Illinois Girls Wrestling Podcast

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.
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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 into college
Flow Wrestling 2024-25 commitment list   
Flow Wrestling 2025-26 commitment list
 

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 "Sammy" 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. 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 into college
Flow Wrestling 2024-25 commitment list   
Flow Wrestling 2025-26 commitment list
 
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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   
Flow Wrestling 2025-26 commitment list
--------------------------------------------

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. 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   
Flow Wrestling 2025-26 commitment list
--------------------------------------------

New episode every other Wednesday in the off-seasn and weekly episodes during Folkstyle season!
This episode breaks down practical next steps after Illinois Freestyle State for athletes, coaches, and families — whether you qualified for Fargo or didn’t. Liz Short and the host explain qualification rules, regional and second‑chance options, summer camps and team travel, weigh‑in strategy, and how Greco and the National Duels fit into development.
Listeners will get simple, actionable guidance: take a brief reset, plan steady training, review film, choose the right competitions (regionals, second chance, duels), manage weight and recovery, and how parents can best support athletes emotionally and practically.
Our guest is Liz Short, Current Coach at Andrew High School, 2023 - IWCOA Girls Coach of the Year, Team USA - 2024 U17 Pan-American Coach, 2025 U15 Pan-American Coach, 2026 U15 Pan-American Coach 
As a wrestler: Collegiate Wrestler- United States Education Center (USOEC) 
Northern Michigan University 
U23 - World Bronze Medalist, U20 World- 5th Place 
3x Senior All American 
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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   
Flow Wrestling 2025-26 commitment list
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