Union’s Jillian ‘Monster’ Worthen, top, grapples with Durant’s Jocelyn Richardson during the 130-pound semifinal round at the Class 1A Region 4 state qualifying meet in Solon held on Friday, Jan. 31. Worthen won the regional championship, punching her ticket to state for a fourth time. PHOTO COURTESY OF REBECCA DAVIS

SOLON — For the fourth time in as many years, Union’s Jillian ‘Monster’ Worthen is heading back to Coralville.

Worthen, a two-time state champion, booked her return to the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) State Wrestling Championships in Coralville this week following the Class 1A Regional tournament held at eight sites throughout the state on Friday, Jan. 31. The senior Union wrestler won the regional championship in her respective bracket to advance from the Region 4 meet held in Solon.

At 130 pounds, Worthen was top-ranked and undefeated heading into regionals on Friday. In the quarterfinal round, she won by pinfall over Central DeWitt’s Gracie Green in a swift 29 seconds before defeating Durant’s Jocelyn Richardson by a 13-1 major decision in the semifinal. For the regional championship, she won by decision 1-0 over Mid-Prairie’s Ashlee Farrier, a senior ranked fourth ahead of regionals.

“Congrats to Jillian Worthen on her [first] place finish at Regionals and punching her ticket to the State Tournament,” Knights head coach Kirk Crawford wrote on Facebook last Friday. “Proud of the effort the whole team brought tonight, hold your head high and keep working.”

At last year’s state tourney, Worthen wrestled her way to fifth place at 125 pounds in a formidable bracket after winning back-to-back titles at 105 pounds.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KIRK CRAWFORD/FACEBOOK

She is set to compete in the 2025 IGHSAU State Wrestling Championships beginning this Thursday at Xtream Arena in Coralville as a No. 2 seed.

The Telegraph will feature coverage of the state tournament in next week’s edition.