Mia Palumbo
Accomplishments
- Multiple Time Illinois Girls State Champion
- FlowWrestling Who’s Number One Champion
- 2021 Tricia Saunders Hall of Fame Excellence Award Winner
- 2x Fargo Champion
- 2023 Pan-American Champion
- 2023 U20 All-American
- 2x NAIA Scholar All-American
- 2022 & 2023 NAIA National Finalist
- 2024 National Champion
- 2024 Olympic Trials Qualifier – Finished 5th
Making History
In 2018, Mia Palumbo, a freshman at Harold L. Richards High School in Oak Lawn, Illinois, made history by becoming the first female wrestler to win a match at the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) boys' state wrestling tournament. Competing in the Class 2A 106-pound weight class, Palumbo secured a 4-2 victory over Kaeden Kinison of Springfield in her opening-round match, marking a significant milestone in the tournament's 80-year history .PageSuite+1illinoismatmen.com+1
Palumbo continued her impressive performance by winning another match in the consolation bracket with a 9-2 decision over Woodstock North’s Caleb Miller . She concluded the tournament with a 2-2 record, narrowly missing a spot on the podium after a loss in the "blood round" to East St. Louis senior Anthony King .National Wrestling Hall of Fame+1FloWrestling+1Patch
Her groundbreaking achievement not only highlighted her personal talent and determination but also paved the way for greater inclusion of female athletes in high school wrestling. Palumbo's success has since inspired many young women to pursue wrestling, demonstrating that gender barriers can be overcome with skill and perseverance.
