Council Bluffs, Iowa | April 3–4, 2026
Mid America Center
There’s something different about this group, and if you’ve been around Missouri girls wrestling, you already know what it is.
This isn’t just another team pulling up to the Heartland Duals. This is a statement roster. This is depth, experience, and a standard that’s been built over years, not weeks. And when the whistle blows Friday morning inside the Mid America Center, Missouri’s K–8 girls aren’t just stepping onto the mat… they’re stepping into expectation.
How the Battle Unfolds
The Heartland Duals isn’t an individual tournament; it’s war by lineup.
Dual-style wrestling means every match matters. Every weight. Every point. Team vs. team. Lineup vs. lineup.
- Friday (April 3): Pool Play
Teams are grouped into pools, battling for position. The top teams advance into the elite Diamond Bracket. - Saturday (April 4): Placement Rounds
Brackets are set. Now it’s survival. Championship runs, placement fights, and no easy matches left.
You don’t hide in a dual. You contribute—or you get exposed.
Last Year: Missouri Made Noise
The Line-up was stacked:
52 – Trinh Tse
58 – Aizley Cupp
65 – Cedar Arnold
73 – Katilyn Schull
82 – Crickett Arnold
82 – Hanna Schuster
89 – Kinsley Rife
95 – Zolah Williams
101 – Haddie Cornine
101 – Piper Weaver
107 – Zainab Aldabri
113 – Ava Rife
120 – Dylan Parn
126 – Jauzlyean Gray
138 – Natalee Joiner
150 – Ohana Phillips
165 – Teagan Morgan
185 – Temperence Watson
Missouri didn’t just show up in 2025, they made people pay attention.
- Opened with a 69–6 dismantling of Nebraska Red
- Took a tough loss to Minnesota Storm (57–33)
- Bounced back with dominant wins over Kansas (63–18) and Indiana Gold (66–18)
- Locked in a Diamond Bracket spot
Then came the moments that define teams. The brackets…
How it started:
A border war win over Kansas.
A rematch with Minnesota in the semis.
How it ended:
A gritty, emotional fight for 3rd place that came down to the final match.
With the dual on the line, Temperence Watson needed a fall, and delivered in 45 seconds. That’s not just wrestling, that’s identity.
This Year’s Team: Even Deeper, Even Hungrier
If you thought last year was strong, take a hard look at this lineup.
Missouri rolls into 2026 with:
- 16 State Champions
- 2 State Finalists (Runner-Ups)
That’s not depth—that’s firepower.
2026 Missouri K–8 Girls Roster Highlights:
55 – Blakely Reed
59 – Trinh Tse
64 – Adalynn Porter
69 – Grace Warren
75 – Cedar Arnold
80 – Katilyn Schull
85 – Charity Sperry
90 – Crickett Arnold
95 – Elizabeth Smith
100 – Kinsley Rife
105 – Ally Miller
110 – Haddie Cornine
115 – Zaina Albadri
115 – Brooklyn Cooley *reserve
120 – Victoria Harvey
120 – Elizabeth Schull *reserve
125 – Ava Rife
135 – Brynlea Lahr
150 – Bristol Starks
165 – Ava Allen
185 – Mia Holmes
Sixteen champions. Two finalists. Across nearly every weight class.
There are no soft spots in this lineup.
The Returners: Experience Meets Expectation
And here’s where it gets real dangerous.
Missouri isn’t starting over, they’re reloading.
Returning athletes from last year’s squad include:
- Trinh Tse
- Cedar Arnold
- Katilyn Schull
- Crickett Arnold
- Kinsley Rife
- Haddie Cornine
- Zaina Albadri
- Ava Rife
These are girls who have already been in the fire. They’ve wrestled under pressure. They’ve felt what it’s like when a dual comes down to one match.
That matters. You can’t teach that in a practice room.
The Bigger Picture: Missouri Is Setting the Standard
Let’s be clear, this isn’t just about one weekend in Iowa, this is about what’s happening in Missouri.
Women’s wrestling is growing nationwide, but Missouri isn’t following the trend, Missouri is driving it.
At the youth level, at the high school level, and beyond, we’re seeing something special take shape:
- Girls starting earlier
- Competing more often
- Training freestyle year-round
- And building real depth across every age group
This K–8 team is proof of that pipeline.
These aren’t just good young wrestlers. These are future high school champions. Future national contenders. Future college athletes.
And they’re learning right now what it means to represent something bigger than themselves.
The Mission
Last year: 3rd place.
This year: That’s not enough.
This group isn’t coming to hang around the podium, they’re coming for the top spot, and if you’ve been paying attention, you already know; they’ve got everything it takes to go get it.
Missouri doesn’t just show up anymore. Missouri sets the tone.
