By Tanner Lafever
USA Wrestling

LAS VEGAS – Another year has passed, and once again, another Girls National High School Recruiting Showcase has delivered.

The 2026 edition featured a star-studded field of athletes from around the country, and as if winning this event once wasn’t tough enough – four of them went ahead and repeated as Showcase champions.

In fact, both Jaclyn Bouzakis (110 pounds) and Emma Bacon (130) have now gone back-to-back-to-back after their latest title-winning performances.

Both were dominant in their finals, too – rolling up first-period tech. falls over strong opponents.

Bouzakis got revenge against Sarissa Tucker – whom she lost to via fall at U20 World Team Trials earlier this month. Meanwhile, Bacon quickly dispatched of Naima Ghaffar – a Junior Folkstyle Nationals champion who’d romped her way to the final.

As for the two other repeat champions:

Taina Fernandez (145) continues to defy superlatives – her latest show-stopping performance concluding with a 10-0 tech fall of (another) Junior Folkstyle Nationals champion, Aleksandra Bastaic.

And at 190 pounds, Brooke Huffman has now pinned her way through consecutive editions of this event. She also defeated a Junior Folkstyle Nationals champion in her final bout.

Of the 14 finals contested, a trio stood out as the most competitive from wire-to-wire.

Starting at 100 pounds, Justice Gutierrez and U17 World bronze medalist Maisie Elliott traded four and two-point moves in the first period – then wouldn’t dent the scoreboard again until a desperate Elliott was pinned in the final seconds.

For Gutierrez – who placed third at U17 World Team Trials less than two weeks ago – the result was her second dramatic victory in as many nights.

Meanwhile, 105 pounds had plenty of its own drama.

Not only did Peggy Susan Dean overcome an 8-0 deficit, but her eventual 13-9 win over unseeded Marcia Nunez kept her hopes of a USA Wrestling Triple Crown Award alive.

Dean can complete the feat with a Fargo title later this summer.

But perhaps no final could match the back-and-forth affair fans watched at 135 pounds.

There, Isabella Miller scored the winning takedown with just 0:03 left to defeat U17 World team member Landri Von Gonten.

Mind you, Von Gonten had earned that spot earlier this month by sweeping Miller in a best-of-three series – and a month before that had defeated Miller at U17 Pan American Team Trials as well.

Alas, that’s why they wrestle the matches, folks.

In other finals action, a trio of bouts were decided by pinfall.

Audrey Robinson’s (140) may have been the most critical, as it helped her to overcome an 8-1 deficit against returning runner-up Morgan Lucio.

Likewise, Remington LaFlamme (170) came up clutch as well – overcoming a 4-0 deficit at the break to plant Jadyn Pense’s shoulders on the mat midway through the second period.

The top seed at 155 pounds, Matilda Hrubry, wasn’t in nearly as much peril – cementing a fast start with a headlock for the fall over #2 Julia Araujo.

In so doing, Hruby is now 2-0 against Araujo at major tournaments this month, having also prevailed 12-5 at U17 World Team Trials in Spokane, Washington.

The remaining quartet of champions all produced controlled efforts in their Showcase finals.

Aubree Gutierrez (115) and Marie Sharp (125) won via 7-0 and 8-0 decisions over their second-seeded opponents.

In between those outcomes, U17 World silver medalist Epenesa Elison cruised to a 12-2 title-winning tech fall.

And to close the night, 2025 Fargo champion Deionna Borders was never seriously threatened in a 7-0 victory of her own.

As we put a bow on the 2026 Girls National High School Recruiting Showcase, a salute goes out to all the wrestlers who continue to make this such a great event – many of whom went through the grind of Women’s Nationals less than two weeks ago.

Your efforts do not go unnoticed, and we hope to see you all again in 2027.

The U.S. Open Championships are broadcast live on FloWrestling.

Brackets, mat assignments and other information are available through USA Bracketing.

