Lakes graduate Larson came into Fargo as No. 1 wrestler in the nation

Josephine Larson rode in one of three buses carrying the Illinois girls wrestling contingent bound for the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals, the big one in Fargo, North Dakota.

A teammate of Larson, who graduated in May from Lakes Community High School, must have uploaded the final national girls high school rankings for 2024-25, because she told “Josie” she was ranked No. 1 nationally at 190 pounds.

“I was like, ‘I did not know that,’” said Larson, who rose from No. 3.

“I do believe in myself and I do believe that I’m a good wrestler, but to be ranked No. 1, I was like, what did I do?”

She won her bracket at the preseason Super 32 Challenge in North Carolina and went unbeaten through her senior season, capped by the 2025 Illinois High School Association 190-pound title. Larson placed second as a junior and fifth as a sophomore.

A four-time state qualifier, Larson won more than 100 prep matches with a 28-0 mark last season. The Lindenhurst girl won all those matches by fall, 26 of them first-period pins, Lakes coach Mark Stave said.

“She's distinguished herself as one of the best wrestlers in the country,” said Garry Abbott, director of communications for USA Wrestling. He is on the selection committee for the girls high school rankings, a joint venture of USA Wrestling, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, and Pro Wrestling.

“Obviously this is a nice milestone for her career and we expect to see her excel as she goes into college and beyond,” Abbott said.

Larson will attend Sacred Heart University in Connecticut, one of six NCAA Division I women’s wrestling programs, FloWrestling reported in June and among 112 college programs eligible to compete in the inaugural 2026 women’s championships.

Obviously a target with that No. 1 on her back, Larson was disappointed with her outing in Fargo, losing in the quarterfinals on Sunday. She had placed eighth at the 2024 junior nationals and eighth at the Under-16 level the summer after her sophomore year.

Loyola’s Iowa-bound Harlee Hiller won the national title at 115 pounds.

“This year I think I had a tougher bracket, and it’s just one wrong move in a match or one small slip-up. That’s just how it happens, so there’s always room for improvement,” Larson said.

Entering Sacred Heart, where the plan is to wrestle at 180, she’ll work on improving her offensive tactics.

“I think I’m a very defensive wrestler, and that’s good,” she said. “In some instances it’s very good to have that in your back pocket, but overall I want to be the aggressor and take shots and set things up.”

Starting wrestling as a freshman, she then trained with Team Tortorice in Crystal Lake, the club owned by Carmel High School graduates Devin and Mikey Tortorice. Larson also threw discus and shot put for Lakes track and field.

Stave called Larson a leader and mentor, even “like a big sister” to her teammates on and off the mat.

“I am grateful to have been able to work with her and so proud of all her accomplishments, and enjoyed watching her grow into the fine young lady she is today,” Stave said.

On and off the mat there will be more to come.

“I’m excited,” Larson said. “I’m excited to go start a new chapter in my book.”

Wide bottoms

For a second straight year the home team won, July 10 at the 25th Battle of the Big Butts lineman’s competition at West Aurora High School.

Twenty-five schools fielded 79 teams with nearly 400 football players participating, according to Blackhawks assistant coach Mike Runge.

West Aurora linemen combined to win the timed agility run and tractor tire relay, and they threw a medicine ball and pushed a five-man sled farther than any other team.

Wheaton North won the bench press competition and Central High School of Burlington won the always fun tug of war.

Individually, Naperville North senior Gabe Hill threw the medicine ball 20 feet, 1 inch to top all athletes, while Wheaton North junior Kai DeGroot navigated the agility course the fastest.

At press time the results of the watermelon eating contest were still being digested.

doberhelman@dailyherald.com