The 2024 Post-Dispatch All-Metro winter series continues with girls wrestling.
Read more about girls wrestling, and other high school sports, at .
Francis Howell Central junior Kailey Benson is the Post-Dispatch All-Metro girls wrestler of the year.
All-Metro girls wrestling first team
Isabelle Apple, junior, Francis Howell NorthÂ
After two pins and a 7-2 decision, Apple (41-4) fell short of a state title when she lost 3-1 to second-time finalist Aroma Cordato (47-1) of Fort Osage in Class 2 at 110. Apple placed sixth as a sophomore.Â
Cassidy Benwell, senior, Holt
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A three-time first-team selection, Benwell (30-3) fell short of a third state title when she lost 3-2 to another two-time champion, Southern Boone's Callie Bergthold, in the Class 1 title match at 120. Benwell will continue her career at Lindenwood University.
Abby Chandler, senior, Northwest
After an opening-round forfeit victory, Chandler (37-3) used three first-period pins to capture the Class 2 title at 235. The first girls state champ in program history, Chandler earned second-team All-Metro honors a year ago after placing third in Columbia. She was fourth at state as a sophomore.
Taylor Dawson, junior, Collinsville
Dawson (47-1) pinned her way to the Illinois title match at 130, where she came up short in a 4-2 loss to Lockport's Claudia Heeney. Dawson earned third-team All-Metro honors as a freshman state runner-up and was a second-team All-Metro choice last year when she placed third.
Jena Gumahin, sophomore, Fort Zumwalt SouthÂ
Gumahin (38-2) dominated in Columbia, combining three pins and a major decision in her run to the Class 2 title at 125. She took fifth as a freshman and pinned two-time champ Angelina Vargas of Park Hill early in the third period for this year's championship.
Zoey Haney, junior, Troy Buchanan
A two-time second-teamer, Haney (36-1) dominated this season to capture the Class 2 title at 100 pounds. At state, she posted two pins, a major decision and 7-0 victory. She pinned Timberland's Taylor Reiter midway through the championship match.
Madeline Haynes, junior, Summit
A three-time All-Metro first-team selection, Haynes (33-2) picked up her third consecutive state runner-up finish when she dropped a 6-3 decision to three-time champ Brenya Crahan (52-0) of Nixa in the title match at 145. Haynes had three pins to advance to that title match.
Mya Hairston, junior, Festus
Hairston (33-2) pinned her way to the Class 1 championship at 100 pounds, becoming Festus' first girls state champ by beating Sikeston's Ellie Douglass for the title. Hairston took sixth as a Windsor freshman and placed fourth for Festus last year; she earned third-team All-Metro honors each time.
Maddie Johnson, senior, Lafayette
The top finisher on a Lancers squad that won five medals and placed sixth in Class 2, Johnson capped her prep career with a 37-5 record and a runner-up state finish. She lost by fall to Belton's Savanna Franklin (50-3) in the championship match at 135 pounds.
Kenadee McDowell, freshman, Francis Howell
After two pins and a 3-0 victory over four-time medalist Audrey Scherer of Lindbergh, McDowell (42-5) capped her first season of high school wrestling with a loss by fall to two-time champion Jessa Joiner (48-0) of Lebanon in the Class 2 title match at 115 pounds.
Annelise Obermark, senior, Washington
Obermark (50-3) capped her career with back-to-back runner-up finishes. After two quick pins and a 5-1 win, she lost 6-3 to four-time medalist and three-time champion Sevreign Aumau (40-0) of Grain Valley in the Class 2 final at 140. Obermark earned third-team honors as a sophomore and was a second-teamer last year.
Maggie Ortmann, junior, Washington
After pinning her way to the Class 2 title match at 155, Ortmann (51-5) was pinned midway through the title match by Nixa's Calyese Dupree (40-2), who placed third at 155 as a sophomore. Ortmann pinned Howell Central's Dana Thee Sanchez in the state semifinals, avenging a pair of losses from earlier this season.
Dorie Richardson, junior, Sullivan
Richardson (38-3) became her school's first female wrestling champion. After moving into the Class 1 title match at 140 with two pins and a tech fall, Richardson was in a championship battle with returning state medalist Riley Howell of Brookfield. Tied 2-2 late, Richardson came up with a takedown with 21 seconds left for the 4-2 decision.
