By Bobby Narang
Kaneland High School sophomore wrestler, Angelina Gochis, concluded a stunning season with another memorable performance Saturday, March 1.
A year after winning her first girls state championship, Gochis made it 2-for-2 with a victory over Crystal Lake South sophomore, Annalee Aarseth, in the 110-pound state final at Grossinger Arena in Bloomington.
Andrew claimed the State championship with 66 points, while Hampshire finished second with 51 points and Kaneland notched third with 45.5 points.
“It feels great to get a second state title, and to help our team finish third in the team race,” Gochis said.
Hinsdale South’s Callie Carr, a three-time state qualifier, also finished with a perfect record, riding out a strong season with a powerful two-day showing at the state tournament to capture the 155-pound title. Carr (39-0) earned Hinsdale South’s first girls State title in all sports. Carr won 29 of her 39 matches via pins.
She won the State title by earning a 6-0 decision over Oswego’s Kiyah Chavez in a rematch of the sectional championship.
“I just worked and worked during the offseason, in and out of the room, and I never stopping working right up until this weekend,” Carr said. “I won by technical fall the last two times we wrestled, and I knew she was going to come out hard.”
Chavez gave credit to Carr for her stellar season.
“She’s a heck of a wrestler,” Chavez said of Carr. “This is the fourth time this year we’ve wrestled, and she beat me every time. She’s very talented.”
Montini senior Kat Bell (39-6) missed a chance at winning a state title, losing to Rockford East freshman Saya Hongmoungkhoune in the 100-pound final. Bell, an Aurora University recruit and a four-time state qualifier, said she will learn from the tough defeat.
“I didn’t wrestle my match,” Bell said. “I had to deal with the pressure of it being my senior year, and trying to go out on top…I had really great experiences, and I met a bunch of great people through the sport.”
Glenbard East junior Nadiia Shymkiv (35-2) also earned a second-place medal at state, dropping a 10-5 decision to Roxana’s Chloe Skiles at 105 pounds.