EC Women’s Wrestling Announces Inaugural Recruiting Class
EUREKA – Eureka wrestling coach Eric Biehl announced the addition of six wrestlers to the inaugural Eureka women's wrestling team on Thursday.
The recruiting class features four transfers from Lincoln College, where he previously coached, and two freshman newcomers. Four of the six are from Illinois, one is from Missouri and one is from Alaska. Three of the six are multi-sport talents who will also be representing the Red Devils in either the fall or spring.
Biehl's squad will start preseason training after Labor Day and begin official practice in October. The first wrestling meet in Red Devil history for both the women's and men's team will be the Pointer Open at Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Nov. 5.
"Women's wrestling is one of the fastest-growing sports," Biehl said. "I'm excited to have the roster that I have this year. Our team has a good mix of talent and athletes that want to work hard. I see a successful season ahead of them, as individuals and as a team."
Biehl expects to add more wrestlers to the roster in the coming weeks.
The 2022-23 men's wrestling recruiting class will be announced on Friday.
The Class of 2022-23 includes:
A sophomore transfer from Lincoln College, Vannah wrestled at Glenbard North and competed for the Lynx last season. A Dean's List and President's List honoree, she is projected to wrestle at 170.
A 5-foot-7 freshman from St. Charles, Missouri, Lizzie was a First Team All-Conference wrestler for the Pirates. She is projected to wrestle at 155.
In addition to wrestling, she will be a goalkeeper for the Eureka women's soccer team. At St. Charles, she recorded 37 shutouts in her high school career, helped the Pirates take Class 2 state runner-up in 2021 and was a Second Team All-Conference honoree. She also showed her versatility by becoming the first female to score (two PATs) on the varsity football team in program history.
A 5-foot-4 freshman from Canton, Alicia wrestled for the Little Giants and recently competed in the 2022 AAU National Scholastic Duals Results this summer. She is projected to wrestle at 116.
In addition to wrestling, she will be a defender for the Eureka women's soccer team this fall. She was the Little Giants' MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. A two-time All-Mid Illini honoree, she also scored three goals this spring.
A 4-foot-11 freshman transfer from Lincoln College, Gada placed seventh at the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials state tournament at 101 pounds for Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin in 2021. She was also two-time All-Vermilion County and an All-Vermilion Valley Conference honoree in softball for the Blue Devils, and she plans to play for the Red Devils next spring. Projected to wrestle at 101 this winter, she was voted Most Improved Wrestler by the Lynx last year.
A 5-foot-3 sophomore transfer from Lincoln College, McKenzie was a four-time state champion in Alaska and a Fargo national champion.
At Lincoln, she became one of the first two women wrestlers to qualify for the NAIA Women's Wrestling National Invitational for the Lynx. There, she became the first woman wrestler to win a national match, winning back-to-back consolation matches on the back side. She is projected to wrestle at 143.
A 5-foot-3 sophomore transfer from Lincoln College, Audrey previously placed third at the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials state tournament at 145 pounds for Pekin High School in 2021. At Lincoln, she went on to become one of the first two women wrestlers to qualify for the NAIA Women's Wrestling National Invitational for the Lynx. She is projected to wrestle at 136.