Bouzakis, Bacon, Juitt, Matakaiongo repeat as Girls National Showcase champions, Fernandez gets OW award

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – It was a great night of action, as many of the nation’s best high school girls put on a show in the finals of the 2025 Girls National High School Recruiting Showcase. Coming in, there were over 150 state champions and more than 100 nationally ranked wrestlers, making this the most impressive field in the history of the event.

Repeating as Showcase champions were Jaclyn Bouzakis of Pennsylvania (100), Emma Bacon of Pennsylvania (125), Louise Juitt of Missouri (140) and Tilisa Matakaiongo of Utah (235).

Bouzakis, who made the 2025 U17 World Team a few weeks ago, was dominant in the highly anticipated final against Junior Nationals champion Katey Valdez of Colorado, claiming a 12-1 technical fall. Bouzakis had her offense going strong in the first period, and closed out the win with a second-period takedown. Bouzakis was a 2023 U17 World bronze medalist.

Bacon, also a 2025 U17 World Team member, put on a show with three huge throws before securing a pin over Zorina Johnson of Washington in 2:13.

Juitt came from behind in a close match with a strong second period to defeat Greta Garbuzovas of Georgia, 5-2. Juitt capped off a busy day after competing in three matches in the U.S. Senior Women’s Open earlier today.

Matakaiongo was trailing 7-0 to Tirza Twoteeth of Montana, the top ranked wrestler in the nation, then hit a sweet headlock to secure a pin in 1:45.  Matakaiongo was also a 2025 Junior Folkstyle Nationals champion.

Winning the Outstanding Wrestler Award was 2024 U17 World champion Taina Fernandez of Maryland, who secured a pin over Morgan Lucio of Arizona in 2:54 at 135 pounds. Fernandez, the No. 1 Pound-For-Pound wrestler in the nation, had three 10-0 technical falls prior to the finals.

Winning her second major national event of the spring was Janiya Johnson of Tennessee, who won an active and entertaining battle at 155 pounds over Cydney Davis of Texas, 8-3 at 155 pounds. Johnson won the 16U Folkstyle Nationals in March, then was second at the U17 World Team Trials in early April.

At 190 pounds, No. 1 nationally ranked Brooke Huffman of Wisconsin continued her strong season with a pin over Makayla Vasser of Nebraska in 1:58. Huffman won the Junior Folkstyle Nationals in March.

Scoring a quick pin in the 145-pound finals was Iowa’s Eve Skrocki, who stopped Ryen Hickey of Colorado in 44 seconds in the finals. Skrocki was a 2025 16U Folkstyle Nationals champion.

With their victories at the Showcase, Matakaiongo, Johnson, Huffman and Skrocki have won the first two legs of the USA Wrestling Triple Crown, and can finish it off with victories in freestyle in Fargo this summer.

In a battle of two highly respected seniors, Harlee Hiller of Illinois secured a fall over Libby Roberts of Washington at the 6:00 mark after a good battle at 115 pounds. Hiller pinned all four of her opponents on the way to the victory.

In a battle of two highly regarded California stars, Sophia Marie Gonzales edged Aubree Gutierrez, 6-5 at 110 pounds. It was a bit of revenge for Gonzales, who lost 7-1 in the semifinals of the California state high school championships in February.

Ella Cohen of California won her first major national event with a dominant 12-1 technical fall over Kirra Mitchell of Georgia at 105 pounds. Cohen won the California state high school title this year, and followed it up with a strong performance at the Showcase.

Three athletes who entered the event without a national ranking, but added a big victory in the Showcase finals to put themselves in the national spotlight, Ava Ebrahimi of California (120), Danica Torres of Arizona (130) and Ciyanna Okocha of Virginia (170).

Ebrahimi won the key positions throughout the match in a 9-4 decision over Nevada’s Maya Fiodorova. Torres opened up her offense as the match progressed in a 17-6 technical fall over Iyanna Crawford of North Carolina. Okocha showed poise in her 9-7 victory over Millie Azlin of Oklahoma, taking a lead and holding off a comeback bid by Azlin.

