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Iowa's Rising Stars: 2025 Top 50 Girls Wrestlers

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Monday, November 17th 2025 at 7:00 GMT by Des Moines Register
      Locale: UNITED STATES

Iowa’s Rising Stars: The 2025 Top 50 Girls Wrestlers

The Iowa High School Wrestling Association’s 2025 Girls Wrestling Top‑50 list has just been released, and the roster is as diverse and competitive as ever. The rankings, compiled by a panel of state coaches and seasoned sports writers, highlight the state’s most dominant teenage wrestlers, spotlighting the depth of talent that has grown in Iowa’s female wrestling program over the past decade.

How the List Was Compiled

The rankings were built around a rigorous set of metrics: performance at the Iowa Girls Wrestling State Tournament, overall win‑loss records against regional and state‑ranked opponents, number of falls, pins, and technical superiority victories, and the consistency of the wrestlers across a full season. Coaches from every participating district submitted their observations, while writers from the Des Moines Register and the Iowa High School Journal cross‑verified data from the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) official results database. The goal was to create a transparent, objective snapshot of the best athletes in the state.

The Big Names in the Top 10

Katie Biscoglia of Marion High School tops the chart at 141‑lb. She finished the season undefeated at 31‑0, winning the state title with five pins in the title match. According to her school’s athletic profile, Biscoglia’s relentless pressure and ability to submit opponents at 180‑lb has already caught the eye of several collegiate programs in the Midwest.

Abigail Peterson, representing Ankeny High School, ranks second. The 156‑lb. competitor posted a 28‑2 record, dropping only one state‑tournament match. In the 2025 state final, Peterson stunned the crowd by securing a technical fall in the last minute. Her high‑school bio notes that she is a three‑time district champion and that she trains at the Ankeny Sports Complex under Coach Laura Greene.

Eve Skrocki of West Des Moines High School sits at the top of the 123‑lb. category. Skrocki’s 30‑1 record included a record‑breaking 14‑pin state title win. Her profile on the West Des Moines athletics website highlights her aggressive double‑leg takedown technique, which has become a staple of her wrestling style.

Beyond these three, the list features standout performers such as Riley Collins of Cedar Rapids High, Megan Ortiz of Sioux City High, and Jasmine Liu of *Burlington High**. All have maintained records above .900 and have earned state medals at least twice.

The Growth of Girls Wrestling in Iowa

The state has seen a dramatic rise in girls wrestling programs. In 2010, there were only 11 teams in Iowa; by 2025, that number had more than doubled to 25. The IHSAA’s recent press release cited an 18% increase in total participants in the girls wrestling category over the last five years. The top‑50 list underscores this trend, featuring wrestlers from both traditional powerhouses and smaller schools that have recently added wrestling programs.

“The depth is remarkable,” notes Coach Michael Ortiz of the Des Moines Wrestling Club. “When I first watched the state tournament last year, I wasn’t expecting to see wrestlers from five‑man‑team schools make it into the top 25.” His observation is echoed in the Des Moines Register’s feature on the state tournament, which highlighted how smaller schools now consistently produce wrestlers with national‑level potential.

A Look at the 2025 State Tournament

The state tournament in Des Moines was a showcase of skill and tenacity. In the 141‑lb. division, Biscoglia outclassed her opponent with a 12‑pin victory in the final, while in the 123‑lb. category, Skrocki used her signature double‑leg takedown to secure a technical fall. Peterson’s 156‑lb. bracket saw her overcome a 12‑point deficit in the semi‑finals before clinching the title in a dramatic last‑minute technical superiority win.

The tournament’s final day also featured an unprecedented number of falls: 46 total, with 28 pins, indicating a shift toward more aggressive wrestling styles across all weight classes. The IHSAA’s official results page, linked from the Des Moines Register article, provides a complete breakdown of match scores and wrestler statistics.

Coaching and Mentorship

Coaches played a pivotal role in the development of these athletes. The Des Moines Register highlighted the work of Coach Maria Hernandez of Burlington High, who runs a year‑long strength and conditioning program specifically tailored for female wrestlers. Her emphasis on nutrition, mental toughness, and technique has produced multiple state medalists, including Jasmine Liu, who appears in the top‑50 list.

Similarly, Coach Laura Greene at Ankeny is recognized for her innovative use of video analysis, allowing Peterson and her teammates to study opponents’ patterns in real time. Greene’s profile on the Ankeny athletics website credits her coaching methods for raising the team’s performance to national relevance.

Future Prospects and National Recognition

Several wrestlers from the top‑50 list are already on the radar of NCAA programs, with coaches from the University of Iowa, Iowa State, and Ohio State scouting Iowa’s best. In 2025, the state’s top three wrestlers were invited to participate in the U.S. Wrestling Federation’s “Elite 50” showcase in New York, a step toward national recognition.

“The list is not just a ranking; it’s a launchpad,” says IHSAA officials. “Our girls wrestlers are proving that Iowa is a breeding ground for world‑class talent.” Their achievements also fuel the momentum behind the upcoming expansion of the state’s girls wrestling scholarships, which the IHSAA is now negotiating with local universities.

Looking Ahead

The Des Moines Register’s article concludes with a look forward: the 2026 top‑50 list will be more competitive as new programs continue to emerge. The state’s wrestling council has announced plans to host a regional “Showcase Day” in 2026 to highlight rising stars and encourage high‑school athletes from neighboring states to attend.

As Iowa’s girls wrestlers continue to dominate, the state's commitment to providing quality coaching, training facilities, and competitive opportunities remains unwavering. The top‑50 list is more than a list of names—it is a testament to a thriving community that nurtures talent, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.