Illinois Girls Wrestling Podcast

This episode helps families and high school wrestlers decide which wrestling club fits their needs by weighing coaching, culture, partners, schedules, costs, and goals.

Guests Shayna Waker and Taylor Mease share practical tips: visit multiple rooms, watch coach-athlete interactions, prioritize fundamentals for youth, align training with high-school and college goals, and listen to the wrestler’s preferences.

About Shaina Weyker: Shaina Campbell is a wrestling coach, mother of four, and passionate advocate for girls wrestling. Alongside her husband, Jake, she has dedicated years to helping young athletes grow both on and off the mat. She is also the proud mom and coach of twin wrestlers Swayze and Maleya, known as the Twister Sisters, whose journey in the sport has strengthened her commitment to creating more opportunities for girls. Shaina and her husband help lead Illinois Mat Woman, bringing talented wrestlers from across the state together to compete nationally, build friendships, support one another, and represent Illinois with pride. She believes wrestling teaches far more than how to win a match—it builds confidence, discipline, resilience, and character. Her goal is not only to help her own daughters succeed, but to make sure every girl in the sport has the opportunity to compete, grow, and reach her potential.

About Taylor Miess: Taylor Miess is a senior wrestler at North Central College and a Scholar All-American. Before competing at the collegiate level, she built an accomplished high school career in Colorado, where she became a state champion and earned All-American honors at both Fargo and the High School Showcase. Taylor has also been part of North Central’s national dual team, gaining experience at some of the highest levels of women’s wrestling. Her journey from high school standout to college wrestler gives her a valuable perspective on how the right training environment, coaches, and opportunities can shape an athlete’s development.

About Illinois Girls Wrestling Podcast: The Illinois Girls Wrestling Podcast celebrates athletes, coaches and families helping girls wrestling grow across Illinois. With interviews, practical advice and stories, the podcast connects and supports IL girls wrestling community—on and off the mat. 

Visit http://www.ilgirlswrestling.com/

Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/p/Illinois-Girls-Wrestling-Podcast-61591738740289/

Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ilgirlswrestling/

About the Host: Lena Burkut is the host and creator of the Illinois Girls Wrestling Podcast, a show dedicated to sharing the stories, experiences, and voices shaping girls wrestling in Illinois. Through conversations with wrestlers, coaches, officials, parents, and other members of the wrestling community, she focuses on helping families better understand the sport while highlighting the continued growth of girls wrestling. Lena also brings a background in journalism, communications, and visual storytelling to the podcast, with a strong interest in building a more informed, connected, and supportive wrestling community.

This episode traces the real beginnings of girls wrestling in Illinois, showing that 2022 was a milestone but not the start, through a conversation with coach Sarah Doty about early pioneers, clubs, and community advocates who built opportunities long before official recognition.

It explores youth and club foundations, how the IHSA state series changed participation, ongoing challenges like recognition and competitive depth, and what needs to happen next to keep girls not just trying wrestling, but staying and thriving in the sport.

About Sarah Doty: Sarah Doty is a three-time college All-American and experienced women’s wrestling coach who has been closely involved in the growth of girls wrestling in Illinois. She has coached at the collegiate, club, and state levels, including work with Edwardsville Wrestling Club and Team Illinois, and has helped develop athletes from the youth level through national competition. Her background as both a wrestler and coach gives her a unique perspective on how girls wrestling has evolved and where the sport is headed next.

About Illinois Girls Wrestling Podcast: The Illinois Girls Wrestling Podcast celebrates athletes, coaches and families helping girls wrestling grow across Illinois. With interviews, practical advice and stories, the podcast connects and supports IL girls wrestling community—on and off the mat. 

Visit http://www.ilgirlswrestling.com/

Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/p/Illinois-Girls-Wrestling-Podcast-61591738740289/

Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ilgirlswrestling/

About the Host: Lena Burkut is the host and creator of the Illinois Girls Wrestling Podcast, a show dedicated to sharing the stories, experiences, and voices shaping girls wrestling in Illinois. Through conversations with wrestlers, coaches, officials, parents, and other members of the wrestling community, she focuses on helping families better understand the sport while highlighting the continued growth of girls wrestling. Lena also brings a background in journalism, communications, and visual storytelling to the podcast, with a strong interest in building a more informed, connected, and supportive wrestling community.

Host Lena Burkut introduces season 2 with a personal update: why she started the Illinois Girls Wrestling Podcast, her background as a mom of three wrestlers, and her role directing the Wheeling Wildcat Wrestling Club.

She shares her daughter’s journey to NJCAA wrestling at Indian Hills, the club’s work with young wrestlers, and how the podcast highlights underrepresented Illinois girls’ wrestling stories.

Season 2 plans include weekly episodes, new guests, topics from college recruiting to tough conversations, and a call for suggestions, guests, and community support.

We are going on vacation until October (unless we have something very important to stay, which does happen) Weekly episodes back in October! 

Coaches Liz Short and Sarah Doty break down Team Illinois' performance at the Women's National Duals, highlighting what worked, what needs improvement, and how the experience prepares athletes for the July Fargo freestyle nationals.

