HIGHLAND, Ill. — Roxana girls wrestling coach Tom Blaha burst out in a wide grin Saturday when he recounted the nickname freshman Chloe Skiles and sophomore Madelyn Murphy go by.

"They call themselves peanut butter and jelly," Blaha said with a chuckle.

He wasn't entirely sure who was which until Skiles spoke up.

"I'm jelly," Skiles said.

The pair of Shells lightweight standouts will get to carry on their act two more weeks after their performances in the Highland Sectional.

"Peanut Butter" — or Murphy — finished as the runner-up in the 100-pound division before Skiles continued her breakout debut season by winning the 105-pound championship at Highland High School.

"It's really exciting as a coach," Blaha said. "You've got two really good wrestlers out of the gate. They're really good kids who work so hard. They practice so hard every day."

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The top four finishers in each of the tournament's 14 weight divisions advanced to compete Feb. 28-March 1 in the Illinois girls wrestling state tournament at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.

Skiles (38-5) registered an early takedown before her opponent, Anna-Jonesboro senior Zoee Sadler, picked up a reversal and had Skiles scrambling, threatening to pin the Shells standout.

But Skiles never panicked.

"I just think that's part of my wrestling style," she said. "I know I can get out of it. I trust myself and have done it so many times. I've rolled on the mat against so many good wrestlers that I trust that I can get out of it."

Skiles picked up four straight points for a 7-2 victory.

Not bad for an athlete who was talked into the sport by her best friend, Murphy.

"When we were younger, we played softball together and she was like, 'I need another girl on the team,' " Skiles said. "So I did it and here I am."

In the 100 title match, Murphy fell by an 11-5 decision to Edwardsville freshman Emma Rogers.

Murphy trailed 6-0 after two periods before mounting a comeback in the final period. The comeback attempt came up short in the title match, but Blaha was pleased with what he saw.

She qualified to compete at state for the second consecutive season.

"Maddy got a little overpowered, but we can make some adjustments, and we know to make some minor adjustments before the state tournament," Blaha said.

Collinsville senior Taylor Dawson puts her contact back in during the Highland Sectional girls wrestling tournament on February 15, 2025 at Highland High School in Highland, Ill.

Dawson sees clearly for third consecutive sectional title

It's become such a common occurrence for Collinsville senior Taylor Dawson that it's become a minor annoyance.

So when her left contact lens popped out, Dawson exasperatedly motioned to the referee to start injury time.

"I'm just used to it," Dawson said. "I put in my contacts a lot. They fall out a lot. Not going to lie."

With her contact jammed back in, Dawson rolled to her third successive sectional title, claiming the 140-pound crown with a 9-2 decision in the title match against Urbana sophomore Rickasia Ivy.

"It's pretty nice, but I'm looking forward to the state tournament," Dawson said.

Dawson was one of three Collinsville wrestlers who won sectional titles, joining freshmen Londyn Long (120 pounds) and Addyson Bailey (130 pounds).

A two-time state runner-up, Dawson (32-3) only surrendered five points in her three matches at the sectional tournament and recorded two pins.

She was frustrated at the two points she gave up in the title match, knowing that it was when she tried a move she was uncomfortable doing.

"She got a reversal on me because I went for a 'spladle,' so I'm probably going to stick to moves I'm better at," Dawson said. "I've been working on it this year. I'd do it last year and got reversed."

Edwardsville senior Holly Zugmaier attempts to roll her opponent during the Highland Sectional girls wrestling tournament on February 15, 2025 at Highland High School in Highland, Ill.

Edwardsville's Zugmaier turns tables

There wasn't a bone in her body that wanted revenge.

Edwardsville senior Holly Zugmaier knew her opponent, Granite City sophomore Audrey Barnes, clipped her two weeks ago in the regional championship match. But the Edwardsville senior didn't wrestle angry.

She didn't need two things to wrestle on Saturday.

"I had a really positive mindset," Zugmaier said. "I told myself to take it slow and that every point matters. I was genuinely trying to stay calm. I didn't want to freak out, and I knew that if my mind went the wrong way, it'd go badly."

With that mentality, Zugmaier captured her first sectional title with a 4-0 decision in the 135-pound division, 4-0.

"I just told myself that I was a good wrestler, and I did all the training necessary," Zugmaier said. "I kept telling myself that over and over."

The pair matched up in the Civic Memorial Regional tournament two weeks ago, with Barnes emerging victorious with a second-round pin. In the rematch on Saturday, Zugmaier (38-5) never gave up the opportunity for a pin and nearly got a pin herself late in the second round before settling for a four-point near-takedown.

The four points were enough as she picked up the sectional title.

"It definitely makes me want to wrestle with a chip on my shoulder," Zugmaier said. "I'm excited. I've never won a sectional title before, but it'll help my confidence going into state."

Zugmaier joined Rogers (100 pounds) as individual sectional champs as they helped the Tigers to a sectional team title.

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