Reavis' Lily Fish Becomes First Regional Champ in Girls Wrestling Program History

Senior wrestler pulls off thrilling 7-6 win to earn regional title and advance to sectionals.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Lily Fish, a senior at Reavis High School in Chicago, has made history by becoming the first regional champion in the school's girls wrestling program. Fish, who was one of just three girls in the program as a freshman, pulled off a thrilling 7-6 win in the 155-pound championship match against Hillcrest's Melissa Nance to earn the regional title and advance to the sectional tournament.

Why it matters

Fish's achievement is a significant milestone for the Reavis girls wrestling program, which has grown from just a few participants to a full lineup of 14 individuals at the regional tournament. Her success serves as an inspiration for other young women to get involved in the sport and helps put the Reavis program on the map.

The details

Fish (29-3) scored the decisive reversal with just seven seconds left in the championship match to secure the victory. Reavis coach Kyle McKinley praised Fish's hard work and dedication, calling her 'one of the hardest workers I've ever been around' and noting that she has been a mentor to many of the other wrestlers in the program.

  • On Saturday, Fish won the 155-pound title at the Ag Science Regional in Chicago.
  • Fish is a three-sport athlete and plans to play softball at Moraine Valley after graduating.

The players

Lily Fish

A senior at Reavis High School in Chicago and the first regional champion in the school's girls wrestling program history.

Melissa Nance

A wrestler from Hillcrest High School who faced off against Lily Fish in the 155-pound regional championship match.

Kyle McKinley

The head coach of the Reavis High School wrestling team, who praised Lily Fish's hard work and dedication.

Hailey Canvin

A wrestler at Reavis High School who finished third at 235 pounds and advanced to the sectional tournament alongside Lily Fish.

Ezra Velez

A wrestler at Reavis High School who placed fourth at 190 pounds and also advanced to the sectional tournament.

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What they’re saying

“Seeing me make it this far after knowing what I was like my freshman year, it's really incredible to me. I'm very proud of myself.”

— Lily Fish (chicagotribune.com)

“It's very special. She built the program. She's the winningest girls wrestler we've had. There are not enough good things to say about her.”

— Kyle McKinley, Reavis Wrestling Coach (chicagotribune.com)

“Lily leads the way on the mat and off the mat. During practice, she helps us learn better techniques and everything. She's made us better. She's just a great partner to wrestle with.”

— Hailey Canvin, Reavis Wrestler (chicagotribune.com)

What’s next

Fish now has her sights set on qualifying for the state tournament for the first time. She fell one win short each of the last two seasons, losing in the blood round at sectionals.

The takeaway

Lily Fish's historic achievement as the first regional champion in Reavis' girls wrestling program highlights the growth and success of the sport at the high school level, inspiring other young women to get involved and proving that hard work and dedication can pay off, even in a traditionally male-dominated sport.