Big Foot wrestling put together an impressive weekend on the mat, with both the girls and boys delivering strong performances at the Rock Valley Conference (RVC) Tournament and setting the tone for the postseason.
The girls set the bar high, finishing 4th overall as a team and making program history in the process. Leading the way was Cassidy Vilona (138), who became Big Foot’s first-ever Girls Rock Valley Conference Champion with a dominant run to the top of the podium. Her title marked a milestone moment for the program.
Big Foot added several more podium finishes on the girls’ side, including Chloe Pearce (145) placing 2nd, Olivia Martinez (120) and Gracie Pearce (132) both earning 3rd-place finishes, and Melanie Hoyt (185) taking 5th. The collective effort showcased the continued growth and competitiveness of the girls wrestling program.
Inspired by the girls’ success, the boys followed up with a strong showing of their own, placing 5th overall at the RVC Tournament. Individually, Dawson Walter (157) and Carter Ries (175) led the way with 2nd-place finishes. Ryne Huff (126), Finn Austin (132), and Dominic Staver (190) each secured 3rd place, while Jonah Henningfeld (138) finished 5th.
Additional contributors included Jayce Henningfeld (120) and Nate Goeddeke (150) in 6th, Malachi Jeanty (106) and Diego Espinoza (215) in 7th, and Conley Short (144) placing 8th. The depth across weight classes highlighted a balanced team effort and capped off a great weekend for Big Foot wrestling.
With the conference tournament complete, attention now turns to the postseason. The road to state begins for the girls at Milton on Friday, while the boys compete at Wilmot on Saturday. Before that, the boys return to action tomorrow at Edgerton, with wrestling set to begin at 9:00 a.m., as they look to join the girls on the podium once again.
Overall, it was a memorable and successful weekend that underscores the momentum building within the Big Foot wrestling program.
