Mt. Pleasant, IA- The Southeast Conference (SEC) has officially released the All-Conference Awards and underclassmen rule both the 1st Team and 2nd Team with a total of only five seniors on either list. Burlington yielded the most 1st Team selections.
Wrestler of the Year
Earning Wrestler of the Year and the only member of Keokuk to make the 1st or 2nd Team was Jalyiah Gardner. The All-SEC 1st Team honoree tore through the regular season and earned the #3-seed for the 2025 state tournament. An inspired performance saw Garnder skip her way to the championship bout for the 140-pound weight class.
Against #8 Teagan Carritt of Logan-Magnolia-Woodbine, Gardner was unable to grab one last win, falling to Carritt. Gardner touts a 41-4 record for the season and 2nd place at the state tournament. She finished the season with a 44-5 record.
Burlington
The Grayhounds had seven members earn 1st Team honors with four of the wrestlers making a trip to the state tournament.
In the 105-pound weight class, Grace Navarre, a sophomore, was able to collect 31 wins during the season and punch her ticket to the state tournament. Grabbing the #13-seed, Navarre pulled off an upset with a 1-0 decision victory over #4 Lila Sheehan of Mason City.
However, Navarre would fall in her next two matches and claim a 32-19 record for the season.
In the 110-pound weight class, junior Sarina Cline grabbed 1st Team honors. Cline snatched 30-plus wins for the season and finished just a spot short of punching her ticket to the state tournament.
Brooklyn Sparrow, a junior in the 120-pound weight class, took home 1st Team honors. Sparrow collected 15 wins for the season.
In the 135-pound weight class, sophomore Mia Oddo also turned in a stellar campaign that ended with a trip to the state tournament and 1st Team All-Conference. Oddo had a tough draw as the #16 seed and turned in a record of 25-25.
Amaziah Twillie, a freshman in the 155-pound weight class, pulled off two terrific upsets as she knocked off the #4 seed and advanced to the semifinals. However, Twillie could not parlay her day one success onto day two as her day started with a loss to #1 Haylee McGrew of Ankeny in the semifinals.
In the consolation bracket, #4 Shanona Emmanuel of Iowa City, City High took advantage of the rematch, registering a quick pin of Twillie. The loss sent the freshman to the 5th place match where #9 Kalen Jo Westerfield of Lewis Central pulled off the win by fall.
Twillie collected a 6th place finish and a 29-13 record.
Tabbing 1st Team All-SEC honors was senior Kiara Rodriguez of the 190-pound weight class. The senior performed well on day one of the state tournament , but Rodriguez fell to #9 Maddison Wright of Lewis Central, placing her in the 7th place match but due to medical forfeit she could not wrestle. Ending her season with a 37-6 record and 8th place at state.
Lastly, Alannah Peterson took home 1st Team All-SEC honors in the 235-pound weight class as she also made a run through the state tournament. On the final day, Peterson took down #7 Sage Dzeladini of North Scott by major decision to take one more step towards the bronze.
However, Peterson lost by ultimate tiebreaker to #3 Aniyah Smith, casting her to the 5th place match. With a rematch against #5 Delilah Subsin of Ottumwa in place Peterson had learned everything she needed from her first matchup, defeating the Bulldog by fall.
Peterson took home 5th place and a 24-6 record for the season.
Freshman Wandy Luna (115), senior Emma Warth (125), junior Sara Cruz (130), and sophomore Macy Peterson (170) yielded 2nd Team honors.
Fort Madison
The Bloodhounds had two state qualifying wrestlers for the season and two wrestlers grab 1st Team honors.
In the 125-pound weight class, Briena Fenton, a sophomore, competed well throughout the season and collected the #14-seed for the state tournament. Fenton went on to finish the season with a 36-18 record.
Mara Smith earned 1st Team honors for the 130-pound weight class. The junior qualified for the third straight year for the state tournament. Smith started off the third session with a matchup against #10 Tatum Heaberlin of Gilbert on her path towards third place. Smith collected a hard-fought victory by fall to advance one step closer to the third-place match.
Smith pinned #11 Brielle Parke of Linn-Mar to punch her ticket to the bronze medal match against #3 Kylee Shoop of West Delaware. Unfortunately, Shoop proved to be too much, defeating Smith by major decision.
Smith finished in 4th place and with a 46-6 record for the season.
Taking home 2nd Team honors were sophomore Kat DiPrima (140), junior Tatum Peters (155), and junior Mady Emmett (190).
Mt. Pleasant
The Panthers had two wrestlers finish their season with 1st Team All-SEC honors with one making the trip to the state tournament.
Paris Phosy took a big step in improvement for her sophomore campaign, snatching 1st Team All-SEC for the 115-pound weight class. Phosy collected 15 wins, including a 5-3 record against other SEC foes.
If there was an award for it in the SEC, Zenlynn Lee, a junior, would most certainly have earned Comeback Wrestler of the Year after missing all of last season with a knee injury and returning to dominate, taking home 1st Team honors for the 145-pound weight class.
Lee’s time at the state tournament did not quite go to plan as the #6-seed, but in a year where she said that she was trying to get back to full form and still grabbed a 23-7 record for the year, it was mighty impressive.
Earning 2nd Team honors for the Panthers was freshman Quintrie Lee (110).
Fairfield
Samantha Lyons gets to soak up the spotlight as the only Trojan on the 1st Team, as the sophomore grabbed the spot at the 170-pound weight class. Lyons had no trouble on day one of the state tournament, advancing to the semifinals.
Unable to pull off one more upset, Lyons was set loose in the consolation bracket, where she handled #6 Gracie Pinckney, advancing to the third-place match on a 7-1 decision victory over Pickney. Lyons would garner 4th place after losing to #2 Layna DeMoss of Benton by major decision.
Lyons ended the season with a 35-6 record.
Sophomore June Conner (100), junior Alyia Abbot (105), and sophomore Kendra Allsion (235) snatched 2nd Team honors.
Washington
The Demons did not have any 1st Team wrestlers but grabbing 2nd team honors were sophomore Ryha Wellinton (135) and senior Peggy Miller (145).
Wrestling Academic All-Conference
Wrestler Team
Alannah Peterson Burlington
Edine Saint Amine Burlington
Brooklyn Sparrow Burlington
Emma Warth Burlington
Alyia Abbott Fairfield
Kendra Allison Fairfield
Madalyn Emmett Fort Madison
McKayla Schinstock Fort Madison
Tatum Peters Fort Madison
Mara Smith Fort Madison
Jalyiah Gardner Keokuk
Jaylah Gardner Keokuk
Reagan Haage Keokuk
Katie Ettinger Mount Pleasant
Zenlynn Lee Mount Pleasant
Peggy Miller Washington