All in the family: Rarick sets the standard in girls wrestling
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- Westlake senior Keilikki Rarick pretends to crown her younger sister Tevia Rarick after the 6A 190-pound championship at the girls state wrestling finals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- Westlake senior Keilikki Rarick competes in the 6A 235-pound championship at the girls state wrestling finals at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
Westlake’s Keilikki Nau Rarick just finished an incredible high school career where she won four state titles and posted a 135-4 career record. Because Rarick has also been a national champion and a dominant force in Utah girls wrestling, she has been named the Daily Herald Utah Valley Girls Wrestler of the Year.
“It sounds awesome,” Rarick said of being named as the valley’s top female wrestler.
The 6A wrestling world should get ready for plenty of Raricks for the next decade or so. Keilikki is the oldest of seven siblings and her younger sister Tevia is already a dominant wrestler at the high school and national level. Tevia, just a freshman, went 38-0 this season with 38 pins. And her other siblings are dominating at the youth levels as well, collecting plenty of medals and trophies that might require an entire wing of the house to store them.
“I wouldn’t be anywhere without my parents (Chase Rarick and Sinehika Nau),” Rarick added. “My parents got us into wrestling and it’s been the best sport they made us do. Wrestling has really pushed our limits.”
In regards to this developing family legacy, Keilikki Rarick remarked after her win in her 6A state championships that, “you will know their names.”
Keilikki’s younger sister Tevia was her main workout partner this season and Keilikki felt that helping Tevia elevate her wrestling skills was important.
“I get to beat up on her a lot because I’m her older sister,” joked Keilikki, “but she’s been a great workout partner.”
While Tevia arguably had an even more dominant season than her older sister, Westlake head coach James Hatt credited Keilikki for a lot of the team’s success, including that of Tevia.
“They work well together and push each other,” Hatt said. “She’s a great leader and a great friend and she looks out for everyone.”
As for Keilikki she credits a number of people for developing her as a team leader.
“I learned from the leadership roles of past teammates and coaches and my parents have been good role models,” said Rarick.
In the 6A ranks, Rarick has simply dominated the 235-pound weight class. It’s not just her four titles, but the fact that she racks up the bonus point victories through pinning her competition. In her 13 matches at the 6A state tournament in these four state title runs, she won 12 of those bouts with pins.
At this year’s state tournament, she had three pins in 2:59 elapsed time. And her team needed all of those bonus points as her last win by fall catapulted the Thunder past Corner Canyon for the second place trophy.
Rarick’s freshman and sophomore seasons saw Westlake win state titles, in fact, the Thunder had won three in a row. But in 2024, Westlake slipped a bit in the standings but placed second in 2025.
“She really helped us come back this year after a bit of a lull,” said Hatt of his senior leader. “She really helped our program grow.”
Hatt also noted the commitment Rarick has shown to the sport and her team.
“She’s got a great work ethic. It’s incredible to see how much work she puts in, she’s always doing extra workouts.”
Keilikki and Tevia both play rugby and Keilikki does admit that rugby is a bit more fun. But she said wrestling was invaluable to helping her in that sport.
“Rugby is a little less mentally challenging than wrestling but I love wrestling because it is mentally challenging and teaches me responsibility which helps me in rugby,” said Rarick.
Now she will set her sights on college wrestling competing for Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. Lindenwood placed seventh at this year’s women college national tournament and is one of the best college programs for female wrestlers.
“I am super excited to get there,” Rarick added. “I’m trying to get other girls to go out there to wrestle.”
Rarick did note that while no other female wrestlers have signed to go to Lindenwood as of yet, she does have a friend going out there to play rugby. And who knows, as Rarick was a pioneer in the sport for her family, she is likely to pave a way for other family and friends to compete at the next level.
Keilikki Rarick Profile
4-Time 6A Divisional and State Champion
37-2 2024-25 Record
135-4 Career Record
12 pins in 13 matches in State Competition
16-Under USA Wrestling National Champion
Signed to compete at Lindenwood University