They discuss energy and bench culture, technical takeaways like par terre defense and head-and-hands, Greco benefits, nutrition and recovery, and actionable next steps for athletes, coaches, and families heading into Fargo.

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We are a baby podcast with a huge mission, and we would love your help - share the success of Girls' wrestling in the State of Illinois. If you like what you see, leave us a review (we heard that it really helps),  subscribe,  and share our podcast with other wrestling families

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Want to be our guest? Fill out this form: https://forms.gle/3CAjj1b6XcrgJA1v7. We are looking for insights from club and team coaches, expertise from industry experts, and inspiring stories from girls-wrestlers. You can also email us at [email protected]

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Looking for a club to join? Start your search at https://www.ikwf.org/clubs

Ready to learn more about USA Wrestling? https://www.themat.com/

Join the discussion in the Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17hayuBGgw/

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok

See girls wrestling grow

Flow Wrestling 2025-26 commitment list

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We are working on a few more episodes this season and will go on vacation sometime in July. See you in October for the Second season of the Illinois Girls Wrestling Podcast! 

In this episode we break down exactly what girls need (and don’t) for wrestling: a simple three-bucket system of must-haves, helpful items, and optional extras so families avoid overspending or last-minute panic.

Learn what to ask your coach, how to build a packed tournament kit, shoe and uniform tips, where to splurge versus save, common mistakes to avoid, and real-life insights from wrestler Justice Gerard.

Short, practical, and season-ready: buy what fits, test it at practice, keep a hygiene kit, and upgrade over time.

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We are a baby podcast with a huge mission, and we would love your help - share the success of Girls' wrestling in the State of Illinois. If you like what you see, leave us a review (we heard that it really helps),  subscribe,  and share our podcast with other wrestling families

----------

Want to be our guest? Fill out this form: https://forms.gle/3CAjj1b6XcrgJA1v7. We are looking for insights from club and team coaches, expertise from industry experts, and inspiring stories from girls-wrestlers. You can also email us at [email protected]

----------

Looking for a club to join? Start your search at https://www.ikwf.org/clubs

Ready to learn more about USA Wrestling? https://www.themat.com/

Join the discussion in the Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17hayuBGgw/

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok

See girls wrestling grow into college

Flow Wrestling 2024-25 commitment list   

Flow Wrestling 2025-26 commitment list

New episode every other Wednesday in the off-season and weekly episodes during Folkstyle season with vacation break in July and August

This episode supports girls who didn’t qualify for Team Illinois, featuring Coach Samantha "Sammie" Barrientos of Beat the Streets Chicago. We discuss processing disappointment, rebuilding confidence, summer training options (camps, open mats, strength work), ways parents and coaches can help, and practical steps to keep growing whether that means a short reset or focused improvement. The episode emphasizes mindset, leadership, and that not qualifying doesn’t end your wrestling story.

--------------------------------------

We are a baby podcast with a huge mission, and we would love your help - share the success of Girls' wrestling in the State of Illinois. If you like what you see, leave us a review (we heard that it really helps),  subscribe,  and share our podcast with other wrestling families

----------

Want to be our guest? Fill out this form: https://forms.gle/3CAjj1b6XcrgJA1v7. We are looking for insights from club and team coaches, expertise from industry experts, and inspiring stories from girls-wrestlers. You can also email us at [email protected]

----------

Looking for a club to join? Start your search at https://www.ikwf.org/clubs

Ready to learn more about USA Wrestling? https://www.themat.com/

Join the discussion in the Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17hayuBGgw/

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok

See girls wrestling grow into college

Flow Wrestling 2024-25 commitment list   

Flow Wrestling 2025-26 commitment list

--------------------------------------------

New episode every other Wednesday in the off-season and weekly episodes during Folkstyle season!

Host Lena Burkut breaks down the top 10 practice mistakes that make matches harder—like skipping stance, going live too hard, not drilling finishes, and failing to simulate match situations—and gives clear, actionable fixes you can try today.

Minot University's Freshman Lily Garrett shares how correcting habits, improving footwork, and navigating the college recruiting process improved her performance, plus practical tips for athletes, coaches, and families.

--------------------------------------

We are a baby podcast with a huge mission, and we would love your help - share the success of Girls' wrestling in the State of Illinois. If you like what you see, leave us a review (we heard that it really helps),  subscribe,  and share our podcast with other wrestling families

----------

Want to be our guest? Fill out this form: https://forms.gle/3CAjj1b6XcrgJA1v7. We are looking for insights from club and team coaches, expertise from industry experts, and inspiring stories from girls-wrestlers. You can also email us at [email protected]

----------

Looking for a club to join? Start your search at https://www.ikwf.org/clubs

Ready to learn more about USA Wrestling? https://www.themat.com/

Join the discussion in the Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17hayuBGgw/

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok

See girls wrestling grow

Flow Wrestling 2024-25 commitment list   

Flow Wrestling 2025-26 commitment list

--------------------------------------------

New episode every other Wednesday in the off-season and weekly episodes during Folkstyle season!

