Illinois Girls Wrestling Podcast

New Season, New Rules: What High School Girls Wrestlers Need to Know

Girls' high school wrestling is changing this season: the minimum baseline body-fat for girls is raised to 19%, hydration and caliper testing deadlines and procedures are

Freshman on the Mat: Surviving Your First High School Wrestling Season

This episode explores the transition into high school girls wrestling for both experienced youth wrestlers and complete beginners. Coach Krista Simkiew and state finalist

Don't Wait to Be Discovered: How to Navigate College Wrestling Recruiting

Coach Andrew Dimas and Elmhurst wrestler Mallory Matyuga explain college wrestling recruiting: when to start, how to reach out, what catches coaches' attention, and why a

Find Your Room: How to Choose the Right Wrestling Club

This episode helps families and high school wrestlers decide which wrestling club fits their needs by weighing coaching, culture, partners, schedules, costs, and goals.

Before 2022: The Untold Origins of Illinois Girls Wrestling

This episode traces the real beginnings of girls wrestling in Illinois, showing that 2022 was a milestone but not the start, through a conversation with coach Sarah Doty

Behind the Mic: A Wrestling Mom’s Story and Season Preview

Host Lena Burkut introduces season 2 with a personal update: why she started the Illinois Girls Wrestling Podcast, her background as a mom of three wrestlers, and her rol

Episode 26: Inside Team Illinois: Lessons from the Women's National Duals

We are going on vacation until October (unless we have something very important to stay, which does happen) Weekly episodes back in October!  Coaches Liz Short and Sarah

Episode 25: Wrestling Gear 101 - Must-Haves, Money-Saving Hacks & Tournament Kit

We are working on a few more episodes this season and will go on vacation sometime in July. See you in October for the Second season of the Illinois Girls Wrestling Podca

Episode 24: Not Making Team Illinois? How to Turn Disappointment into Progress

New episode every other Wednesday in the off-season and weekly episodes during Folkstyle season with vacation break in July and August This episode supports girls who di

Episode 23: Stop Losing the Same Way - 10 Practice Mistakes Sabotaging Your Matches + Lily Garret (freshman at Minot University)t

New episode every other Wednesday in the off-season and weekly episodes during Folkstyle season! Host Lena Burkut breaks down the top 10 practice mistakes that make matc

Episode 22: Train Smarter, Not Harder: Off-Season Guide for Girls Wrestling

New episode every other Wednesday in the off-season and weekly episodes during Folkstyle season! In this episode, Coach Liam Cummins and the host discuss how wrestlers c

Episode 21: Freestyle State Isn’t the Finish Line: What Comes Next for Illinois Girls Wrestling

New episode every other Wednesday in the off-seasn and weekly episodes during Folkstyle season! This episode breaks down practical next steps after Illinois Freestyle St

Episode 20: Winning the Mental Match - 10-Second Resets for Wrestlers + Coach Russell Silverstein

New episode every other Wednesday in the off-season and weekly episodes during Folkstyle season! In this episode Coach Russell Silverstein breaks down the mental side of

Episode 19: Freestyle Shortcut for Folk-Style Wrestlers: Scoring, Edge & Parterre

New episode every other Wednesday in the off-seasn and weekly episodes during Folkstyle season! Today's episode is a shortcut for folk-style wrestlers and families learn

Episode 18: Top Wrestling Questions Answered + Viola Pianetto's Zero to State Finalist (Elmhurst University)

New episode every other Wednesday in the off-seasn and weekly episodes during Folkstyle season! In this episode the hosts answer common parent questions about girls star

Episode 17: Final Ride to IKWF State: Senior Girls Take Center Stage

In this episode we preview IKWF State with a focus on the Senior Girls Division (ages 13–14), the final youth tournament before many athletes move to high school wrestlin

Episode 16: Sectionals Showdown: IKWF Girls' Senior Division Preview

This episode previews IKWF sectionals with a special focus on the girls' senior division, outlining the pressure, match dynamics, and what separates state qualifiers from

Episode 15: Growing Pains: The Future of Illinois Girls Wrestling

This episode explores the current state and future of girls wrestling in Illinois, covering growth trends, co-ops, sectional balance, and the possibility of splitting int

Episode 14: IHSA 2026 Girls State Preview: What to Expect and Predictions with Coach Mike Hamilton

The IHSA Girls Wrestling State Finals are here—and whether you’re a first-time parent or a seasoned wrestling family, State weekend can feel big. In this episode of the I

Episode 13: IHSA Girls Sectionals Showdown: When the Bracket Becomes a Battlefield

Regionals are over and sectionals turn the postseason serious — where top-four state qualifiers are made and one matchup can flip a weight class. Coach Mike Hamilton bre