GIRLS NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL RECRUITING SHOWCASE

At Las Vegas, Nev., April 23-24, 2025

100

1st - Jaclyn Bouzakis (Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory High School Wrestling) T.F. Katey Valdez (Betterman Elite Wrestling), 12-1 (3:59)

3rd - Christina Estrada (Dethrone Wrestling Club) T.F. Riley Karwowski (Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory High School Wrestling), 10-0 (2:07)

5th - Justice Gutierrez (Pomona Wrestling Club Colorado) Dec. Lilly Breeden (Victory Wrestling), 7-6

7th - Zoey Haney (GTH Wrestling) Med. For. Makayla Smith (Primus Wrestling),

105

1st - Ella Cohen (Palo Alto Elite WC) T.F. Kirra Mitchell (The Chicken Coop Wrestling Club), 12-1 (4:01)

3rd - Ava Fodera (Poway Wrestling) F. Sandy Breeden (Victory Wrestling), 1:26

5th - Avy Perez (World Team Training Center) For. Madison Nieuwenhuis (Michigan Premier WC),

7th - Libertie Nigh (Ohio) F. Peggy Susan Dean (Betterman Elite Wrestling), 3:53

110

1st - Sophia Marie Gonzales (Surfside X Wrestling) Dec. Aubree Gutierrez (Surfside X Wrestling), 6-5

3rd - Kayla Batres (South Side Wrestling Club) T.F. Adalyne Montiel (Ascend Wrestling Academy), 11-0 (1:10)

5th - Jennifer Favela (Brawley Wrestling Academy) F. Hannah Naccarati-Cholo (Arizona Girls Wrestling), 5:01

7th - Reanah Utterback (Sebolt Wrestling Academy) Dec. Mai Graham (Steel Valley Renegades), 7-4

115

1st - Harlee Hiller (Izzy Style Wrestling) F. Libby Roberts (Inland Northwest Wrestling Training Center), 6:00

3rd - Marlee Solomon (Team Thunder Wrestling Club) Dec. Gigi Bragg (Michigan Revolution Wrestling Club), 10-4

5th - Angelina Borelli (Dethrone Wrestling Club) F. Malia Ottow (Ascend Wrestling Academy), 1:14

7th - Jazmine Turner (Nor Cal Take Down Wrestling Club) Med. For. Mia Galindo (Virginia),

120

1st - Ava Ebrahimi (Poway High School Wrestling) Dec. Maya Fiodorova (Gold Rush Wrestling Academy Reno), 9-4

3rd - Aleena Navarrete (Sanderson Wrestling Academy) T.F. Emma Grimes (Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory High School Wrestling), 12-1 (3:00)

5th - Morgan Maschmann (The Best Wrestler) Med. For. Noelani Lutz (Gold Rush Wrestling),

7th - Devin Silva (Bullard High School Wrestling) T.F. Delialah Betances (The Storm Wrestling Center), 12-0 (4:24)

125

1st - Emma Bacon (Wyoming Seminary Wrestling Club) F. Zorina Johnson (All-Phase Wrestling Club), 2:13

3rd - Ruby Julien-Newsom (Torrey Pines High School Wrestling) F. Madilyn Peach (Team Nazar Training Center), 5:20

5th - Regina Stoeser (Berge Elite Wrestling Academy) F. Martynique Davis (Thorobred Wrestling Club), 2:48

7th - Mika Yoffee (Legends of Gold Las Vegas) For. Lilyana Balderas (Monster Garage Wrestling),

130

1st - Danica Torres (Arizona Girls Wrestling) T.F. Iyanna Crawford (Pembroke RTC), 17-6 (6:00)

3rd - Emma Chacon (Valiant Wrestling Club) T.F. Brooklyn Perez (Valiant Wrestling Club), 10-0 (2:51)

