Huntley senior Janiah Slaughter, who went 37-2 and became the first girls wrestler in McHenry County to win an IHSA individual state championship, is the 2026 Northwest Herald Girls Wrestler of the Year.

Here is the 2025-26 All-Kishwaukee River Conference girls wrestling team, as voted on by KRC coaches.

Check out photos from Saturday's IHSA individual girls state wrestling meet

Hampshire landed four medalists and won its first team championship, while Huntley's Janiah Slaughter earned her school's first individual championship during the IHSA state girls wrestling finals at the Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.

Seven McHenry County athletes, including four from Hampshire, qualified for the semifinal round of the IHSA girls wrestling individual state tournament. In the boys dual team state finals, Marian Central lost to Providence in the Class 2A quarterfinals.

Will McHenry County crown its first state champion? How many girls are competing at state for the first time? Which schools have the most representation? Here are key IHSA state girls wrestling storylines to watch.

Hampshire freshman Stella Piazza won the 115-pound title at the Hampshire Regional and advanced to this weekend's IHSA Girls Wrestling Individual State Tournament. Piazza is the Northwest Herald Athlete of the Week.

Area athletes compete in the IHSA Schaumburg Sectional girls wrestling on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at Schaumburg High School.

Hampshire qualified four individuals, including two champions, for the state tournament to lead all area schools during Saturday's IHSA girls wrestling sectional in Schaumburg. Six McHenry County teams qualified wrestlers for state.

Will Marian Central's postseason dominance continue? Which classes have the most area representation? How many returning state medalists are still in the hunt? Here are top sectional wrestling storylines to watch in McHenry County.

Hampshire led the McHenry County area with four champions, while Huntley, McHenry and Jacobs also landed champions during the IHSA girls wrestling regional at Hampshire High School on Saturday.

Area wrestlers compete in the IHSA Hampshire Regional girls wrestling championship matches on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Hampshire High School.

As a sophomore, Ithandehui Rosas became the first Harvard girls wrestler to qualify for the IHSA state meet. After missing her junior year, Rosas, whose brother and cousins were successful Harvard wrestlers, is ready to make her mark.

Here are all of the IHSA regional, sectional and dual team sectional assignments for McHenry County area boys and girls wrestling teams.

Richmond-Burton's Madelyn Peterie, who helped the Rockets qualify for the state meet in cross country earlier this school year, is using her improved conditioning and offseason training to make major strides in the wrestling room.

Woodstock co-op senior Eva Hermansson, who has pushed through adversity and drawn inspiration through her faith, has ascended into a leadership role for the girls wrestling team. Now, she's pushing to become a state qualifier.

Huntley's Janiah Slaughter, a two-time IHSA state medalist in wrestling who grew up playing tackle football, is leaving no doubt after missing her entire junior season. "I want to prove to people that I’m back and I’m better."

Crystal Lake Central's Cait Jones, who was diagnosed with epilepsy after a seizure during her freshman year, is back on the mat and enjoying a strong start to her senior season.