Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports

After making history a year ago with the first sanctioned season of girls high school wrestling in the state of Iowa the encore season was even more impressive.

Participation numbers surged along with attendance numbers and excitement in the second official girls wrestling season.

It was another impressive season in the Your Prep Sports area with

In 2023 14 area wrestlers advanced to the inaugural Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union state meet.

This season that number rose to 16 wrestlers that competed at the 2024 state meet held February 1-2 at Xtream Arena in Coralville.

The second edition of the Your Prep Sports all-area girls wrestling team features 10 state qualifiers, two state medalists and wrestlers from six different schools.

Solon sophomore McKenna Rogers is the captain of the 2024 Your Prep Sports all-area team after earning the second state medal of her career.

Your Prep Sports Area Girls Wrestling Team

100 – Kara VeDepo (39-8) Jr., Solon: A state qualifier last season, VeDepo enjoyed a breakthrough junior season capturing WAMAC Conference and regional titles before earning her first career state medal going 6-2 on her way to a fourth-place medal at the state meet.

105 – McKenna Rogers (21-3) Soph., Solon: The first two-time IGHSAU state medalist in the Your Prep Sports area, Rogers won a WAMAC Conference title and finished runner-up at the regional meet before going 4-2 at the state meet to place fifth for the second year in a row.

110 – Eliza Mitchell (27-20) Fr., City High: Mitchell wrestled much of the season at 110 pounds before dropping down to 105 pounds for the postseason where she finished third at the Mississippi Valley Conference and fourth at the regional meet to qualify for the state meet.

115 – Marlie McBride (28-16) Sr., Clear Creek Amana: A two-time state qualifier McBride capped her career with a strong senior finishing third at the regional meet before going 1-2 at the state meet.

120 – Alannah Mahoney (25-10) Soph., Solon: A starter last season Mahoney made a big jump this year upping her win total by 10 and placing third at the WAMAC Conference meet and the regional meet to make her state meet debut.

125 – Helen Orszula (30-19) Sr., West High: After winning 12 matches last season as a junior Orszula closed her career with a stellar senior season tying for the team lead in wins, finishing third at the MVC meet and placing fourth at the regional meet to make her first appearance at the state meet.

135 – Evelyn Eggleston (34-7) Soph., Liberty High: An 18-match winner and state qualifier as a freshman last year Eggleston took a big step forward this season finishing runner-up at the MVC meet and winning a regional title before going 2-2 at the state meet.

140 – Olivia Bonnema (32-15) Jr., Solon: Another two-time state qualifier for the Spartans, Bonnema finished third at the regional meet before picking up her first state meet win in her second trip to the stat emeet.

145 – Peyten Van Dyke (30-13) Fr., West High: An immediate contributor in the middle of the West High lineup Van Dyke matched Orsula for the team-high in wins and finished third at the MVC meet and regional meet before going 1-2 in her state meet debut.

155 – Shaona Emmanuel (34-10) Soph., City High: One of the most improved wrestlers in the area this season Emmanuel went from 16-21 a year ago to 34-10 this season winning a Mississippi Valley Conference title before placing sixth at the regional meet.

170 – Teagyn Hartz (26-4) Jr., West Branch: Followed up a strong sophomore season with a stellar junior campaign that included River Valley Conference and regional titles and a 1-2 performance at the state meet.

170 – Molly Carlson (30-13) Soph., City High: Already a two-time state qualifier Carlson followed up a strong debut season by winning an MVC title and finishing runner-up at the regional meet before going 1-2 at the state meet as a sophomore.

170 – Kensi Steele (32-12) Sr., Liberty High: A stalwart in the Lightning lineup Steele finished third at the MVC meet and runner-up at the regional before 3-2 performance at the state meet.

235 – Abigail Carr (18-13) Soph, Liberty High: Yet another area wrestler to make major improvements Carr doubled her win total from a year ago placing sixth at the MVC and regional meets.

*-Denotes Captain

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