5 storylines heading into girls’ wrestling regionals

The 2025 edition of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union regionals brings a few new changes — school-hosted regional sites and two classes of wrestling action.

Here are some of the top storylines to watch during regional wrestling on Friday:

New format

The change to two classes for girls’ wrestling brings a new format to regionals.

This season, schools will be hosting regional meets. Area schools hosting regional meets include Class 1A meets at East Buchanan, Solon and Williamsburg. Class 2A meets are at Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Independence, Iowa City High and South Tama.

Action gets underway at 4 p.m. at most host sites. The Cedar Rapids Jefferson and Iowa City regionals will begin at 5 p.m.

Class 2A brackets will be eight-person brackets, while Class 1A sites will host approximately 20 teams.

The top two at each weight class will advance to the IGHSAU state tournament, Feb. 6-7 at Xtream Arena in Coralville. State tournament tickets go on sale Saturday at XtreamAreana.com.

Dix eyes second title

Mount Vernon’s Libby Dix was at the top of the podium at 190 pounds a year ago.

She won the Wamac title at the same weight class last weekend. Not only did she win, but she got two first-period falls en route to her conference title.

Dix has tallied a 38-0 record this season.

Mount Vernon returns two additional state qualifiers in junior Kiersten Swart and junior Gracie Pinckney.

The Mustangs head to Solon to compete in a Class 1A regional with fellow area teams in Benton Community, Lisbon, Mid-Prairie, Mount Vernon, North Cedar, Solon, Tipton, Union, West Branch and Cedar Rapids Xavier, among others.

Childers’ comeback

At last year’s state tournament, Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Mackenzie Childers had to medically forfeit out of the competition.

Coming off her MVC 130-pound title, Childers is a top contender in her weight class, boasting a 42-0 record. At the MVC tournament last week, Childers won all of her matches by first-period fall.

Prairie also has returning state qualifiers in sophomore Elizabeth Burns, junior Luisa Meade and sophomore Emelia Reyes.

Childers and the Hawks will compete in the Jefferson regional, alongside Anamosa, Ankeny, Jefferson, Clinton, Iowa City Liberty, Linn-Mar and Muscatine.

Lisbon debut

Lisbon is wrapping up its inaugural season.

The Lions are led by senior Lillian Gaiser with a 32-12 record and freshman Emma Dietsch with a 26-6 mark.

During last Friday’s Tri-Rivers Conference meet, the Lions finished second to East Buchanan. Gaiser was Lisbon’s lone conference champ at 120 pounds. Ann Marie Morgan at 100, Jordyn Jarchow at 115, Dietsch at 145, Kaylee Jordan at 155 and Shyanne Crane at 190 all finished second.

South Tama rolling

The South Tama County Trojans won the Wamac girls’ wrestling title last Friday with 260 team points.

The Trojans crowned three champions in Ava Perkins at 135 pounds, Paisley Bro at 145 and Autumn Elsbury at 170. Additional finalists included Jayva Gomez at 105 and Brooklyn Mitchell at 130.

Elsbury leads South Tama with a 36-0 record. She is looking for her first state title, after finishing as a runner-up last season to Iowa’s first four-time state champion, Naomi Simon of Decorah.

South Tama will host a Class 2A regional with Carlisle, Indianola, Iowa City West, Newton, Ottumwa, Pella and Southeast Polk also in attendance.