Michelle Naftzger, Roz Mosher and Ryleigh Stephens will continue their seasons after advancing out of what their coach Thad Jacobs called “The hardest regional in the state.”
At 110 lbs. freshman, Roz Mosher earned her way to the championship match but was pinned in the first period by Blair Grennan of Sterling Newman. Mosher entered the regional with a 31-4 record. She earned her way to the final with three wins all by fall and each in the first period.
Senior, Michelle Naftzger also wrestled for the championship at 135 lbs. but was beaten by Bella Castelli of Rockton Hononegah by major decision 15-6. In the championship match, Naftzger trailed 8-6 after 2 periods but could not escape in the third period and gave up a pair of near falls in the final seconds. Naftzger (28- 4) won her first match by fall and her semifinal match with a 7-0 decision. She will be looking for her fourth straight trip to the state finals next week.
The Panthers also had a third place finisher as Ryleigh Stephens wrestling at 130 lbs. (21-15) had to work through the wrestlebacks to earn a shot at advancement. After she lost her semifinal match to eventual champion Kerby Germann of Fulton. Stephens won her consolation semi with an 11-4 win and claimed third place with a win by fall over Chloe Cervantes of Maple Park (Kaneland) in 2:50.
Junior, Nevada Wells, wrestling at 115 lbs. won her first match but lost in the quarterfinals. The loss moved her into the wrestlebacks where she won her first match but lost her second in a tough 2-0 decision. With the bout tied 0-0 after two periods, Brea Balles of Freeport (34-9) scored a reversal with 28 seconds left in the match to end Well’s season.
Panther freshman, Robin Stephens, had one of the tougher assignments of the day as she had to bump up from her usual 125 lbs. slot to 140 lbs.. After receiving an opening round bye, she won her quarterfinal match by tech fall moving her into the semifinals. She fell in the semi by tech fall to bracket champion Emma Durst of Sycamore. In the consolation semifinal against Marilu Mercado of Genoa-Kingston, Stephens was trailing 13-5 after 2 periods. Mercado got a takedown to start the third period putting her up 16-5. Stephens rallied scoring a reversal and a four-point near fall but while working toward a pin, the official stopped the match for an injury to Mercado. After a several minute delay Stephens was unable to regain the momentum and fell 16-12 to end her day one match away from the 3rd place bout.
Ayden Grawe wrestling at 125 lbs. won her first two matches but lost in the semifinal round and also fell in the consolation semi by fall.
Tatum Jacobs, competing at 100 lbs. and Cayenne Lahr wrestling at 170 lbs. also competed for the Lady Panthers.
The Lady Panthers finished 7th among 30 scoring schools with 81.5 points. DeKalb won the regional with 123 points, followed by Maple Park (Kaneland) with 107 and Yorkville with 106.5. Six of the nine competing Panthers contributed points to the team total.
Coach Jacobs was happy with his team’s effort and also excited about the future. “The girls truly wrestled some of their best personal matches today, while some didn’t get the result they wanted today I am extremely proud and pleased with the end outcome. We had three placers at what I believe is the hardest regional in the state competing with large city schools including Dekalb, Rockford area teams and host Belvidere. The girls worked very hard for the past five months and have grown as wrestlers and people and the girls who didn’t place will continue to have a spot in the wrestling room as they help our sectional qualifiers gear up for a hopeful state qualifying date next week. I’m excited to see what the 2026-2027 season brings for the EP Panthers girls squad after this weekend’s outcome.”
