Illinois Girls Wrestling Podcast

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.
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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 ilgirlswrestling@gmail.com
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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 2024-25 commitment list   
Flow Wrestling 2025-26 commitment list
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New episode every other Wednesday in the off-seasn and weekly episodes during Folkstyle season!
Today's episode is a shortcut for folk-style wrestlers and families learning freestyle: what changes, how scoring works, what the edge means, and where to focus first so your first freestyle tournament feels exciting, not confusing.
Guest Kylie Bair breaks down the essentials — step-out = 1 point, takedown = 2 points, exposure/turns score heavily (2 points, with bigger throws worth 4–5), and a 10-point lead ends the match — plus parterre basics, edge awareness, and practice priorities like takedowns that lead to exposure, leg-lace offense, and flat tight defense on bottom.
Kyley Bair began her wrestling journey at the age of 12 with the Peoria Wizards Wrestling Club in the IKWF. She went on to wrestle all four years at Richwoods High School, where she was a four-year varsity starter. In addition, she represented her state as a former member of Team Illinois at Fargo. Currently, Kyley wrestles at Eureka College. She grey-shirted this year and plans to compete for the team over the next two seasons. Outside of her collegiate career, Kyley gives back to the sport by coaching girls in her community during the freestyle season. 
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New episode every Wednesday (this is a plan)!
----------
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 ilgirlswrestling@gmail.com
----------
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
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Start simple: circle in, be explosive, drill edge scenarios, ask your coach, and use developmental events to learn. Freestyle rewards action and exposure, and confidence comes fast when you understand what earns points.

New episode every other Wednesday in the off-seasn and weekly episodes during Folkstyle season!
In this episode the hosts answer common parent questions about girls starting wrestling—what equipment is needed, safety concerns, how to find a club, what practices and tournaments look like, and how parents can best support their athletes.
Then they interview Viola Pianetto, a 2025 state finalist and current college freshman, who shares her rapid rise from starting in junior year to competing in college, her training routine, recruiting and decommitting experience, and tips for girls who want to wrestle in college.
Our guest is Viola Pianetto: 2025 IHSA State finalist, IHSA 2x state qualifier, 2x Fargo qualifier, 2025 Illinois Indiana dual team
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New episode every Wednesday (this is a plan)!
----------
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 ilgirlswrestling@gmail.com
----------
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
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In this episode we preview IKWF State with a focus on the Senior Girls Division (ages 13–14), the final youth tournament before many athletes move to high school wrestling. We explain how the postseason works, why the senior division matters, and which weight classes and matchups look most competitive.
Guest Eddie Kohley breaks down sectionals, shares State tips for families and first-time attendees, highlights athletes to watch (including contenders at 100–130 lbs), and offers advice on mindset, preparation, and the transition to high school wrestling.
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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 2024-25 commitment list   
Flow Wrestling 2025-26 commitment list
--------------------------------------------

This episode previews IKWF sectionals with a special focus on the girls' senior division, outlining the pressure, match dynamics, and what separates state qualifiers from the rest.
Coach Eddie Kohley joins host Lena to discuss maturity, mental toughness, coaching and parental support, key weights to watch, and how wrestlers can recover and refocus after a loss.
Eddie Kohley is a coach of 9 years. Currently coaching at Saint Charles North High School - BUILDING A BRAND  , and getting the high school  girls wrestling program up and running.  
 
--------------------------------------
New episode every Wednesday (this is a plan)!
----------
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 ilgirlswrestling@gmail.com
----------
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
--------------------------------------------

This episode explores the current state and future of girls wrestling in Illinois, covering growth trends, co-ops, sectional balance, and the possibility of splitting into 1A/2A divisions. Guests discuss fairness, best practices for co-ops, and how new programs (like ISA) could affect the high school pipeline.
The conversation emphasizes practical steps to increase participation, create fairer competition, and keep the sport accessible while rewarding athletes who put in the work, with encouragement for wrestlers, coaches, and families to stay engaged and patient as the sport evolves.
Chris Gochis is Kaneland High School Girls Wrestling Assistant Coach, Illinois MatWomen rankings contributor for IHSA girls wrestling, Illinois Girls Wrestling Rankings & Results Admin. Midwest Black Mambas Girls National Team Head Coach
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New episode every Wednesday (this is a plan)!
----------
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 ilgirlswrestling@gmail.com
----------
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
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