conference tournament, regionals, and later sectionals.

"The MSL is growing in numbers each year, and from what we heard in our preseason coaches meeting, (it's) all across the conference which is great to see," said Schaumburg coach Matt Gruszka, who has been a strong advocate of the sport.

Gruszka's club won both MSL and regional titles a year ago, and would later watch Valeria Rodriguez (40-3) finish her superb career when she earned her third consecutive state medal.

"Valeria was the staple of our program, so she will be difficult to replace,“ said Gruszka. ”But we have five starters back, and some very good freshmen, so it looks to be a very exciting season for us, and Hoffman Estates, which look to have a very good team once again."

Senior 140-pound state runner-up Madeline Zerafa-Lazarevic (37-3) leads the way for the Saxons.

Hoffman Estates has to replace three-time state qualifier Emmylina O'Brien (41-4), but the terrific state trio of Sophia Ball, Abigail Ji and Anjali Gonzalez gives the Hawks plenty of firepower to make an imprint on the state field.

"Our numbers have doubled since I began to wrestle here, and I am really excited about our chances as a team, and for myself, knowing the extra work during the offseason will pay off, and has made me more confident than ever," said Ball, who enter the season with a career record of 86-15.

Ball, whose only loss a year ago was to nationally ranked Angela Cassioppi (Hononegah) in the 120-pound state final, is a three-time MSL champ, two-time regional champion, and two-time state medalist (fifth in 2022).

"I had never wrestled before high school, but it has been the best decision I could have made," said Ball, who was a running back last fall for the Hawks flag football team and plans on pursuing a career in either nursing or dermatology.

"It will be another exciting season of wrestling for all of us, and for Hoffman to be hosting the first dual-team state tournament makes it even better," said Ball.

Conant advanced six into sectionals, including senior state qualifier Jasmine Zavaletta (27-13) who is back along with Ewa Krupa (140, 24-12) to give coach Brad Bessemer two key pieces in the Cougars lineup.

"We are still in program building mode, and getting as many wrestling shoes on the mats as possible, working on fielding a full 14-wrestler lineup, and everyone into the correct weight class," said Bessemer.

Maine West has a returning state qualifier, Lillian Garrett (28-7), as does Prospect coach John Bassler, who welcomes back state qualifier Viola Pianetto (24-6) at 135 pounds.

"Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates and Wheeling are the three top teams in the MSL, so our goal will be to continue to build our numbers, develop talent and advance a few of our girls to state, and hopefully earn a state medal," said Bassler.