The Gazette’s 2024 all-area girls’ wrestling team

The 2023-2024 girls’ wrestling season was a historic one with Decorah’s Naomi Simon crowned the state’s first four-time state champion.

Simon, a senior who committed to wrestle at Iowa, finished her high school career with a 130-0 record and one thing has gotten her to this point — hard work, and a lot of it.

Because of that hard work and success, Simon is the first Gazette-area Girls’ Wrestler of the Year.

“It’s something that has taken a lot of hard work but has been a really fun, complicated and educational process,” Simon said. “I am glad that I’ve been able to be on this journey for myself.”

When she toes the line during a match, you may think competing is Simon’s favorite part of wrestling.

That’s not exactly the case.

“Without all of the practices and lifts, I would never be good,” Simon said. “Practices, lifts, runs and the broader picture of learning through wrestling is what is really fulfilling to me.

“While the work is hard, I always enjoy it, and practice is my favorite part to each day.”

Decorah’s Gene Adams is the Coach of the Year

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The Viking who spearheads those practices, lifts and runs is head coach Gene Adams, who was named the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association (IWCOA) Coach of the Year.

Adams, a 24-year coaching veteran who has spent time at the middle and high school levels, is The Gazette’s Coach of the Year.

This season, Adams led Decorah to the school’s first state championship in girls’ wrestling. Getting there may not have been easy, but that didn’t bother the Vikings.

“They are not afraid of hard work,” Adams said. “I’m proud of how the team came together and supported one another. The girls handled the pressure and took control of their fate.

“Everyone on the team can call themselves state champions.”

That goal was set early in the season, and Adams did what he could to ensure the Vikings became the state’s best.

“I needed to be there to be calm, console them, empathize with them and motivate them to keep an eye on the prize and accomplish the best place they can,” Adams said.

The Gazette’s 2024 all-area girls’ wrestling team

100 pounds — Chloe Sheffield, jr., Decorah — A runner-up at state who ended the season with a 37-6 record.

105 — Mckenna Rogers, so., Solon — Finished in fifth place at the state meet with a 21-3 record and all of her victories were by fall.

110 — Kiersten Swart, so., Mount Vernon — Came in third at state, finishing the season with a 37-4 record. At state, Swart won four of her six matches by four points or less.

115 — Reanah Utterback, jr., Sigourney-Keota — A state champ who won all matches this season by fall or tech fall, compiling a 49-0 record.

120 — Bree Swenson, sr., Vinton-Shellsburg — Finished sixth at state and ends her wrestling campaign with a 58-6 season record. Fifty-five of her victories were by fall.

125 — Jillian Worthen, jr., Union Community — Came in fifth at state with a season record of 29-2, which included a perfect regular season.

130 — Chloe Sanders, so., Vinton-Shellsburg — Earned third at state and compiled a 60-4 record with 51 falls.

135 — Maeley Elsbury, sr., South Tama — Finished her high school career with a third-place state finish and 35-2 record.

140 — Dionni Garcia-Vasquez, sr., West Liberty — Ended the season with a 45-3 record, 41 pins and a fifth-place state finish.

145 — Anastasia Simon, so., Decorah — Tallied a 43-3 record and earned a third-place finish at state.

155 — Lauren Luzum, so., Decorah — Ended the season with a 39-8 record and eighth-place state finish.

170 — Naomi Simon, sr., Decorah — Earned a state championship to cap off her high school wrestling career with a season record of 48-0.

190 — Libby Dix, jr., Mount Vernon — Won a state title as the No. 4 seed to become the Mustangs’ first girls’ champion. Dix ended the year with a 36-1 record.

235 — Breanna Peach, so., Iowa Valley — Earned a runner-up finish and a record of 35-1, with the lone loss coming in the state finals to Spencer’s Olivia Huckfelt.

Wrestler of the Year — Naomi Simon, sr., Decorah

Coach of the Year — Gene Adams, Decorah