Daily Chronicle 2026-27 girls wrestling preview: 5 to watch

Ema Durst, sr., 140, SycamoreDurst won the first girls wrestling state championship in Sycamore history and only the third in school history, boys or girls. She went 35-1, losing only in the championship match of the DeKalb Sectional. The 2026 Daily Chronicle Girls Wrestler of the Year also was an accomplished softball player but gave it up last year to focus on wrestling.Larisza Gomez-Guevara, so., 115, DeKalbShe went 42-8 as a freshman at 105 pounds and took fourth in the state. Her only two losses at the state tournament were to the eventual state champion in the first round and the 2025 state champ at 100 in the third-place match. She was second in both the regional and sectional tournaments. Kara Zimmerman, jr., 140, DeKalbZimmerman qualified for state last year for the first time at 135, finishing the season 32-13. She took third place at both the regional and sectional.Sadie Kinsella, sr., 190, KanelandKinsella went 29-10 and earned a trip to the state tournament. She was second