Norah Swaim, senior, Edwardsville
After transferring in from Rhode Island for her senior season, Swaim (21-2) made a quick impact on the Tigers program with a third-place state finish at 120. A McKendree College recruit, Swaim rallied to win her final two matches after a 5-1 semifinal loss to eventual state champion Angelina Cassioppi of Rockton Hononegah.
All-Metro girls wrestling second team
Anna Bowles, sophomore, Francis Howell
Bowles (40-16) lost in the Class 2 title match at 120 to wrestler of the year Kailey Benson.
Jailyn Ebert, senior, Fort Zumwalt North
A third-teamer as a sophomore, Ebert (48-8) finished fourth at 115 this season in Class 2.
Toby Goertz, senior, Lafayette
A third-teamer last year, Goertz (45-10) again placed fourth at 125 in Class 2.
Aaliyah Grammer, junior, Lafayette
Fourth at 235, Grammer (34-7) improved on last year's fifth-place finish in Class 2.
Mina Himmel, senior, Timberland
The third-place finisher at 145 in Class 2, Himmel (42-5) took fifth a year ago.
Sophie Johnson, senior, Francis Howell Central
Third at 135, Johnson (40-8) was 1 of 7 medalists for Class 2 champions.
Cheyenne Kincade, freshman, De Soto
A strong start to high school wrestling for Kincade (51-8), who placed fourth at 110 in Class 1.
Taylor Reiter, senior, Timberland
Class 2 runner-up at 100, Reiter (33-11) placed sixth as a junior.
Elizabeth Riggs, senior, Wright City
Riggs (42-3) rallied after a Class 1 loss in semifinals to take third at 125.
August Rottmann, junior, Highland
A returning state champ and All-Metro first-teamer, Rottmann (28-5) took sixth after being injured at state.
Dana Thee Sanchez, junior, Francis Howell Central
Rallied after a semifinal loss to capture third at 155, finished 40-5.
Audrey Scherer, senior, Lindbergh
A four-time medalist headed to Grandview University in Iowa, Scherer (50-3) was third at 115. Placed 2nd, 2nd and 5th previously.
Nevaeh Smith, junior, Francis Howell Central
Smith (41-3) lost by one to the eventual champion in the semis but rallied to take third at 130 in Class 2.
Paige Tihen, sophomore, Fort Zumwalt South
Tihen (37-9) earned a fourth-place medal at 105 in Class 2, losing twice to the same opponent.
All-Metro girls wrestling third teamÂ
Kendra Bliss, senior, Washington
Offseason knee surgery limited Bliss (24-4), who won a state title as a junior.
Ella Bradley, senior, De Soto
Bradley (40-6) took fifth at 155 in Class 1; she placed third to close out her sophomore and junior seasons.
Alanah Braun, senior, Francis Howell Central
Braun (36-10) won the fourth-place medal at 190 for Class 2 team champions.
Mialee Copeland, sophomore, Francis Howell
Copeland (38-6) finished strong to take fifth at 105 pounds in Class 2.
Zoe Fisher, senior, Pacific
Another third-team honor for Fisher (38-7), who placed fifth at 125 in Class 1
Hannah Henderson, junior, Lafayette
Henderson (42-11) avenged quarterfinal loss with win in fifth-place match at 120 in Class 2.
Jossie Hopkins, junior, St. Clair
All six of Hopkins' 130-pound matches at state were decided by pin. She went 40-12, placed fourth in Class 1.
Lexington Johnson, sophomore, McCluer North
Fifth-place state finish at 190 in Class 2 was one spot better than last year for Johnson (34-3).
Stevie Lupo, senior, Francis Howell Central
Lupo (39-9) shook off a first-round loss to finish fifth at 115 in Class 2.
Addison Neumann, junior, Eureka
Neumann (40-10) lost her first state match but rallied to finish fifth at 235 in Class 2.
Cecile Puati, sophomore, St. Charles
Puati (38-11) rallied after a one-point semifinal loss to finish fifth at 100 in Class 1.
Eddyson Reeves, senior, Herculaneum
A repeat third-teamer, Reeves (46-8) placed fifth at 140 this year in Class 1.
Taya Stanford, senior, Parkway South
Stanford (39-11) lost to eventual 135-pound champ in semis and ended up fourth in Class 2.
Holly Zugmaier, junior, Edwardsville
One of the Tigers' six state qualifiers, Zugmaier (34-8) placed sixth at 125 pounds.
Francis Howell Central junior Kailey Benson is the Post-Dispatch All-Metro girls wrestler of the year.