Episode 21: Freestyle State Isn’t the Finish Line: What Comes Next for Illinois Girls Wrestling

Episode 26: Inside Team Illinois: Lessons from the Women's National Duals

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 takeaways like par terre defense and head-and-hands, Greco benefits, nutrition and recovery, and actionable next steps for athletes, coaches, and families heading into Fargo. -------------------------------------- We are a baby podcast with a huge mission, and we would love your help - share the success of Girls' wrestling in the State of Illinois. If you like what you see, leave us a review (we heard that it really helps),  subscribe,  and share our podcast with other wrestling families ---------- Want to be our guest? Fill out this form: https://forms.gle/3CAjj1b6XcrgJA1v7 [https://forms.gle/3CAjj1b6XcrgJA1v7]. We are looking for insights from club and team coaches, expertise from industry experts, and inspiring stories from girls-wrestlers. You can also email us at ilgirlswrestling@gmail.com ---------- Looking for a club to join? Start your search at https://www.ikwf.org/clubs Ready to learn more about USA Wrestling? https://www.themat.com/ Join the discussion in the Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17hayuBGgw/ Follow us on Instagram and TikTok See girls wrestling grow Flow Wrestling 2025-26 commitment list [https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/14752559-2025-26-womens-college-commitment-list] --------------------------------------------

Episode 25: Wrestling Gear 101 - Must-Haves, Money-Saving Hacks & Tournament Kit

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 build a packed tournament kit, shoe and uniform tips, where to splurge versus save, common mistakes to avoid, and real-life insights from wrestler Justice Gerard. Short, practical, and season-ready: buy what fits, test it at practice, keep a hygiene kit, and upgrade over time. -------------------------------------- We are a baby podcast with a huge mission, and we would love your help - share the success of Girls' wrestling in the State of Illinois. If you like what you see, leave us a review (we heard that it really helps),  subscribe,  and share our podcast with other wrestling families ---------- Want to be our guest? Fill out this form: https://forms.gle/3CAjj1b6XcrgJA1v7 [https://forms.gle/3CAjj1b6XcrgJA1v7]. We are looking for insights from club and team coaches, expertise from industry experts, and inspiring stories from girls-wrestlers. You can also email us at ilgirlswrestling@gmail.com ---------- Looking for a club to join? Start your search at https://www.ikwf.org/clubs [https://www.ikwf.org/clubs] Ready to learn more about USA Wrestling? https://www.themat.com/ [https://www.themat.com/] Join the discussion in the Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17hayuBGgw/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17hayuBGgw/] Follow us on Instagram and TikTok See girls wrestling grow into college Flow Wrestling 2024-25 commitment list    [https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/13022681-2024-25-womens-college-commitment-list] Flow Wrestling 2025-26 commitment list [https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/14752559-2025-26-womens-college-commitment-list]

Episode 24: Not Making Team Illinois? How to Turn Disappointment into Progress

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, and practical steps to keep growing whether that means a short reset or focused improvement. The episode emphasizes mindset, leadership, and that not qualifying doesn’t end your wrestling story. -------------------------------------- We are a baby podcast with a huge mission, and we would love your help - share the success of Girls' wrestling in the State of Illinois. If you like what you see, leave us a review (we heard that it really helps),  subscribe,  and share our podcast with other wrestling families ---------- Want to be our guest? Fill out this form: https://forms.gle/3CAjj1b6XcrgJA1v7 [https://forms.gle/3CAjj1b6XcrgJA1v7]. We are looking for insights from club and team coaches, expertise from industry experts, and inspiring stories from girls-wrestlers. You can also email us at ilgirlswrestling@gmail.com ---------- Looking for a club to join? Start your search at https://www.ikwf.org/clubs [https://www.ikwf.org/clubs] Ready to learn more about USA Wrestling? https://www.themat.com/ [https://www.themat.com/] Join the discussion in the Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17hayuBGgw/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17hayuBGgw/] Follow us on Instagram and TikTok See girls wrestling grow into college Flow Wrestling 2024-25 commitment list    [https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/13022681-2024-25-womens-college-commitment-list] Flow Wrestling 2025-26 commitment list [https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/14752559-2025-26-womens-college-commitment-list]   --------------------------------------------

Episode 23: Stop Losing the Same Way - 10 Practice Mistakes Sabotaging Your Matches + Lily Garret (freshman at Minot University)t

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 footwork, and navigating the college recruiting process improved her performance, plus practical tips for athletes, coaches, and families. -------------------------------------- We are a baby podcast with a huge mission, and we would love your help - share the success of Girls' wrestling in the State of Illinois. If you like what you see, leave us a review (we heard that it really helps),  subscribe,  and share our podcast with other wrestling families ---------- Want to be our guest? Fill out this form: https://forms.gle/3CAjj1b6XcrgJA1v7. We are looking for insights from club and team coaches, expertise from industry experts, and inspiring stories from girls-wrestlers. You can also email us at ilgirlswrestling@gmail.com ---------- Looking for a club to join? Start your search at https://www.ikwf.org/clubs Ready to learn more about USA Wrestling? https://www.themat.com/ Join the discussion in the Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17hayuBGgw/ Follow us on Instagram and TikTok See girls wrestling grow Flow Wrestling 2024-25 commitment list    [https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/13022681-2024-25-womens-college-commitment-list] Flow Wrestling 2025-26 commitment list [https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/14752559-2025-26-womens-college-commitment-list] --------------------------------------------

Episode 22: Train Smarter, Not Harder: Off-Season Guide for Girls Wrestling

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 and personal goals, recognize signs of burnout, balance other sports and recovery, and how parents and coaches can support athletes to return healthier, sharper, and still excited to wrestle. Our guest is  Liam Cummins, the girls wrestling head coach at Lane Tech, where the program recently captured their first state sectionals title. -------------------------------------- We are a baby podcast with a huge mission, and we would love your help - share the success of Girls' wrestling in the State of Illinois. If you like what you see, leave us a review (we heard that it really helps),  subscribe,  and share our podcast with other wrestling families ---------- Want to be our guest? Fill out this form: https://forms.gle/3CAjj1b6XcrgJA1v7 [https://forms.gle/3CAjj1b6XcrgJA1v7]. We are looking for insights from club and team coaches, expertise from industry experts, and inspiring stories from girls-wrestlers. You can also email us at ilgirlswrestling@gmail.com ---------- Looking for a club to join? Start your search at https://www.ikwf.org/clubs [https://www.ikwf.org/clubs] Ready to learn more about USA Wrestling? https://www.themat.com/ [https://www.themat.com/] Join the discussion in the Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17hayuBGgw/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17hayuBGgw] Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ilgirlswrestling/]and TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@ilgirlswrestling] See girls wrestling grow * Flow Wrestling 2024-25 commitment list [https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/13022681-2024-25-womens-college-commitment-list]    * Flow Wrestling 2025-26 commitment list [https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/14752559-2025-26-womens-college-commitment-list] --------------------------------------------