Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The girls wrestling season is already rolling.

Teams got underway last week with every wrestler hoping to earn a spot at the second girls state wrestling tournament scheduled for February 1-2 at Xtream Arena in Coralville.

With area teams already in action we take a look at 12 wrestlers to watch this season in the Your Prep Sports area.

McKenna Rogers

Sophomore, Solon

Rogers emerged as one of the top young wrestlers in the state during an impressive freshman season that saw her post a 39-3 record and a top-five finish at the state meet.

In her first season of prep wrestling Rogers won WAMAC Conference and Regional qualifier titles before going 4-2 on her way to a fifth-place finish at 105 pounds at the state meet.

Rogers had 32 pins among her 39 victories last season.

Molly Carlson

Sophomore, City High

If you are looking for a wrestler with breakthrough potential this season look no further than Carlson who is seeking to build on a freshman season that concluded with a trip to the state tournament.

Carlson went 16-20 last season including a 5-1 effort with five pins in a third-place finish at the regional qualifier.

Carlson went 0-2 at the state meet at 155 pounds last season but is off to a fast start this year going 4-0 with four pins to win the 170-pound title at the City High Invitational last week.

Teagyn Hartz

Junior, West Branch

Following a strong sophomore season that included a 21-9 record and a state tournament berth Hartz will look to work her way onto the medal stand this winter.

Hartz went 3-1 with two pins on her way to a runner-up finish at the regional qualifier last season before going 1-2 in the 170-pound bracket at the state meet.

This season Hartz is off to a strong start going 3-0 with three pins to win the 190-pound title at the West Liberty Invitational on Tuesday.

Elizabeth Eggleston

Senior, Liberty High

A senior leader for the Lightning Eggleston returns to the lineup after leading the team in wins a year ago.

Eggleston went 25-12 as a junior including a 3-3 effort that produced a sixth-place finish at the regional qualifying meet.

She will look to improve on her postseason performance from a year ago while earning a state tournament berth this season.

Marlie McBride

Senior, Clear Creek Amana

A returning state qualifier from last season McBride will be one of the leaders in a Clipper lineup that returns just a pair of starters from a year ago.

McBride was impressive last season going 21-12 including a 3-2 mark in a fourth-place finish at the regional qualifying meet.

McBride went 0-2 in her state meet debut last season at 110 pounds and will look to improve on that performance this season.

Olivia Bonnema

Junior, Solon

A leader in the Solon lineup Bonnema is coming off an impressive sophomore season in which she ranked third on the team with 28 wins and advanced to the state met.

Bonnema went 28-22 last season at 135 pounds including a 4-1 mark with three pins at the regional qualifier that secured a spot at the state meet.

Bonnema will look to build on that success this season after going 0-2 in her state meet debut and is off to a 7-3 start this season at 145 pounds.

Kara VeDepo

Junior, Solon

Part of a strong group of lower weight wrestlers for the Spartans VeDepo is coming off her own impressive season from a year ago.

VeDepo went 27-17 at 110 pounds last season posting a fifth-place finish at the WAMAC Conference meet and going 4-1 with four pins to place third at the regional qualifier.

VeDepo lost both matches at the state tournament last season and is off to a strong start this year winning the 110-pound title at the South Tama tournament and finishing fourth at the Independence tournament.

Evelyn Eggleston

Sophomore, Liberty High

Eggleston capped a strong debut season last winter by earning a spot at the state meet at 145 pounds.

One of two state qualifiers for the Lightning, Eggleston went 5-2 to finish fourth at the regional qualifying meet securing a spot at state.

Eggleston dropped both of her state meet matches finishing the season 19-19 and is off to a strong start this season going 4-0 on her way to the 140-pound title at the City High Invitational.

Natalia Gentiluomo

Junior, West High

Look for Gentiluomo to take a step forward this season after ranking second on the team with 22 wins last season as a sophomore.

Gentiluomo went 22-16 last season including a 2-2 mark at the regional qualifying met at 115 pounds.

This season Gentiluomo is off to a 6-6 start at 120 pounds and finished fifth at the season-opening City High Invitational.

Taylor Cavanh

Sophomore, Liberty High

Cavanh will look to build on the success of a strong freshman season that saw her earn a spot at the state meet at 100 pounds.

Cavanh posted a 17-18 record last season and went 3-2 at the regional qualifier to advance to the state meet.

This season Cavanh has started 2-1 and finished runner-up at 100 pounds at the City High Invitational.

Annabelle Stelpflug

Sophomore, City High

Like her teammate Carlson Stelpflug is another wrestler poised for a breakthrough season this winter.

Stelpflug went 19-19 last season at 145 pounds and was 1-2 at the regional qualifying meet.

This season should be one of improvement for Stelpflug who opened the year going 1-2 at the City High Invitational.

Halle Bormann

Senior, Clear Creek Amana

After just missing out on a trip to the state meet with a fifth-place regional finish last season Bormann will be seeking a spot at the state meet as a senior this winter.

Bormann went 21-20 a year ago, including a 4-3 mark at the regional qualifier.

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