High School Standouts Shine at 2025 Warrior Open

The next generation of wrestling talent has officially arrived, and they made their presence felt in a big way at the 2025 Warrior Women’s Open in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Three high school athletes reached the finals of the prestigious event, with two taking home titles and proving that the future is now.

Here’s a closer look at the high school competitors who made waves in the elite Maximus division, with their placement, school, and national ranking.

Jaclyn Bouzakis, SO – Wyoming Seminary (Pa.), #2 at 105
1st Place at 103 lbs
Bouzakis dominated her way to the title, winning her first three matches by tech fall before securing a decisive 12-4 victory over 2022 NCAA champion Olivia Shore in the finals. Her relentless attacks and precision sealed an impressive championship run.

Morgan Turner, JR – Lockport HS (Ill.), #1 at 105
1st Place at 110 lbs
Turner was a force to be reckoned with, ending all of her matches early with a combination of technical falls and pins. She took down two college All-Americans en route to her championship, solidifying her position as one of the nation’s top prospects.

Taina Fernandez, SO – Archbishop Spalding (Md.), #1 at 135
2nd Place at 138 lbs
Fernandez stormed through the bracket with a series of dominant tech falls, including a win over a 2024 NAIA championship finalist. She ultimately fell short in the finals against 2024 Olympian Esther Kolawole in a hard-fought 5-3 decision.

Aleksandra Bastaic, JR – Highland HS (Ind.), #2 at 140
3rd Place at 145 lbs
Bastaic put up a strong showing, bouncing back from a tough semifinal loss to two-time NAIA All-American Liv Wieber. She rebounded with a commanding tech fall over an NCAA All-American to claim third place.

Maddie Nieuwenhuis, JR – Plainwell HS (Mich.), #3 at 100
4th Place at 103 lbs
Nieuwenhuis battled through the bracket, securing a semifinal berth before falling to eventual champion Bouzakis. She picked up a pin in the consolation round but finished fourth after a tough loss to a two-time NAIA finalist.

Talea Guntrum, SO – Steubenville HS (Ohio), Unranked
5th Place at 124 lbs
Guntrum showed grit after an early loss in the quarterfinals, defeating two collegiate wrestlers to finish in the top five and make a name for herself against elite competition.

The high school talent on display at the Warrior Open highlighted the growing strength of the next wave of female wrestlers. With dominant performances against college competition, these young athletes are proving they are ready for the next level—and perhaps beyond.