Valerie Hamilton was glad to get her eligibility restored before the Girls State Wrestling Tournament. The El Paso-Gridley junior finished second at 145 pounds while her sister, sophomore Savannah ...

Batavia’s Sydney Perry, left, tries to gain control against El Paso-Gridley’s Valerie Hamilton during the 145-pound state championship match in Bloomington on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023.

Valerie Hamilton, El Paso-Gridley (Illinois) Hamilton is a junior who earned a silver medal at the 2022 U17 World Championships. ... Little Soldier quickly took to wrestling as a 6-year-old.

Iowa women's wrestling earned six top-three finishes on Sunday at the NCC Open. ... Kilty defeated Valerie Hamilton, 10-0, in the semifinals and Alara Boyd, 8-0, to claim first place at 145 pounds.

The IHSA girls wrestling state finals are Feb. 24-25 in Bloomington. ... 145 pounds: Valerie Hamilton (El Paso-Gridley) tech fall Kaia Fernandez (Barrington) 17-2.