In this episode, Coach Liam Cummins and the host discuss how wrestlers can use the off-season to build strength, technique, and confidence without burning out. They cover practical strategies like targeted drilling, strength training, smart competition schedules, recovery, and camps.

Listeners will learn how to set realistic technical and personal goals, recognize signs of burnout, balance other sports and recovery, and how parents and coaches can support athletes to return healthier, sharper, and still excited to wrestle.

Our guest is  Liam Cummins, the girls wrestling head coach at Lane Tech, where the program recently captured their first state sectionals title.

--------------------------------------

We are a baby podcast with a huge mission, and we would love your help - share the success of Girls' wrestling in the State of Illinois. If you like what you see, leave us a review (we heard that it really helps),  subscribe,  and share our podcast with other wrestling families

----------

Want to be our guest? Fill out this form: https://forms.gle/3CAjj1b6XcrgJA1v7. We are looking for insights from club and team coaches, expertise from industry experts, and inspiring stories from girls-wrestlers. You can also email us at [email protected]

----------

Looking for a club to join? Start your search at https://www.ikwf.org/clubs

Ready to learn more about USA Wrestling? https://www.themat.com/

Join the discussion in the Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17hayuBGgw/

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok

See girls wrestling grow

--------------------------------------------

New episode every other Wednesday in the off-seasn and weekly episodes during Folkstyle season!

This episode breaks down practical next steps after Illinois Freestyle State for athletes, coaches, and families — whether you qualified for Fargo or didn’t. Liz Short and the host explain qualification rules, regional and second‑chance options, summer camps and team travel, weigh‑in strategy, and how Greco and the National Duels fit into development.

Listeners will get simple, actionable guidance: take a brief reset, plan steady training, review film, choose the right competitions (regionals, second chance, duels), manage weight and recovery, and how parents can best support athletes emotionally and practically.

Our guest is Liz Short, Current Coach at Andrew High School, 2023 - IWCOA Girls Coach of the Year, Team USA - 2024 U17 Pan-American Coach, 2025 U15 Pan-American Coach, 2026 U15 Pan-American Coach 

--------------------------------------

We are a baby podcast with a huge mission, and we would love your help - share the success of Girls' wrestling in the State of Illinois. If you like what you see, leave us a review (we heard that it really helps),  subscribe,  and share our podcast with other wrestling families

----------

Want to be our guest? Fill out this form: https://forms.gle/3CAjj1b6XcrgJA1v7. We are looking for insights from club and team coaches, expertise from industry experts, and inspiring stories from girls-wrestlers. You can also email us at [email protected]

----------

Looking for a club to join? Start your search at https://www.ikwf.org/clubs

Ready to learn more about USA Wrestling? https://www.themat.com/

Join the discussion in the Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17hayuBGgw/

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok

See girls wrestling grow

--------------------------------------------

New episode every other Wednesday in the off-season and weekly episodes during Folkstyle season!

In this episode Coach Russell Silverstein breaks down the mental side of wrestling — why athletes perform great in practice but freeze under pressure, and how the mental game can be trained. He explains common mindset "red flags" (hesitation, over-respect, fear of mistakes) and shares quick, practical tools like 10-second mental resets, visualization, and focusing on what’s in your control.

This conversation gives concrete, usable advice for athletes, coaches, and parents — including how to communicate after a loss, how parents can support first-year wrestlers, and where to find additional mindset coaching resources.

Russell Silverstein is a sports performance and mindset coach, wrestling coach, educator, and father with 26 years of coaching experience across youth, high school, and collegiate wrestling. Since 2018, he has served as a Sports Performance Mental Coach and Mindset Coach with Z Winning Mindset/Wrestling Mindset, helping athletes build confidence, mental toughness, and peak performance. He currently serves as Head Coach and Director of Wrestling Operations for the men’s and women’s programs at Executive Education Academy Charter School. His previous coaching roles include Assistant Coach at Alvernia University Women’s Wrestling and Muhlenberg College Men’s Wrestling, as well as Head Coach positions at Valley Forge Military College and Williamson Trade School. Throughout his career, Russell has mentored more than 70 state medalists and state champions through Wrestling Mindset programs, helped coach over seven collegiate All-Americans and numerous conference champions, and contributed to two state championship teams along with multiple league titles. He is passionate about helping athletes unlock their mindset, develop resilience and discipline, and turn potential into achievement both on the mat and in life. Learn more about Wrestling Mindset and follow Coach Silverstein on Instagram.

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We are a baby podcast with a huge mission, and we would love your help - share the success of Girls' wrestling in the State of Illinois. If you like what you see, leave us a review (we heard that it really helps),  subscribe,  and share our podcast with other wrestling families

----------

Want to be our guest? Fill out this form: https://forms.gle/3CAjj1b6XcrgJA1v7. We are looking for insights from club and team coaches, expertise from industry experts, and inspiring stories from girls-wrestlers. You can also email us at [email protected]

----------

Looking for a club to join? Start your search at https://www.ikwf.org/clubs

Ready to learn more about USA Wrestling? https://www.themat.com/

Join the discussion in the Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17hayuBGgw/

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok

See girls wrestling grow

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