Hononegah's Bella Castelli wrestling for Team Illinois guts out a Top‑12 finish at the 2026 U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals
Castelli did all of this while recovering from a torn UCL
Hononegah’s wrestling room has produced its share of tough competitors over the years, but what Bella Castelli did this week at the Fargo Nationals deserves its own spotlight.
Wrestling for Team Illinois individuals, Castelli battled through the 16U division at 2026 U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals— a bracket loaded with 77 of the nation’s best — and clawed her way into a Top‑12 finish. That alone is a statement. But the context behind it is what elevates her performance into something exceptional.
The update came with a mix of pride and disbelief: “We just finished up at Fargo for 16U nationals. Bell was in the top 12 of her bracket of 77 girls. She’s not happy, but we are! Proud of her!!”, stated a close family member.
Then came the detail that makes her run even more remarkable.
Castelli did all of this while recovering from a torn UCL, an injury suffered at National Duals. Most athletes would still be sidelined. She chose to step onto one of the biggest stages in youth wrestling instead — and held her own against the country’s elite.
That’s the Hononegah mentality. Toughness isn’t a slogan in that program; it’s a standard. Castelli carried it with her to Fargo.
Her finish also adds to a strong showing for Team Illinois Individuals, who continue to send wrestlers into national brackets and come home with results that reflect the depth of talent across the state.
Castelli may not be satisfied — competitors rarely are — but around here, we recognize what it takes to wrestle through pain, pressure, and a national field. Bella Castelli showed exactly that in Fargo.
Harold Bone
Harold Bone
Harold Bone
