The Gazette’s 2025 all-area girls’ wrestling team: C.R. Prairie’s Mackenzie Childers is Wrestler of the Year

Mackenzie Childers found herself heartbroken at last year’s Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union state tournament after suffering a concussion while chasing an undefeated season.

It took a few months of physical therapy to get her feeling good again.

“Coming back from my concussion was not easy,” Childers said. “I was very dizzy and had slow reaction times. After I finished therapy, I felt like a new wrestler and felt better out there on the mat.”

That was evident in the Cedar Rapids Prairie senior’s season. She won her second IGHSAU state wrestling title and finished the season with a 49-0 record. Childers also tallied 42 falls this season.

Finishing her season on top of the podium after battling back from an injury made her championship win even sweeter.

“I wanted to go out on top even more,” Childers said. “It was more special considering I couldn’t continue wrestling last year.”

Having capped her high school wrestling career, Childers is grateful to the sport of wrestling. The biggest lesson she’s learned is the perfect summary of her journey on the wrestling mat.

“If you face adversity, you just have to get up and keep going,” Childers said. “I’m a firm believer that the hardest things in life are the most rewarding.”

Just as she’s learned from the sport, she hopes to inspire the next generation of Hawk wrestlers with a simple formula for success.

It’s about taking it day by day, connecting with wrestlers, and of course, having fun.

“Every day, focus on one thing and position to get better,” Childers said. “Focus on having fun and making friends. When your wrestling career is over, it’s about the connections you’ve made along the way.”

Childers is looking forward to wrestling at the collegiate level. While she’s unsure of her next destination, she’s got it narrowed down to a few schools.

“I’m staying in Iowa — that’s for sure,” Childers said. “I am looking forward to chasing a national title now, instead of a state title.”

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Coach of the year

East Buchanan co-head coaches Dan Stiefel and Kendra Burchett led the Buccaneers to their first girls’ wrestling state title in school history.

After finishing as runners-up the last two seasons, their program has finally reached the mountaintop.

Stiefel says becoming state champions was years in the making at East Buchanan.

“The girls put in so much work and time to achieve a state title,” Stiefel said. “A ton of early morning practices, long days and trips for tournaments. It was all worth it, and they’ll forever be known as the 2025 state champions. That is very special.”

Reflecting on what is special about coaching the girls’ wrestling team at East Buchanan, Stiefel keeps it rather simple.

“The best part of leading the girls’ wrestling team is building great relationships and teaching all the great things that come from wrestling,” Stiefel said. “We give any girl that comes into the room a chance to be great.

“It’s about seeing the kids achieve their goals and become great people.”

Stiefel and Burchett have been at the helm of East Buchanan’s girls’ wrestling program since its inception six years ago. The duo was also named Class 1A coaches of the year by the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association.

2025 All-Area Girls’ Wrestling Team

100 pounds — Chloe Sheffield, sr., Decorah. Finished in third place in Class 1A with a season record of 39-5 and ends her high school career as a two-time state medalist for the Vikings.

105 — Kate Martin, fr., Mount Vernon. Capped off her first season of high school wrestling with a 33-15 record and fourth-place state finish.

110 — Kate Seery, jr., Linn-Mar. Earned a Class 2A third-place finish with a final record of 40-3. Of her 40 wins, 32 were by fall.

115 — Ellie Weets, sr., Vinton-Shellsburg. Placed fifth in Class 2A and tallied a season record of 51-11.

120 — Silvia Garcia-Vasquez, sr., West Liberty. Class 1A state champion with a record of 42-2 and 33 falls on the year.

125 — Anna O’Rear, jr., West Delaware. Class 2A runner-up with a 33-4 season record and became the Hawks’ first finalist in program history.

130 — Mackenzie Childers, sr., Prairie. Ended the year with a 49-0 record and a Class 2A title. Finishes her career as a two-time champ for Prairie.

135 — Destiny Krum, sr., East Buchanan. Finished as a Class 1A runner-up with a 56-6 record. Of her 56 wins on the year, 53 were by fall.

140 — Chloe Sanders, jr., Vinton-Shellsburg. Earned a Class 1A third-place medal with a season record of 54-3.

145 — Anastasia Simon, jr., Decorah. Class 1A runner-up with a 41-3 record.

155 — Lizzy Wolf, jr., Benton Community. Class 1A third-place finisher with a season record of 33-2.

170 — Autumn Elsbury, jr., South Tama. Won the Class 2A title and finished with a 45-0 record and 40 falls.

190 — Libby Dix, sr., Mount Vernon. Won the Class 1A title and finished the year 45-0. Ends her career as a four-time placewinner (two state titles) for the Mustangs.

235 — Ella Brown, sr., Cedar Rapids Kennedy. Earned a runner-up finish in Class 2A with a 34-1 record and 27 falls.