Fernandez, Turner, Gonzales, Leydecker among big winners on Who’s Number One Girls Card

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The action was wide-open and exciting as the nation’s best high school girls wrestlers came together for 2024 Who’s Number One at the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown.

There were 16 athletes who were included in the National Girls High School Rankings Pound-for-Pound (P-4-P) ranking, and seven of the matches had both athletes recognized in the Pound-for-Pound selections.

Among the winners were three of the top four Pound-For-Pound wrestlers in the nation, No. 1 P-4-P Taina Fernandez of Maryland (135), No. 2 P-4-P and No. 4 P-4-P Isabella Marie Gonzales of California (120). In addition, No. 8 P-4-P Everest Leydecker won her third career Who’s Number One bout in her senior season.

Dubbed as the Main Event, Turner poured on the offense in a 14-2 technical fall over No. 24 P-4-P Julia Horger of Pennsylvania, finishing it off with a four-point body lock.

Match summaries follow:

135: No. 1 P-4-P Taina Fernandez, MD vs No. 14 P-4-P Jordyn Fouse, PA, 14-6

In a big opening scramble, Fernandez scored a takedown and Fouse had a two-point reversal. Fernandez quickly got a reversal and two ankle laces to lead 7-2, which was the score at the break. In the second period, there was a great exchange where both athletes may have scored. Referees conferenced and made the score was 8-6, with four points to Fouse and a Fernandez reversal. A Fernandez single leg was finished off, making it 10-6, then a last-second takedown made it 14-6. Fernandez got a counter, spin-behind takedown to end it at 12-6. Fernandez was a 2024 U17 World champion and won her second Who’s Number One bout. Fouse was second behind Fernandez at the U17 World Team Trials. 

105: No. 2 P-4-P Morgan Turner, IL tech fall No. 24 P-4-P Julia Horger, PA, 14-2, 3:17

The officials hit Turner with a caution and one penalty in the first second, for Horger to lead 1-0. A Horger counter attack was white-paddled. Turner scored a takedown and quick leg lace for a 4-1 lead. Turner scored a takedown with a Horger reversal to make it 6-2. Turner added a single leg takedown to make it 8-2. Turner finished a single leg for a takedown in the last 10 seconds of the period for a 10-2 lead at the break. Turner closed it out with a four-point body lock and a 14-2 technical fall. Turner was a 2023 U17 World champion, adding a 2024 U17 World bronze medal. Horger was a 2024 16U Nationals champion.

120: No. 4 P-4-P Isabella Marie Gonzales, CA dec. No. 22 P-4-P Savannah Witt, PA, 9-8

Her second Who’s Number One appearance, Gonzales hit a low single takedown to lead 2-0. Witt fired up the local crowd with a crotch lift for two points to tie it at 2-2. Gonzales answered with a blast double for four points, but Witt responded with a two-point reversal on a quarter nelson to make it 6-4 at the break. Gonzales scored a low single leg and got behind for a takedown and an 8-4 lead. Witt scored a high crotch takedown with 44 seconds left to make it 8-6. Witt scored a takedown to tie it at 8-8 and time ran out. Martinez had criteria with a four-pointer, and the Witt corner challenged the action, but it was denied, a 9-8 win. Gonzales was fifth in the 2024 U17 World Championships, while Witt was a 2024 Junior Nationals runner-up.

100: No. 6 P-4-P Jaclyn Bouzakis, PA tech fall No. 20 P-4-P Hailey Delgado, TX, 11-0, 1:05

Bouzakis, a 2023 U17 World bronze medalist, got a go-behind takedown, then scored two straight turns for a 6-0 lead. She went right back into a turn, flipping Delgado twice to finish off a 10-0 technical fall. The Delgado corner challenged but it was denied, closing it out at 11-0. Bouzakis was a 2024 16U Nationals champion, while Delgado made the 2024 U17 World Team.

125: No. 8 P-4-P Everest Leydecker, AZ tech fall No. 18 P-4-P Me'kala James, CA, 11-0, 1:26

Leydecker scored first on a step out after a leg attack to lead 1-0. Leydecker followed with a four-point takedown and a 5-0 lead. Leydecker nailed another four-point double leg on the edge for a 9-0 lead. Leydecker closed it out with a spin-behind takedown for an 11-0 technical fall. Leydecker, who won her third career Who’s Number One match, is a two-time U17 World Team member, while James was a 2024 U17 Nationals champion.

140: No. 9 P-4-P Bella Williams, OK dec. No. 15 P-4-P Isis France AZ, 3-1

France was put on the shot clock in the first period and couldn’t score in 30 seconds, giving France a 1-0 lead, which was the score at the break. In the second period, Williams was put on the shot clock and didn’t score in 30 seconds, tying it at 1-1 and giving France criteria. Williams responded with a slide by takedown to lead 3-1 with 30 seconds to go. France could not score in the final 20 seconds. This was a rematch of the 2024 U17 World Team Trials finals series, which was won by Williams.

