Call it fitting or fate, but the Illinois High School Association has celebrated the achievements and determination of the pioneers of female high school sports in Illinois throughout the 2021-22 school year, as the country has celebrated the 50-year anniversary of Title IX.
Another feat was added to that ever-grwoing list, as the IHSA conducted its first-ever IHSA Individual Girls Wrestling State Finals in 2022. The event unfolded at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington on February 25-26. The state tourney culminated with the crowning of the inaugural state champions in 14 different weight classes.
The future trivia question asking “who were the first sisters to win IHSA Individual Girls Wrestling State Championships?” was also resolved in year one, as Hononegah High School’s sister act of Angelina Cassioppi (Freshman, 100 lbs) and Rose Cassioppi (Junior, 170 lbs) both stood atop the podium in their respective weight classes on Saturday.
---2022 IHSA Individual Girls Wrestling State Champions---
100 lbs - Angelina Cassioppi, Hononegah
105 lbs - Gabriella Gomez, Glenbard North
110 lbs - Shea Reisel, Somonauk
115 lbs - Maya Davis, Glenwood
120 lbs - Cadence Diduch, Freeport
125 lbs - Natasha Markoutsis, Yorkville
130 lbs - Alexis Janiak, Plainfield South
135 lbs - Attalia Watson-Castro, Homewood- Flossmoor
140 lbs - Antonia Phillips, Alton Senior
145 lbs - Sydney Perry, Batavia
155 lbs - Lexi Ritchie, Tolono Unity
170 lbs - Rose Cassioppi, Hononegah
190 lbs - Jayden Huesca Rodriguez, West Chicago
235 lbs - Kiara Ganey, Belleville East