Richwoods and Canton girls wrestlers win silver medals at the IHSA state finals
BLOOMINGTON — Jaida Johnson wrapped up her high school career with another visit to the podium.
After a second-place finish in 2022, the Richwoods senior again was a runner-up at the Illinois High School Association girls wrestling state finals Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena. Her 155-pound state title match ended in a 14-5 major decision loss to Moline senior Maryam Ndiaye.
Ndiaye (31-0) went ahead 8-2 on Johnson (25-4) in the first period off a pair of takedowns and two nearfalls. She escaped three times and got a point by way of a Ndiaye penalty to trail 14-4.
EVERY MATCH: Peoria-area results from the IHSA girls wrestling state finals
Johnson's third-period escape set the final score, helping to give Richwoods its sixth state medalist in the program's three-year history.
A thrilling semifinal victory put Johnson into the final match. She scored a reversal in the final period to give her a 2-1 win on Schaumburg senior Valeria Rodriguez (40-3). That followed Johnson's 1:52 pin in the quarterfinal match against Plainfield South junior Teagan Aurich.
Canton wrestler takes second again
For a second successive season, Canton's Kinnley Smith took a runner-up finish. The junior lost her 125-pound match to Vandalia junior Sophie Bower in a 6-0 decision.
Smith (27-4), who was second at 135 pounds last season, trailed 2-0 from a first-period takedown. She then had her deficit increase to 4-0 in the second period following another takedown.
In the semifinal match, Smith won a 10-0 major decision against Bartlett sophomore Lilly White (31-5). Smith won her quarterfinal match, 1-0, over Edwardsville junior Holly Zugmaier (34-8). A second-period escape proved to be the only point Smith would need.
Richwoods, PND wrestlers take third
Richwoods senior Kailia Williams ended her season on a high note, taking third place at 140 pounds with a 7-4 decision over Richmond-Burton senior Jasmine McCaskel.
Williams (27-2) came back from trailing 2-1 after the opening period for a six-point second period. A pair of takedowns as well as a nearfall put her ahead for good.
Peoria Notre Dame junior Autumne Williams gave the Irish their highest finisher in program history and something to build on for next season. The 170-pounder posted a 22-second fall of Downers Grove North senior Kayleigh Loo. Williams (23-5) scored a takedown just 17 seconds into the match, then seconds later recorded the pin.
IHSA SECTIONALS: Here are the 19 Peoria-area girls wrestlers to advance to the 2024 IHSA state finals
Canton junior Katelyn Marvel (27-6) suffered a pin in 1:47 to Chicago Phoenix sophomore AJ Grant to take fourth at 145 pounds. In the 155-pound bracket, Savannah Hamilton of El Paso-Gridley (14-4) also finished fourth with an 8-2 loss to Alton senior Elanna Hickman.
Among the other state medalists were: Galesburg senior Hannah Almendarez (fifth place at 100 pounds, 23-5 record), Olympia senior Jordan Bicknell (fifth place at 135 pounds, 16-4 record) and Galesburg junior Anna Gibbons (sixth place at 140 pounds, 22-7 record).
In total, 19 Peoria-area wrestlers competed at the third-ever girls state finals.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA girls wrestling: Richwoods, Canton athletes second place at state finals
