For years, California has been synonymous with elite boys wrestling. Today, the state’s girls are rapidly building a legacy of their own.

The release of the 2025-26 FloWrestling Nike Girls All-American Team provided further evidence that California has become one of the nation’s premier pipelines for women’s wrestling talent. Eighteen California wrestlers earned national recognition across 11 weight classes, the most of any state represented on the prestigious list.

What makes California’s showing particularly impressive is not simply the number of athletes recognized, but the breadth of programs producing elite competitors. From the powerhouse Central Section to the Bay Area, Southern California, and San Diego, talent continues to emerge from every corner of the state.

Leading the way was sophomore sensation Epenesa Elison of Los Altos, who earned First Team All-American honors at 120 pounds. In a state loaded with nationally ranked talent, Elison distinguished herself as California’s lone First Team selection. Her placement among the nation’s elite reflects both her technical skill and the growing strength of California’s lower and middle weight classes.

At 110 pounds, Christina Estrada of Buchanan secured Second Team All-American honors. Estrada continues the tradition of excellence that has become synonymous with the Buchanan program. Already competing among the nation’s best as a sophomore, Estrada represents the next generation of Central Section stars poised to make national impacts for years to come.

Joining Estrada on the Second Team was Me’Kala James of Central High School at 125 pounds. A senior leader and one of California’s most accomplished upper-weight competitors, James has been a cornerstone of the Central program’s rise on both the state and national levels.

California’s Third Team selections further demonstrated the state’s depth. Sophomore Aubree Storm Gutierrez of Marina earned recognition at 115 pounds, while her continued development suggests even greater accomplishments may lie ahead.

Beyond the top three teams, California placed an astounding fourteen wrestlers on the Honorable Mention squad.

At 110 pounds, sophomore Sophia Marie Gonzales of Clovis East earned national recognition, giving California two representatives at the weight. At 125 pounds, senior Angelina Borelli of Los Banos added another accolade to an outstanding high school career.

The 130-pound division showcased two California standouts. Senior Tamara Grace of Gilroy and senior Madison Black of Newbury Park each earned Honorable Mention status, reflecting the strength of California’s middle-weight talent.

The Golden State was particularly well represented at 135 and 140 pounds. At 135, seniors Shayna Ward of Oakland Tech and Zahra Stewart of Orange Vista earned national recognition. At 140 pounds, California placed three wrestlers on the list: senior Yzabella Austin of Pitman, junior Dulcy Martinez of Central Catholic, and junior Julie Cimarusti of West Covina.

At 145 pounds, senior Olivia Davis of Esperanza received Honorable Mention honors, while the 155-pound division featured two California selections in junior Natalie Blanco of Chino and senior Mary Snider of Rancho Bernardo.

The state’s upper-weight classes continued to produce elite performers as senior Leilani Lemus of Clovis earned recognition at 170 pounds. Lemus has been among California’s most respected competitors and continues the Clovis tradition of producing nationally ranked wrestlers on both the boys and girls sides.

At 235 pounds, senior Anna Bozanic of Liberty capped California’s national representation with Honorable Mention honors at 235 pounds, highlighting the state’s ability to develop talent across every weight class.

Perhaps the most telling statistic is not that California produced 18 All-Americans. It is where those wrestlers came from.

The selections represented 17 different schools spread across multiple CIF sections. Unlike states where elite talent is concentrated within a handful of programs, California’s success reflects a broad and growing infrastructure for girls wrestling. Programs such as Buchanan, Clovis, Central, Gilroy, Marina, Los Altos, Liberty, Oakland Tech, Orange Vista, Rancho Bernardo, and many others are all contributing to a statewide culture of excellence.

The Central Section once again emerged as a national powerhouse, producing seven All-Americans. Yet the statewide distribution of talent demonstrates that girls wrestling is thriving throughout California.

As the sport continues its unprecedented growth nationwide, California remains at the forefront. The state’s 18 FloWrestling Nike All-Americans represent nearly one-fifth of all selections nationwide, an extraordinary achievement considering the national scope of the rankings.

More importantly, many of California’s honorees are underclassmen. Athletes such as Elison, Estrada, Gonzales, Gutierrez, and Martinez suggest that the future may be even brighter than the present.

The message from the 2025-26 FloWrestling Nike Girls All-American Team is clear: California is no longer simply participating in the national girls wrestling conversation—it is helping lead it.

From the lightest weight classes to heavyweight, from freshmen phenoms to accomplished seniors, California’s girls continue to prove that the Golden State has become one of the nation’s most formidable wrestling powers.

2025-26 FloWrestling Nike Girls All-Americans

Breakdown by State, School, and Grade

A total of 91 wrestlers earned FloWrestling Nike Girls All-American recognition across 13 weight classes.

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All-Americans by State

Rank	State	Total
1	California	18
2	Pennsylvania	13
3T	Michigan	8
3T	Wisconsin	8
5	Arizona	7
6	Texas	5
7T	Missouri	4
7T	Iowa	4
7T	Colorado	4
10T	Minnesota	4
10T	New Jersey	4
12T	Ohio	3
12T	Indiana	3
12T	North Dakota	2
12T	Tennessee	3
Others	18 states combined	16

Top States

• California led the nation with 18 All-Americans (19.8%)
• Pennsylvania followed with 13 (14.3%)
• California and Pennsylvania combined for 31 of 91 selections (34.1%)

California Breakdown

Total California All-Americans: 18

By Grade

Grade	Count
Seniors	10
Juniors	4
Sophomores	4
Freshmen	0

California Seniors (10)

• Me’Kala James (Central)
• Angelina Borelli (Los Banos)
• Tamara Grace (Gilroy)
• Madison Black (Newbury Park)
• Shayna Ward (Oakland Tech)
• Yzabella Austin (Pitman)
• Olivia Davis (Esperanza)
• Mary Snider (Rancho Bernardo)
• Leilani Lemus (Clovis)
• Anna Bozanic (Liberty)

California Juniors (4)

• Dulcy Martinez (Central Catholic)
• Julie Cimarusti (West Covina)
• Natalie Blanco (Chino)
• Zahra Stewart (Orange Vista)

California Sophomores (4)

• Christina Estrada (Buchanan)
• Sophia Gonzales (Clovis East)
• Aubree Storm Gutierrez (Marina)
• Epenesa Elison (Los Altos)

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