Huntley’s Aubrie Rohrbacher raises her game to help Red Raiders win regional title

HAMPSHIRE – Huntley senior Aubrie Rohrbacher decided to takes things up a notch this season.

Rohrbacher elevated her play last season and took third at the IHSA state tournament. In order to get over the hump and achieve her goal of winning a state title this year, Rohrbacher figured she needed to do everything 100% more in order to get there.

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Richmond-Burton’s Madison Lunbar, right, battles St. Viator’s Evalyn Idzik at 110 pounds in IHSA Regional wrestling action on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at Hampshire High School in Hampshire. (Patrick Kunzer for Shaw Local/Patrick Kunzer for Shaw Local)

That extra effort has paid dividends this season and did so in Saturday’s Hampshire Regional. Rohrbacher won her second straight regional title and led the Red Raiders to a team regional crown.

“I feel like I’m already in a step in the right direction,” Rohrbacher said. “This is what I was kind of hoping for – to win regionals. My next goal is I want to win sectionals. I take it one thing at a time. [There are] big goals, but also keep those smaller goals in mind.”

Huntley won the team crown after scoring 150 points, nine ahead of second-place Wheeling. Woodstock co-op (131.5) placed third, Dundee-Crown (104) took fourth and Hampshire (98.5) finished fifth. The top-four finishers from each weight class advanced to the Schaumburg Sectional on Feb. 14.

Rohrbacher looked dominant in her start to the postseason. After winning each of her first three matches by fall in under 1 minute, 9 seconds, she came out firing in her championship match at 130 pounds.

She took an early 7-0 lead in the title match before ultimately winning by fall in 1:35.

“I feel like I’m heading in the right direction,” Rohrbacher said. “I’m following that same path.”

Sophomore Grecia Garcia (135), junior Brianna Felde (190) and senior Sara Willis (235) each took third to help the Raiders build up their point total. Freshmen Donna Garcia (115) and Isabelle Singer (120) and senior Natalie Aguirre (170) finished fourth.

Saturday felt like a big moment for Raiders head coach Gannon Kosowski. After relying on Rohrbacher and junior Janiah Slaughter with top finishes last postseason, Kowoski felt like Huntley grew its depth this season in order to grow as a program.

“It’s nice to see not just two girls that are potentially looking to qualify for state,” Kosowski said. “It’s seven. It’s nice to see. ... I couldn’t be more happy with the performance from the entire team.”

Woodstock co-op junior Danica LaTessa had never won a tournament before heading into Saturday’s regional championship match. She chose a great time to win her first.

After winning her first match by fall and then a 4-0 decision, LaTessa built a 3-0 lead in the second period to take control of her title match at 120. She made it 6-0 in the third before picking up the win by fall in the final seconds.

“It just feels really amazing,” LaTessa said. “I put in a lot of hard work to get here.”

Juniors Eva Hermansson (110) and Hannah Olsen (125) placed second while junior Brianna Crown (155) finished fourth.

Saturday’s regional featured plenty of other memorable storylines. D-C senior Diamond Rodriguez (105) won her second straight regional title while McHenry junior Natalie Corona (140) started her run toward another state berth with a regional crown.

After taking last season off, Hampshire sophomore Amelia Nidelea-Polanin (115) returned to the sport and won a regional title. Freshman teammate Samantha Diehl (190) gave the Whip-Purs their second title of the day.

Crystal Lake South sophomore Annalee Aarseth (110) won a title after competing in the boys lineup all year while Crystal Lake Central junior Cait Jones (155) won her second ever tournament after learning the sport’s rules this summer.

“I feel like I’m already in a step in the right direction. This is what I was kind of hoping for – to win regionals. My next goal is I want to win sectionals. I take it one thing at a time. [There are] big goals, but also keep those smaller goals in mind.”

—  Aubrie Rohrbacher, Huntley senior

D-C senior Mackenzie Lessner (155) and Hampshire senior Anneliese Tavira (170) finished runner-up while Harvard junior Alexa Herrera (110), Richmond-Burton sophomore Madelyn Peterie (140) and Jacobs freshman Julia Felton (105) took third.

Chargers senior Iris Torres (110) and sophomore Ruby Gavina (135), Warriors freshman Nala Hernandez (235) and Rockets senior Isabella Nelson (125) took fourth.

Saturday proved to be a memorable moment for plenty of wrestlers. Many, like Jones, will try to up the intensity in a couple of weeks at sectionals.

“That’d be insane,” Jones said of possibly winning a sectional title. “I would really love to win sectionals if I could. I’m going to have the mindset that I will.”

Hampshire Regional Placers (Top-four advance to sectional tournament)