Hiller becomes Loyola's first girls wrestling champ, second overall
In Illinois High School Association wrestling, Loyola Academy is on a roll.
A week after senior Massey Odiotti won the Ramblers' first IHSA boys wrestling title, sophomore Harlee Hiller followed with the Ramblers' second title, and the first for Loyola girls wrestling.
Wrestling at 105 pounds over Feb. 24-25 at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington, Hiller swept through her bracket in the individual championships. An IHSA girls dual team tournament has yet to be established.
Seeded No. 1 at 105 pounds, Hiller pinned her initial opponent, East Aurora's Ixzayana Cruz, 33 seconds into the second round.
She followed with another win by fall, 56 seconds into the match against Belleville East's Alexcia Hardin.
Hiller's semifinal foe took a little longer to dispatch. Hiller earned the fall 5 minutes, 38 seconds into the match against East Peoria junior Bailey Lusch to send Hiller into the championship bout.
In her first match in Bloomington to be decided by points, Hiller earned an 8-1 victory over the No. 3 seed, Zoee Sadler of Anna-Jonesboro.
As a freshman in the first IHSA state series for individual girls wrestling in 2022, Hiller placed third at 105 pounds with a record of 22-5.
An indication of the growth of girls wrestling is Hiller this season wrestled 10 more matches, finishing with a record of 32-5.