130: No. 10 P-4-P Aubre Krazer, PA tech. fall Taina McGowan, NJ, 10-0, 5:06

McGowan was put on the shot clock, and quickly Krazer got an ankle pick takedown and an ankle lace turn to lead 4-0. After 30 seconds with no McGowan score, Krazer led 5-0. A caution-and-one penalty against McGowan made it 6-0 and a quick throw by takedown on the buzzer gave Krazer an 8-0 lead at the break. In the second period, Krazer added scored a takedown on the edge for a 10-0 technical fall. Krazer was a 2023 Junior Nationals champion.

115: No. 11 P-4-P Epenesa Elison, CA dec. Charlie Wylie, NJ, 12-5

Right off the bat, Elison scored first on a single leg takedown to lead 2-0. After a stepout point for Wylie, Elison scored a takedown for a 4-1 lead. Wylie took a double leg to a takedown for a 4-3 score. Elison hit a single leg takedown to make it 6-3 at the break. In the second period, Elison scored a counter takedown for an 8-3 lead. Elison scored a low single to make it 10-3, then Wylie scored a go-behind to close it to 10-5. A final single leg takedown for Elison stretched it to 12-5 for the win. Elison was a member of the 2024 16U World Team. Wylie

110: No. 17 P-4-P Taylor Whiting, WI dec. No. 7 P-4-P Heather Crull, IN, 4-2

Whiting takes a single leg shot and doubled off for a takedown to an immediate leg lace to lead 4-0. Crull responded with a single leg takedown to close it to 4-2 at the break. In the second period, Crull took shots but Whiting showed great defense. Officials broke a strong Crull attack with a shoulder injury to Whiting. Crull was unable to score at the end, giving Whiting a 4-2 victory. Whiting was a 2024 Junior Nationals champion at 100, while Crull won the 2024 Junior Nationals at 105 pounds.

145: Sarah Henckel, CT dec. Charlotte Gilfoil, PA, 4-2

Henckel, in her second Who’s Number One appearance, was put on the shot clock first, giving Gilfoil a 1-0 lead when 30 seconds ran out. Henckel finished off a shot which started during the activity time for a takedown and a 2-1 lead going into the break. Early in the second, Henckel did a snap down and go behind for a takedown and a 4-1 lead. A Gilfoil attack led to a step out and a 4-2 score. Gilfoil got behind Henckel in the final 10 seconds, but couldn’t break the quad-pod when time ran out. Henckel, a two-time Prep Nationals champion, won the 16U Nationals in 2022.

155: Janiya Johnson, TN tech fall Sarah Pulk, MN, 10-0, 3:23

Johnson, a 2024 16U Nationals champion, scored the first takedown on a counter shot to a high single leg to lead 2-0. Johnson added a second takedown on another single leg lifted up and tripped to lead 4-0 at the break. In the second period, Johnson opened strong with a single leg and two ankle laces to win by technical fall, 10-0.

The competition will continue with the boys card, which is set for 3:00 p.m. ET

WHO’S NUMBER ONE

At Johnstown, Pa.,

Girls Results

In bout order, with Pound-For-Pound ranking listed

155: Janiya Johnson, TN tech fall Sarah Pulk, MN, 10-0, 3:23

130: No. 10 P-4-P Aubre Krazer, PA tech fall Taina McGowan, NJ, 10-0, 5:06

145: Sarah Henckel, CT, dec. Charlotte Gilfoil, PA, 4-2

100: No. 6 P-4-P Jaclyn Bouzakis, PA tech fall No. 20 P-4-P Hailey Delgado, TX, 11-0, 1:05

110: No. 17 P-4-P Taylor Whiting, WI, dec. No. 7 P-4-P Heather Crull, IN, 4-2

140: No. 9 P-4-P Bella Williams, OK dec. No. 15 P-4-P Isis France AZ, 3-1

120: No. 4 P-4-P Isabella Marie Gonzales, CA dec. No. 22 P-4-P Savannah Witt, PA, 9-8

125: No. 8 P-4-P Everest Leydecker, AZ tech. fall No. 18 P-4-P Me'kala James, CA, 11-0, 1:26

135: No. 1 P-4-P Taina Fernandez, MD vs No. 14 P-4-P Jordyn Fouse, PA, 14-6

115: No. 11 P-4-P Epenesa Elison, CA dec. Charlie Wylie, NJ, 12-5

105: No. 2 P-4-P Morgan Turner, IL, tech fall No. 24 P-4-P Julia Horger, PA, 14-2, 3:17