BLOOMINGTON, Illinois — Loyola sophomore Harlee Hiller is part of a family that has achieved tremendous success in sports in recent decades.
Hiller’s mother, Kelly Amonte Hiller, has coached the Northwestern women’s lacrosse team to seven national championships, and her father, Scott Hiller, is an assistant for the Wildcats.
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Her uncle Tony Amonte was a longtime star for the Blackhawks who played for 17 seasons in the NHL.
“It’s awesome,” Harlee Hiller said. “My parents are always motivating me. They’re great coaches, and they know what the mindset is like going into big stuff like the state finals. So they’re able to help me a lot.”
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Hiller added to the family legacy on Saturday, beating Anna-Jonesboro’s Zoee Sadler 8-1 in the 105-pound state championship match at Grossinger Motors Arena.
“This was definitely my goal from the start,” Hiller said. “I try to go to every single practice and put in all the extra work I can. I just wanted to work really hard for this.”
Hiller (32-5) was dominant at state, pinning her first three opponents before pulling away late in the championship match.
“She wrestled awesome,” Loyola coach Matt Collum said. “She wrestled hard but smart too. She didn’t force things. I’m proud of her.”
Hiller didn’t start wrestling until she got to high school. But she has an extensive background in judo, growing up competing with the Cohen Brothers Judo Club in Vernon Hills. She has won silver medals in judo at both the Junior Pan-American Games and Cadet Pan-American Games within the past year.
When Hiller got to Loyola, she decided to give wrestling a shot.
“I just really wanted to be a part of a high school team,” she said. “Knowing I could do my throws from judo in wrestling, I felt like it was a great idea. So I just decided to do it.”
Hiller found immediate success in her first season. As a freshman, she went 22-5 and finished third at 105 at the Illinois High School Association’s inaugural girls state meet.
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In the semifinals, she lost in overtime to Glenbard North’s Gabriella Gomez, who became a two-time champion on Saturday with her win at 115.
“That really motivated me,” Hiller said. “I feel like I didn’t go as hard as I possibly could in that match. So this year I knew I had to leave it all on the mat and have no regrets.”
Before Feb. 18, Loyola had never had a state champion in wrestling. Hiller made it two in two weeks after Massey Odiotti won the Class 3A 120-pound title at the boys state meet.
“It’s so cool how good our team is right now,” Hiller said. “I’m so happy.”
Collum hopes Hiller’s success inspires more girls to try wrestling at Loyola. He knows she and Odiotti have elevated the standard for both boys and girls.
“Hopefully this improves the program as a whole,” Collum said. “I’d love for the boys team to get down here for team state next year. That’s always the goal, along with getting more individual champs and medalists in boys and girls.”
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Hiller said she was able to stay composed and was not overwhelmed by the moment. After competing in international judo competitions, this stage was not too big for her.
“Judo has really helped me,” she said. “Just going into tournaments knowing I’ve been in the big lights before and I’m ready, that helps a lot.
“I’ve done this my whole life, so I’ve gotten used to it, and I’m just ready.”
Hiller also competes in cross country for Loyola. In the spring, she shifts to lacrosse, the sport she has watched her parents coach her entire life.
“It’s definitely different from wrestling,” she said. “I like them both. I like to do a lot of sports, and I think it’s fun.”
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
