Illinois Girls Wrestling Podcast
Illinois Girls Wrestling Podcast gives parents, coaches, and athletes a simple, honest look at girls' wrestling in Illinois—from youth and kids clubs to middle school and high school girls' wrestling. Each episode answers real parent questions (like “What’s the best age to start girls wrestling?”), shares stories from the mat, and helps families understand how to support their daughters in this fast-growing sport.
Episodes
This episode addresses common parental fears about girls wrestling and explores what happens when families say yes: interviews with a wrestling mom, a high school athlete, and a coach reveal how proper coaching, community support, and personal growth make the sport safe, empowering, and transformative.
Listeners will hear practical safety practices, mental and physical benefits, and real advice for parents and girls curious about s...
If you're new to wrestling, this episode answers common questions about safety, gear, tournaments, weight management, nutrition, injuries, and how to find a supportive club and coach.
We also share the story of Kate Diehl, a freshman who started in middle school, found confidence through club wrestling, learned from early struggles, and now competes proudly — a reminder that beginners belong and progress comes from showing up.
Coach Sarah Doty of Edwardsville Wrestling Club and head coach of Team Illinois walks through her journey into wrestling and how Team Illinois supports girls across the state.
The episode covers freestyle vs. folkstyle, how athletes qualify for state, regional, and Fargo Nationals, the Duals experience, travel logistics, costs, and fundraising options.
Sarah also explains typical training cycles, camps, avoiding burnout, finding lo...
Coach David Tortorici returns to discuss safe, realistic weight-management and tournament-day fueling for girls' wrestling. He shares three simple rules—"nibble, nibble, sip, sip," choose nutrient-dense carbs and proteins, and prioritize hydration—plus tips on between-match snacks, recovery, and avoiding gimmicky nutrition trends.
The episode also covers when to seek a sports nutrition professional, why focusing on training beats o...
This episode breaks down wrestling nutrition and safe weight management for growing female athletes: how to fuel for performance, hydrate properly, and make weight without harming long-term health.
Host Lena Burkut and coach Devin Tortorice share practical tips for day-to-day eating, pre/post-match fueling, hydration strategies, red flags to watch for, and how puberty and hormones affect girls — essential for athletes, coaches, and...
In episode 4, Host Lena Burkut explores why starting wrestling in high school can be an excellent choice for girls, covering maturity, structured coaching, off-season training, and the realities of weight classes.
The episode features Wheeling High School senior Elise Burkut — a two-time IHSA state qualifier and 2025 state runner-up — who shares her journey from a freshman beginner to an elite competitor, her training habits, favor...
In episode 3, The Illinois Girls Wrestling Podcast with host Lena explores whether middle school is the best time to start wrestling, sharing real stories, expert tips, and practical guidance for athletes, parents, and coaches.
This episode covers school teams versus club options, girls competing in boys divisions, USA Wrestling membership, tournament opportunities, training commitments, and balancing academics and family life.
Hea...
In episode 2, host Lena breaks down when to start wrestling — tots (6 and under), bantams (7–8), and intermediates (9–10) — covering readiness, what to expect at tournaments, season and age rules, registration costs, and common benefits and challenges of beginning young.
Featuring Coach Jay of Wheeling Wildcats, this episode offers practical milestones, tournament and practice advice, tips to avoid burnout, and guidance on balancin...
In episode 1, hosts Lena and Alex introduce a podcast dedicated to empowering, informing, and celebrating the growing community of girls wrestling in Illinois. As wrestling parents, they share their experiences and explain why this show exists: to help new families navigate the sport and build community.
This episode covers the essentials — the difference between folkstyle and freestyle, must-have gear, tournaments and brackets, lo...
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