2026 Girls National High School Recruiting Showcase

At Las Vegas, Nevada, April 23 

Reference Links 

• Live stream

• Brackets

• Event hub
  

Finals Results and Medal Matches

100 pounds

1st - Justice Gutierrez (Pomona WC Colorado) fall Maisie Elliott (Mat Demon WC), 5:58

3rd - Abigail Peterson (Big Game WC) fall Ella Thomas (Red Rose WC), 1:31

5th - Kathleen Zimmerman (Sanderson Wrestling Academy) fall Vina Nguyen (Wrestling Rhinos WC), 2:14

7th - Aniya Polk (Ohio Greco Boys & Girls) tech. fall Kyrian Perez (Westmoore High School Wrestling), 12-2 (1:58)

105 pounds

1st - Peggy Susan Dean (Betterman Elite Wrestling) dec. Marcia Nunez (Dethrone WC), 13-9

3rd - Madison Nieuwenhuis (Michigan Premier WC) dec. Alicia Kenfack (MATPAC WC), 6-4

5th - Summer Mutschler (Cavalier WC) tech. fall Kyrstan Perez (Westmoore Wrestling Club), 13-3 (5:05)

7th - Tatianna Castillo (Michigan Premier WC) tech. fall Denni Bippes (Prometheus WC), 10-0 (1:33)

110 pounds

1st - Jaclyn Bouzakis (Team Greco) tech. fall Sarissa Tucker (Legacy Dragons Wrestling), 13-3 (2:54)

3rd - Elizabeth Valenzuela Smith (Cyclones Wrestling & Fitness) fall Eva Zimmerman (Sanderson Wrestling Academy), 1:57

5th - Addie Morse (Oklahoma) dec. Leila Witzerman (Arete Wrestling Academy), 7-6

7th - Lily Dizon (Vasky Bros\Pitman WC) fall Nixie Schooler (Juneau Youth WC Inc.), 1:11

115 pounds

1st - Aubree Gutierrez (Surfside X Wrestling) dec. Lyric Hetzer (Toss Em Up Wrestling Academy), 7-0

3rd - Malia Ottow (Ascend Wrestling Academy) fall Jaydin Cuevas (Betterman Elite Wrestling), 5:58

5th - Emma Baker (Michigan West WC) fall Sydney Stifter (MoWest Championship Wrestling), 3:50

7th - Cora Stewart (Askren Wrestling Academy) dec. Addison St George (Missouri), 9-6

120 pounds

1st - Epenesa Elison (Monster Garage Wrestling) tech. fall Presley Beard (Wichita Training Center), 12-2 (5:48)

3rd - Lilly Quintanilla (Thermopolis WC) tech. fall Kendal Haynie (Daughters Of Zion Wrestling), 12-1 (3:19)

5th - Zoe Dempsey (Izzy Style Wrestling) tech. fall Tegan Robertson (Sebolt Wrestling Academy), 10-0 (2:14)

7th - Irini Poka (Monster Garage Wrestling) med. forfeit Remington Zimmerer (Ascent Wrestling Academy)

125 pounds

1st - Marie Sharp (New Jersey) dec. Sobina Clendaniel (Marathon WC), 8-0

3rd - Martynique Davis (Thorobred WC) tech. fall Aleia Apostol (Poway Wrestling), 12-2 (0:42)

5th - Reese Adams (Crash Girls WC) dec. Delialah Betances (The Storm Wrestling Center), 4-1

7th - Winter West (Mat Demon WC) med. forfeit Ariella Dobin (Toss Em Up Wrestling Academy)

130 pounds

1st - Emma Bacon (Team Pennsylvania) tech. fall Naima Ghaffar (M3 Wrestling Academy), 11-1 (1:43)

3rd - Madison Black (Project 8 Wrestling) dec. Kaison Miller (Norton WC), 14-7

5th - Tammy Grace (Daniel Cormier WC) fall Emma Chacon (Valiant WC), 1:23

7th - Karina Lojowski (Illinois) med. forfeit Rianna Bernal (Surfside X Wrestling)

