Fourth Time's the Charm: Riebe ('26) Captures State Title
After three previous state podium finishes—second, third, and fourth—Wisconsin Lutheran senior Izabella Riebe achieved the goal she had been chasing her entire high school career. On February 28 at the Kohl Center, Riebe captured the 2026 WIAA Girls State Championship, defeating West De Pere’s Mercedes Kruse by a 4–0 decision and completing a perfect 44–0 senior season. A four-time state qualifier, Riebe entered the tournament as the top seed and left with the one thing that had previously eluded her—a state title.
Her path to the championship wasn’t without adversity. After battling through a tough semifinal that left her coughing and fighting through throat irritation, Riebe refused to let anything stand in the way of her goal. Standing atop the podium, emotions poured out.
“It felt so good,” she said. “I’ve been fighting so hard for so long trying to do that… it felt unreal.”
Her victory was both joyful and reflective.
“I’m finally proud of myself for doing this,” Riebe shared. “It’s taken me so long to feel like I actually belong here… I didn’t even care if I lost or won. I was just happy to be here because I love wrestling so much.”
We are incredibly proud of Izabella's accomplishment and the way she represented Wisco on and off the mat. To read a detailed recap of the WIAA state wrestling meet, click here.
We are incredibly proud of Izabella's accomplishment and the way she represented Wisco on and off the mat. To read a detailed recap of the WIAA state wrestling meet, click here.
