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The Republic's 2023-24 All-Arizona Girls' High School Wrestling Team, Coach of the Year

Chris Coppola, Arizona Republic
·4 min read

Here is The Arizona Republic's All-Arizona High School Girls' Wrestling Team for the 2023-24 season, along with coach of the year. The 12 wrestlers were chosen for their performances in girls' wrestling competition in 2023-24 and are nominees for the girls' wrestler of the year, which will be announced at the Arizona High School Sports Awards, sponsored by Diamond Kitchen & Bath, on June 17 at Arizona Financial Theater in downtown Phoenix. The show is produced in partnership with Western States Home Services. (Wrestlers are listed alphabetically, followed by honorable mentions.)

Republic's 2023-24 All-Arizona Girls' Wrestling Team

Claire Avery, Liberty, Sr.: Won the Division 1 state title in the 152-pound class and finished the season 38-1.

Marana Mountain View wrestler Lillian Gradillas-Flores celebrates beating Liberty wrestler Claire Avery in the 152lbs State Championship match on Feb. 18, 2023, during the State High School Wrestling Championships at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Marana Mountain View wrestler Lillian Gradillas-Flores celebrates beating Liberty wrestler Claire Avery in the 152lbs State Championship match on Feb. 18, 2023, during the State High School Wrestling Championships at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Nevaeh Flemmons Kingman Lee Williams, Jr.: She won the Division II title in the 138-pound class and finished with an impressive 5-2 record this season, according to the AIA.

Alena Garcia, Cesar Chavez, Jr.: Won the Division I state title in the 138-pound class, defeating defending champion (132-class) Taylor Colangelo in the final. She finished the season 29-1.

Taylor Colangelo of Liberty wrestles Alena Garcia, of Cesar Chavez in the D2-138 lbs State Championship match on Feb. 17, 2024, during the State High School Wrestling Championships at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Taylor Colangelo of Liberty wrestles Alena Garcia, of Cesar Chavez in the D2-138 lbs State Championship match on Feb. 17, 2024, during the State High School Wrestling Championships at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Lillian Gradillas-Flores, Marana Mountain View, Sr.: Won the Division I state title in the 165-pound class, her second consecutive individual state championship, and finished the season 31-0.

Arianna Mauch of Perry (left) wrestles Ysela Gradillas-Flores of Marana Mountain View on Feb. 17, 2024, during the State High School Wrestling Championships at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Gradillas-Flores won the match.
Arianna Mauch of Perry (left) wrestles Ysela Gradillas-Flores of Marana Mountain View on Feb. 17, 2024, during the State High School Wrestling Championships at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Gradillas-Flores won the match.

Lily Hunt, Liberty, Sr.: She w on the Division I tile in the 145-pound class to help the Lions win the D-I team championship. She finished the season 38-2.

Lola Hunt, Liberty, Jr.: She won the Division I title in the 114-pound class and finished the season with a 41-3 record, helping to lead the Lions to the D-I team championship.

Jamie Laswell, Cesar Chavez, Sr.: She won the Division 1 title in the 132-pound class an finished the season 28-0.

Madelyn Oliver, Benjamin Franklin, Fr.: She won the Division II title in the 165-pound class and finished the season undefeated, 28-0.

Valley Vista wrestler Brianna Reyes celebrates winning the 126-pound State Championship match on Feb. 18, 2023. She repeated as champion in that class in 2024.
Valley Vista wrestler Brianna Reyes celebrates winning the 126-pound State Championship match on Feb. 18, 2023. She repeated as champion in that class in 2024.

Brianna Reyes, Valley Vista, Sr.: She won the Division I title in the 126-pound class, winning an individual championship for the second straight year. Finished the season 44-1.

Ave Risati, ALA West Foothills, Jr.: Won her second consecutive individual state championship this year, in the Division II 235-pound class. She finished the season 21-1.

Sienna Whitington, AZ College Prep, Jr.: She won the Division II title in the 145-pound class and finished the season with a 39-2 record.

Nylease Yzagere, Peoria, Sr.: Won her second consecutive individual state championship this year, in the Division II 185-pound class. She finished the season 34-0.

Honorable mentions: Khyla Lipumano, Yuma Catholic, So; Divina Diaz Rios, Yuma High, Sr; Sarah Perez, Sahuarita, Jr.; Adilynn Stewart, Cactus, Sr; Miyah Palacios, Sahuarita, Sr; Altagracia Wix, Marcos de Niza, So.; Madeline Mench Mica Mountain, Jr.; Adianna Ponce, Parker, Jr.; Rheanna Tree, Red Mesa, So.; Lyla Tree, Red Mesa, Sr.; Talitha DuBose, Marcos de Niza, So.; Andie Donahue, Valley Christian, Sr.; Shaunna Harper, Apache Junction, Sr.; Kaytlin Laduke, Snowflake, Jr.; Sonora Harper, Round Valley, Sr.; Jozie Shepard, San Pasqual, Sr.; Katy Madril, Greenway, Jr.; Cynthia Martinez, Morenci, Jr.; Brooke Newton, Coolidge, Sr.; Sophia Smith, Canyon del Oro, Jr.;  Kennedy Farrar, Gila Ridge, Jr.; Athea Valenzuela, Basha, So.; Andee Anderson, Basha, Sr.; Elizabeth Valenzuela Smith, Pueblo, Fr.; Jacianna Beltran, Sunnyside, So.; Iliana Castaneda, Sunnyside, Jr.;  Jaylean Alfaro, Sunnyside, So.; Arianna Mauch, Perry, Sr.; Camille Torres, Cibola, Fr.; Vanessa Aguirre, Youngker, Jr.; Taylor Colangelo, Liberty, Sr.; Syria Smith, Goldwater, Jr.; Taina Uasike, Mesa Mountain View, Jr.; Chloe Gatrost, Centennial, Fr.; Daesiah Varner, Cienega, Fr.; Diana Rivera, La Joya, Sr.

Coach of the year

Garrett Finch, Round Valley: He led his team to the state's first Division II girls' wrestling championship, edging traditional wrestling power Sahuarita. The AIA opted to create a second division in girls' wrestling this year, dividing smaller or emerging school programs in the sport. Finch was quoted in an AIA story after the team's win: "They broke up the divisions and gave the small school girls a little bit of a chance to fight for it (title).'' He added:  "These girls worked hard, and we were able to secure a win."

Others considered: Davy Miller, Liberty; William Olivas, Sunnyside; Gabriel Lopez, Sahaurita.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: The Republic's 2023-24 All-Arizona High School Girls' Wrestling Team