Al Radi Advances to State Finals for The Second Year in A Row

The Niles West girls wrestling team took part in the IHSA sectionals, where senior Al Ghala Mariam Al Radi took first place in her weight class. The tournament took place on Feb. 10 and 11 at Evanston Township High School. Sectionals was a bracket-style tournament, where winners of a match faced off against each other and losers of the previous match went head to head. 

Coach Caitlin Casey was very proud of her team’s performance in this year’s sectionals.

“Sectionals is very exciting but it can also be very stressful because all the work you do during the season leading up to that kind of decides whether or not you get a ticket to state. But I think our girls kind of came out to support each other which was great,” Casey said.

Al Radi has been to sectionals and qualified for the state finals twice now, getting better each time. “I had a positive experience at sectionals. I had a good mindset and was more comfortable this year, “Al Radi said.

Al Radi’s hardest match was when she was up against Oak Forest. Because the wrestler had great shots, but she was confident in her defense and all the work she put into the season and was able to take her down. 

 Al Radi, one of the older members of the team, has had to show the newer girls some fresh moves.

“Al Ghala is really good at helping the other girls learn moves that she may know from experience and that they don’t know yet. She pushes other kids to be the best versions of themselves,” Casey said.

The coaches and team members, like freshman Zoe Pomeranets, know Al Radi’s skills and leadership is incomparable. 

“Al Ghala is probably the best person on our team, she even wrestles coaches and they have a hard time with her,” Zoe Pomeranets said.

Pomeranets won a match and lost her two double wrestle backs, which were her two chances to get back into the tournament.

“Al Ghala is great kid. Hardworking and tough. Love having her on the team”, coach Anthony Petrusonis says.

The team now is now heading to state with high hopes for the team and hopes to do even better than last year.

“I am excited for all of the possibilities that the State meet will bring. I am staying positive and finding the right mindset. I have been working hard all year on skills and I’m looking forward to using them on the mat,” Al Radi says. 

With the 23′ season coming to an end it’s great to end it off with stats. “I think Al Ghala had a wonderful season and we’re hoping to cap it off with a State Championship,” Petrusonis said.

IHSA girls state will be held at Grossinger Motor Arena in Bloomington, Illinois on Feb. 24 and 25, show your support for Al Radi and the girls wrestling team!