CHANDLER LADY LIONS
COACH: Kallie Jo Petrie
OUTLOOK
The Chandler Lady Lions are set to make major strides on the mat this season under head coach Kallie Jo Petrie, who has built a team driven by energy, grit, and an eagerness to learn. “We have three returning state qualifiers: senior Shailey Penn (3rd place at State), sophomore Lizzy Pryor (4th place at State), and sophomore Brylee Waldman,” said Petrie. “We have added four more female wrestlers to our team this year. We are young and hungry!! The mats are full of enthusiasm, intensity, and a strong willingness to learn. I’m proud of the hard work these young women put in at practice each day. I’m excited to watch them continue to grow this season. Let’s go Lady Lions!!!”
At the core of Chandler’s success is senior Shailey Penn, a battle-tested leader who has fought through adversity to become a cornerstone of the program. “She is a leader,” Petrie said. “She has wrestled all her life. She’s been through several injuries and always battled her way back to the mat. She loves the sport! She wants to be a wrestling coach one day! I think she’ll be an amazing coach. I want her to have the most amazing senior season! She’s already off to a good start helping the newcomers.”
Joining Penn as one of the Lady Lions’ top returners is sophomore Lizzy Pryor, a fierce competitor who continues to impress. “Lizzy is a quiet monster!!” said Petrie. “She works hard, goes hard, makes her way through the bracket in a very calm and composed way. She is very strong and has also been wrestling her whole life. I fully expect her to be back at the State Tournament this year. I know her goals are big this season, and she shows up every day working towards them. Lizzy is a great leader on our team as well. She helps the younger athletes every chance she gets.”
Rounding out the returning state qualifiers is sophomore Brylee Waldman, an athlete whose rapid rise has been remarkable. “Brylee is fairly new to the sport of wrestling,” Petrie said. “Last year was her first year to ever get on the mat, and she qualified for State. She is an extremely strong girl. She won several matches last season simply because she was stronger than her opponent. Now with a full season under her belt, her technique and wrestling IQ have improved, and she will be an even stronger competitor.”
With Penn’s leadership, Pryor’s quiet dominance, and Waldman’s rapid growth — along with an influx of promising new wrestlers — the Lady Lions enter the 2025–26 season full of confidence and determination.
