Coralville, Ia (KICD) – The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union hosted the Wrestling State Championships February 1st and 2nd in Coralville. 12 KICD area athletes competed and 3 came away with finishes on the podium.

GTRA’s Trista Guinn placed 6th in the 110-pound Bracket. Guinn said she had to get through the nerves from wrestling in front of 2 sellout crowds at Xtream Arena

GTRA Coach Max Bergo said Guinn exceded expectations in her Freshman year

Guinn had to practice with the Boys team a few times over the course of the season, and she said that really helped her come February.

Coach Bergo believes that the Girls Wrestling team will see a lot of growth in the next few years.

Spencer’s Shaylee Sutherland fought through a tough match in the blood round and would eventually place 7th. Like Guinn, Sutherland also had to fight through some Nerves.

Spencer Coach Dave Storm was impressed with Sutherland’s tournament.

Spencer’s Olivia Huckfelt won the State Championship back when the IWCA was running the tournament in 2022, and she would claim the 235 pound championship in 2023, the first year of sanctioned Girls Wrestling. Huckfelt was amazed by the experience in Coralville.

Coach Storm talked about Huckfelt’s dominance of the 235 pound division.

Huckfelt was happy that everyone had to qualify for the State Tournament this season.

This Spencer Tiger Group returns all but one of their State Qualifiers next season. Shaylee Sutherland talked about her teams goals for the 2023-24 season.

The Spencer Tigers would finish 13th as a team with 57 points. Waverly-Shell Rock won the State Championship with East Buchanan 2nd and Decorah 3rd.