TOP 50 IKWF GIRLS FOR 2026/2027
Part 3: The Countdown Reaches Its Midpoint — Nos. 30–21
Illinois Matwomen
Ten more wrestlers. Ten returning state medalists. Every one of them finished in the top four of the Novice or Senior division at the 2026 IKWF Girls State Championships.
Illinois Matwomen’s Top 50 countdown reaches its third installment with a group that brings the next stage of Illinois girls wrestling into sharper focus. These are athletes who have carried earlier accomplishments into older divisions, turned lower podium finishes into runner-up honors, or made the jump from state qualifier to state champion. Their records give this portion of the list both an established foundation and plenty of reasons to look forward to the coming season.
Part 1 introduced Nos. 50–41, opening with Zoey Willis and closing with Swayze Campbell. Part 2 continued from Penelope Hall at No. 40 through Delaney Maloney at No. 31. We now pick up with Madalyn Beasley at No. 30 and count down to Yaili Fortiz at No. 21. By the end of this installment, thirty wrestlers will have been recognized, leaving the top twenty for the final two chapters.
The results in this group are substantial. Kennedy Collins returns with a Novice state championship. Six others earned runner-up finishes in 2026, while Madalyn Beasley and Bailey Flanigan placed third and Maggie Ortiz finished fourth. Four of the ten earned those medals in Senior competition; the other six did so in Novice. Several also bring earlier IKWF championships, and Illinois freestyle results add another dimension to four of the profiles.
The criteria remain consistent with the first two installments. IKWF State accomplishments provide the foundation, with placement, repeated success, division and recency all contributing to the evaluation. Comparable results in older divisions receive greater weight: Senior, followed by Novice, Intermediate and Bantam. The 2026 season receives a modest edge over earlier years. IESA accomplishments, national results, freestyle achievements and field size help complete the assessment.
