14U and 16U Girls Preview
The 14U and 16U girls wrestled Greco as well as Freestyle a year ago. The schedule has them wrestling both again this year, but unlike the boys - the girls begin with Freestyle and finish with Greco. Freestyle begins at 9 am on Thursday June 20th and is scheduled to conclude on Friday afternoon. Greco will be wrestled in one day on Saturday. A year ago, not every team that wrestled Freestyle also wrestled Greco.
The 14U girls are the group we know the least about - so any names that pop up on our radar should be ones to watch. Georgia did not bring a 14U squad last year - so it will be interesting to watch these hammers compete … and they do have a few hammers. Kara Dover has a PIN rating of 1103 … considering that just 50 14U Girls in freestyle wrestlers from across the country have a PIN of 1100 or better - she is certainly one to watch. If Pennsylvania and Washington show up with their hammers they will be the states to watch. Both PA and Washington have 4 girls each with PIN Ratings above 1100 and that could be a factor.
Georgia is simply a one trick pony either … they are tough from 102-127 with Bentley Burke, Kirra Mitchell, Lillian Malloy, and Lexee Harvey. It will be interesting to see how many states being a full squad … filling weights in 14U girls is tough and last year we saw many states with holes throughout their lineups. Tennessee brings a small but mighty group and will look for Ellen Anderson (the only one with a PIN Rating) to help solidify the middle of their lineup. Isabella Sanchez also returns for Team Tennessee after competing at this event in 2023. 14U duals provides a ton of opportunities … just look to Team Florida from a year ago. The 14U’s from the Sunshine State finished 2nd overall to Pennsylvania and did it with 2 holes in their lineup … being competitive with 5 holes is going to be tough, but don’t be surprised to see some of these young ladies finish the week unbeaten.
I am not certain if there was a 16U Women’s Duals a year ago. I do recall a bit of chaos with so many different duals going on at the same time … and remember 14U and Junior girls, but not 16U. That said, below you can see the lineups for 3 SE states headed to Indiana with the 14U’s. You would think that Florida might have an advantage after taking 2nd in 14U’s a year ago with several of those wrestlers moving up to 16U’s this season. Unfortunately - none of the 14U’s from last year are on this year’s 16U squad … meaning some new faces get a shot to step up and make a run.
Each of the SE teams have a few hammers, each also has a few holes. Florida looks like they will be forfeiting 7 weights … that means the 8 with PIN Ratings must step up and get wins to give Florida shot. Isabella McFarlane enters with the highest PIN for Florida at 1043. Georgia is also forfeiting 7 weights - they have fewer wrestlers with PIN Ratings than Florida, but those that have them include Greta Garbuzovas, Ella Hughes, Evey Hill, and Shaylee Bachand. All four could end up unbeaten this weekend. How well the team does will likely come down to how well Cadence Grulla, Ella Wells, and others are able to wrestle. Tennessee has the fewest holes of any of the SE teams … giving up just 5. I say “just” 5, but in reality 5 weights (30 points) is tough. Fortunately Tennessee laos has some hammers in their lineup. Delilah Queen, Cora Finstad, and Janiya Johnson are solid. Easton Dadiomoff went 5-3 at 14U duals last year so she is another one to Tennessee will look to make keep them in each dual.