Risler, Isaacson compete in state meet this wekend

The same two Mondovi/Eleva-Strum prep wrestlers who competed in the WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament in 2025 are back again in 2026.

Sophomore Layla Risler will compete at 145 pounds in the one-class girls tournament and junior Aiden Isaacson will compete at 285 pounds in Division 2. Both MES wrestlers are in the same weight classes as they were a year ago. The tournament begins Thursday afternoon, Feb. 26 and runs until the finals on Saturday, Feb. 28 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Kohl Center in Madison.

Risler was second last year and carried into this year's tournament a 49-3 overall record. She is the No. 2 seed in the weight class. Her first round opponent (round begins at 2:30 p.m.) is Cadott junior Abigail Moss (41-13). The problem for Risler is two of her losses this season came to the No. 1 seeded junior Riley Hanrahan of Black River Falls (26-0) in the regional and sectional finals. Hanrahan won the 138-pound title a year ago and moved up a weight class in '26. She is considered not only one of the top wrestlers in the state but nation as well. If Risler wins today she'll move onto the quaterfinals later this afternoon against either (7) Kira Simpson (32-8) Sr. Wauwatosa West/East or (10) Amiyah Clark (37-3) Jr. Beloit Memorial.

Later this evening starting at 6 p.m. Isaacson (43-6) will hit the mat looking to improve upon his sixth place finish last season. He is seeded sixth in this year's tournament. His first round opponent is senior Caleb Clark (40-5) of the RFR-CFR (Rio/Fall River/Cambria-Friesland/Randolph) co-op. If he wins he'll take on either (3) Devin Otto (36-4) Sr. Coleman or (14) Bobby Edwards (39-14) Jr. Pewaukee in the quaterfinals which begin
at 8 p.m. this evening.

Even if Risler or Isaacson lose their first round matches they have a chance to wrestleback this weekend to fifth/sixth place starting at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27 in the double-elimination tournament.

Girls and boys wrestling will share the spotlight this weekend as the WIAA state individual tournament returns to the Kohl Center, with the girls championship in its fifth year and the boys competition continuing a long-standing state tradition across three divisions. The 2026 tournament will also recognize a girls team champion for the second year based on individual results.

Due to overwhelming fan support and demand, in-person ticket sales for the tournament are sold out for all sessions. The WIAA expects that no additional tickets will be available for sale at the Kohl Center ticket office and fans hoping to watch should make alternative plans to watch broadcasts online.

Fans across the state can follow the action throughout the weekend. Championship finals across all divisions will air live on the WIAA State Television Network, with live coverage beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday. Pre-finals matches will be streamed on WIAA.tv via the NFHS Network. You can stream via this link: https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/associations/wiaa-wi/wrestling/video/playoffs

Brackets: https://www.usabracketing.com/events/1bacafdd-31c6-4eaa-837c-3cd786b865c...