135 pounds

1st - Isabella Miller (Big Game WC) dec. Landri VonGonten (Boneyard Wrestling Academy), 8-8

3rd - Brooklyn Perez (Valiant WC) tech. fall Mika Yoffee (Legends of Gold Las Vegas), 11-0 (4:22)

5th - Sussette Bell (Etiwanda High School Wrestling) fall Kailani Barrientos (Team Jax Wrestling), 2:19

7th - Corynne McNulty (Massachusetts) tech. fall Ava Strayer (Howe Wrestling School, LLC), 11-0 (3:31)

140 pounds

1st - Audrey Robinson (Legacy Elite WC) fall Morgan Lucio (Valiant WC), 3:21

3rd - Alexis Lazar (Michigan Revolution WC) dec. Maddie Marsh (Red Cobra Wrestling Academy), 6-4

5th - Greta Garbuzovas (Lumpkin County High School Wrestling) tech. fall Saige McCleery (Mat Demon WC), 10-0 (0:54)

7th - Vivienne Gitke (Betterman Elite Wrestling) fall Jordyn Parker (Silverback WC), 3:59

145 pounds

1st - Taina Fernandez (Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Aleksandra Bastaic (Highland WC), 10-0 (2:32)

3rd - Timberly Martinez (MJ Mustangs Wrestling) tech. fall Scarlett Yeager (Wichita Training Center), 10-0 (2:13)

5th - Trinity Roberts (Tennessee Outlaws WC) tech. fall Madison Worden (Gold Rush Wrestling), 16-6 (3:48)

7th - Dakota Frogge (Sanderson Wrestling Academy) dec. Clara Denton-Baleztena (Loma Cowboys Wrestling), 5-3

155 pounds

1st - Matilda Hruby (Brighton WC) fall Julia Araujo (MATPAC WC), 1:43

3rd - Eloise Woolsey (Cleveland High School Wrestling) tech. fall Mary Snider (Rancho Bernardo High School Wrestling), 12-1 (5:09)

5th - Sophia Flores (Betterman Elite Wrestling) med. forfeit Skylar Slade (Moen Wrestling Academy)

7th - Brynlee Vaughan (Team Nazar Training Center) tech. fall Chandni Banks (California), 10-0 (2:29)

170 pounds

1st - Remington LaFlamme (Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory High School Wrestling) fall Jadyn Pense (Peninsula WC), 4:57

3rd - Kiley Dillow (Chanute WC) dec. Cydney Davis (Bel Air High School Wrestling), 3-0

5th - Isabelle Rodela (Peninsula WC) med. forfeit Ari Jacobson (Wrestling Rhinos WC)

7th - Harlie Velarde (Tiger Tough Wrestling) fall Rosalynn Diaz (Community Youth Center - Concord Campus Wrestling), 4:43

190 pounds

1st - Brooke Huffman (Team Nazar Training Center) fall Kanata Richardson (Michigan Wrestling Academy), 1:50

3rd - Alexis Storsved (Mandan WC) dec. Laurissa Monroy (Ascend Wrestling Academy), 9-2

5th - Jayden Moehle (MO West Championship WC) dec. Vida Cienega (Ascend Wrestling Academy), 11-8

7th - Blake Baker (Spartan Mat Club) med. forfeit JayaShree Bray (North Omaha AC)

235 pounds

1st - Deionna Borders (Ohio Greco Boys & Girls) dec. Kenzie Barrett (Gladiator Wrestling), 7-0

3rd - Isabella Lorenzana (Surfside X Wrestling) dec. Maycee Hales (Utah), 9-8

5th - Caylee Miller (Cornerstone WC) dec. Shelby Wells (NB Elite WC), 10-1

7th - Brianna White (Mile High WC) Bye