Women’s sports had a pivotal year in 2024. Financially and culturally, a steady rise in popularity and reach has made women’s sports more valuable than ever.
Tribune photojournalist Stacey Wescott is spending 2025 highlighting Illinois women athletes.
“The best of wrestling for me is when I throw people. I love to throw people.”
Sophomore Sara Martinez Lopera of Thomas Kelly College Prep is passionate about her sport.
She spends her lunch period watching film, taking notes to improve, and trains hard at practice, said her high school coach Jazzmine Seely, who is a former college wrestler. “She impressed me from the moment I met her.”
Lopera finished fourth in the 170-pound weight class at the Illinois High School Association’s Girls Wrestling Championships in Bloomington earlier this month. It was her first time competing at state after earning a 28-0 record this season.
“When I wrestle I feel in my safe place, because I love all the techniques and I love the message it gives,” Lopera said. “When you join wrestling it gives you discipline. Wrestling gives you focus on your life.”
Lopera is part of a growing group of competitors from Chicago Public Schools. Last year only two CPS student-athletes had a top-six placement and this year there were four: seniors Jasmine Mejia (Rickover Naval Academy) who placed second in the 235-pound weight class; Nyah Lovis (Lane Tech) who was fourth at 130; and AJ Grant (Phoenix Military Academy) who was fifth at 145.
“Being able to witness Sara’s growth over the last year has been amazing,” said Leila Cleofe with Beat the Streets Chicago, a nonprofit that works with CPS schools to build their wrestling programs. “For someone so young, she has been able to sort through what is important and what isn’t.”
The IHSA began recognizing girls wrestling individual state champions in 2022 and awards six placement spots in each of 14 weight classes. Lopera is the first wrestler from Kelly to make the girls podium.
