Wood takes on top-flight at IHSA Girls State Tourney
By Ray Popkess
Triad’s sole state-qualifying grappler, Kaitlin Wood, took a road trip to Bloomington this past weekend for the IHSA Girls State Championships.
Sixteen wrestlers competed in Wood’s bracket at the Grossinger Motors Arena.
Wood was granted the 11 seed in the 155-pound bracket and faced off against her opponent from Hinsdale South, Callie Carr, on Friday morning. Carr was last year’s state champion in the same weight class.
Wood battled hard in their match, but Carr was on a mission to repeat her success from last year.
The next match for Wood was in the first round of the consolation bracket where she took on her opponent from Chicago (Lane). She lasted further into this match than her first, but still fell short of victory.
In two years of wrestling, Wood has compiled over 50 wins as a Knight, placed top-four in each tournament Triad traveled to this season and has qualified for both 2026 IHSA State and 2025 Fargo Freestyle. She was also the second girl in Triad history to qualify for the IHSA State tournament.
Wood wasn’t the only Knight grappler in action over the weekend, as Triad’s Freshman/Sophomore team competed at the IWCOA (Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association) Regional tournament at Belleville West on Sunday, March 1.
Cohen Albatt captured first place in the 175-pound bracket. He dominated his way into the finals, scoring technical falls in three of his four matches, including the championship bout.
Marc Leahy went 3-0 in the 215-pound bracket on his way to capturing the Regional Championship. He earned a technical fall in his first match, a less-than-30-second pin in his second and a 7-4 decision in the championship bout.
Ronin Schmidt took home third place in the 132-pound bracket. Schmidt was granted the fifth seed in the 25-wrestler bracket and was given a first-round bye. Despite falling to his opponent from Carbondale in round two, Schmidt went on a tear to the consolation finals, picking up four technical falls and a pin on his way there. Once in the third place bout, he dominated his opponent into a 21-11 major decision.
Cole Pilliard competed in the 126-pound and took home fourth place. His 5-2 record on the weekend consisted of five pins to get to the third place bout. There, he faced his opponent from Mt. Vernon whom he lost to by major decision.
David Kincherff took fourth in the 120-pound bracket. His 3-2 record put him in the third place bout as well, but a technical fall from his Waterloo opponent did not go in his favor.
All five wrestlers will now compete in Granite City this weekend at the IWCOA Sectionals for a chance to punch their ticket to the state tournament.
