Illinois Girls Wrestling Podcast

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 about early pioneers, clubs, and community advocates who built opportunities long before official recognition.

It explores youth and club foundations, how the IHSA state series changed participation, ongoing challenges like recognition and competitive depth, and wh...

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 role directing the Wheeling Wildcat Wrestling Club.

She shares her daughter’s journey to NJCAA wrestling at Indian Hills, the club’s work with young wrestlers, and how the podcast highlights underrepresented Illinois girls’ wrestling stories.

Season ...

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 Doty break down Team Illinois' performance at the Women's National Duals, highlighting what worked, what needs improvement, and how the experience prepares athletes for the July Fargo freestyle nationals.

They discuss energy and bench culture, technical takeaw...

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 Podcast! 

In this episode we break down exactly what girls need (and don’t) for wrestling: a simple three-bucket system of must-haves, helpful items, and optional extras so families avoid overspending or last-minute panic.

Learn what to ask your coach, how to...

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 didn’t qualify for Team Illinois, featuring Coach Samantha "Sammie" Barrientos of Beat the Streets Chicago. We discuss processing disappointment, rebuilding confidence, summer training options (camps, open mats, strength work), ways parents and coaches can help,...

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 matches harder—like skipping stance, going live too hard, not drilling finishes, and failing to simulate match situations—and gives clear, actionable fixes you can try today.

Minot University's Freshman Lily Garrett shares how correcting habits, improving fo...

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 can use the off-season to build strength, technique, and confidence without burning out. They cover practical strategies like targeted drilling, strength training, smart competition schedules, recovery, and camps.

Listeners will learn how to set realistic technical a...

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 State for athletes, coaches, and families — whether you qualified for Fargo or didn’t. Liz Short and the host explain qualification rules, regional and second‑chance options, summer camps and team travel, weigh‑in strategy, and how Greco and the National D...

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 wrestling — why athletes perform great in practice but freeze under pressure, and how the mental game can be trained. He explains common mindset "red flags" (hesitation, over-respect, fear of mistakes) and shares quick, practical tools like 10-second mental r...

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 learning freestyle: what changes, how scoring works, what the edge means, and where to focus first so your first freestyle tournament feels exciting, not confusing.

Guest Kylie Bair breaks down the essentials — step-out = 1 point, takedown = 2 points, exposure/turn...

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 starting wrestling—what equipment is needed, safety concerns, how to find a club, what practices and tournaments look like, and how parents can best support their athletes.

Then they interview Viola Pianetto, a 2025 state finalist and current college freshman, who...

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 wrestling. We explain how the postseason works, why the senior division matters, and which weight classes and matchups look most competitive.

Guest Eddie Kohley breaks down sectionals, shares State tips for families and first-time attendees, highlights athletes to wa...

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 the rest.

Coach Eddie Kohley joins host Lena to discuss maturity, mental toughness, coaching and parental support, key weights to watch, and how wrestlers can recover and refocus after a loss.

Eddie Kohley is a coach of 9 years. Currently coaching at Saint Charles...

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 into 1A/2A divisions. Guests discuss fairness, best practices for co-ops, and how new programs (like ISA) could affect the high school pipeline.

The conversation emphasizes practical steps to increase participation, create fairer competition, and keep the sport access...

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 Illinois Girls Wrestling Podcast, host Lena Burkut is joined by Michael James Hamilton for a full Girls State Preview—including how the weekend works, what wrestlebacks mean, what to watch for in real time, and State predictions. 

We cover the...

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 breaks down how sectionals work, how brackets and seeding affect outcomes, recovery and weight tips, and what creates upsets. Plus a full preview with picks, key matchups, and what to watch from Schaumburg, DeKalb, and beyond.

Coach Mike Hamilton is a father of 4...

This episode is a rapid-fire "wrestling translator" for parents, explaining ten common folkstyle terms—what they mean, when they matter, and how they can affect a match.

Includes practical sideline tips, three smart questions to ask your coach, and an interview with senior wrestler Valeria Pisantes on mindset, recovery, and recruiting.

Special Guest: Valeria Pesantes, Elk Grove High School Senior, 2x MSL conference champion,...

Right after a loss your brain tells a story, but loss is information, not identity. In this episode we share three practical tools you can use immediately: a short post-match script to stop emotional bleeding, a 24-hour rule to protect your identity, and a three-pass video review to build confidence. Plus tips for athletes, parents, and coaches on what to say and do between matches to reset and prepare.

Episode guest: Ewa Krupa - C...

In this episode, host Lena Burkut and Coach Jack Tinsley break down a simple, three-layer goal-setting system for wrestlers and families: outcome, performance, and process. They cover age- and experience-based goals for beginners, intermediate families, and high school athletes, and explain how to pick one goal per bucket (skills, body, mindset) to build consistent progress.

Listeners learn practical tips for parents, how to handle...