5th - Abigail Mozden (Samurai Wrestling Club) F. Sophia Ball (Gomez Wrestling RTC), 1:39

7th - Calista Rodish (Ubasa Wrestling Academy) T.F. Dealya Collins (Alber Athletics Wrestling Club), 11-0 (2:00)

135

1st - Taina Fernandez (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) F. Morgan Lucio (Valiant Wrestling Club), 2:54

3rd - Isabella Cepak (Michigan Revolution Wrestling Club) F. Kailani Barrientos (Florida), 0:53

5th - Zoe Fries (Kuna Klub) F. Naima Ghaffar (M3 Wrestling Academy), 5:15

7th - Tammy Grace (Daniel Cormier Wrestling Club) T.F. Quinn Butler (South Dakota), 19-6 (1:49)

140

1st - Louise Juitt (MO West Championship Wrestling Club) Dec. Greta Garbuzovas (Team Alpha Wrestling), 5-2

3rd - Greta Brus (Big Game Wrestling Club) Dec. Amelia Fawcett (Pioneer Grappling Academy), 5-4

5th - Alexis Lazar (Michigan Revolution Wrestling Club) F. Jordyn Parker (Silverback Wrestling Club), 1:21

7th - Maddie Marsh (Red Cobra Wrestling Academy) F. Ailee Briggs (Swamp Monsters Wrestling Club), 3:28

145

1st - Eve Skrocki (Big Game Wrestling Club) F. Ryen Hickey (Mile High Wrestling Club), 0:44

3rd - Faith Bane (North Carolina) Dec. Margaret Buurma (Michigan Revolution Wrestling Club), 8-2

5th - Lucia Ledezma (Granite Wrestling Club) F. Timberly Martinez (MJ Mustangs Wrestling), 2:25

7th - Vivienne Gitke (Colorado) Dec. Adelaida Fernandez (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)), 10-3

155

1st - Janiya Johnson (Tennessee) Dec. Cydney Davis (El Paso Supers Wrestling Club), 8-3

3rd - Matilda Hruby (Brighton Wrestling Club) F. Sarah Henckel (Connecticut), 4:56

5th - Ariel Maicon (Level Up Wrestling Center) Dec. Esperanza Calvillo (Summit Wrestling Academy), 4-4

7th - Hallie Harp (Militia Trained Mat Club) F. Addison Canja (Gold Rush Wrestling), 1:18

170

1st - Ciyanna Okocha (Virginia) Dec. Millie Azlin (Oklahoma), 9-7

3rd - Irelynn Laurin (Tennessee) Dec. Kiley Dillow (Chanute Wrestling Club), 6-2

5th - Shylee Tuzon (GV Wrestling) Dec. Jadyn Pense (St. Helens High School Wrestling), 8-4

7th - Laila Hustoles (Oklahoma) T.F. Ylyana Sandoval (Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory High School Wrestling), 10-0 (1:54)

190

1st - Brooke Huffman (Team Nazar Training Center) F. Makayla Vasser (Nebraska), 1:58

3rd - Mahalia Adams (Virginia) F. Mia Cienega (Ascend Wrestling Academy), 1:27

5th - Carla Campos (Southern Style Wrestling Club) F. Shayla Martinez (Colorado), 4:05

7th - Katianna Martinez (Community Youth Center - Concord Campus Wrestling) F. Serenia Meredith (Hawaii), 3:00

235

1st - Tilisa Matakaiongo (Canyon View Falcons) F. Tirza Twoteeth (Kalispell Wrestling Club), 1:45

3rd - Kitana Leafaatoto (Gold Rush Wrestling) Dec. Alexis Stinson (Never Quit Wrestling), 9-4

5th - Katherine Luna (Downey High School Wrestling) For. Phoenix Molina (Patton Trained WC),

7th - Charley Timms (Khutulun Wrestling Club) F. Jayden Moehle (MO West Championship Wrestling Club), 2:50