Norwin girls wrestling boasts 2 WPIAL champs in inaugural event

By: Paul Schofield
Saturday, February 17, 2024 | 7:20 PM

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It was quite a day for the Norwin girls wrestling program Saturday at the first WPIAL girls wrestling championship at North Allegheny.

The Knights crowned two champions and had three others advance to the PIAA West Regional on March 2 at Canon-McMillan.

Sophomore Josephine Dollman became the school’s first WPIAL champion when she pinned Peters Township senior Grace O’Korn in the first period. She then cried when her dad and coach Mike Dollman hung the gold medal around her neck.

But freshman Octavia Walker stole the show when she rallied from a 5-0 deficit to pin Canon-McMillan sophomore Audrey Calgaro to win the 170-pound title.

Walker raced to her corner and jumped into the arms of her dad and coach Robert Walker.

“I didn’t look good early, but I kept battling and I never gave up,” Walker said. “I watched her in her earlier matches and studied what she liked to do. When she tried to cradle me I was prepared, and I caught her and put her on her back.

“I really don’t know what I did to pin her. She turned. I got her head. I had her tight.”

Calgaro was ranked No. 1 in the tournament and Walker No. 3. This was their first meeting.

Dollman said it was an emotion day because the program almost didn’t exist.

She had wrestled for years, and when the school said it would sponsor wrestling, she was able to recruit three girls from gym class before others followed.

“This is so exciting,” Dollman said. “It’s great to be the first champion and even better for the program. I’m looking forward to West Regional and states.”

The other Norwin girls to advance were Abigail Hewitt, third at 190, Karsyn Champion, fourth at 148, and Addison Elyes, who was fifth at 112.

Latrobe had four wrestlers advance: Meryn Zangaro, third at 148, Miranda Kantoris, fourth at 235, Rowen Lewis, fourth at 170, and Elizabeth Kantoris, fifth at 190.

Kiski Area sophomore Ava Golding was the 136-pound champion.

Southmoreland sophomore Zoey Murphy placed second at 235.

Connellsville had three wrestlers place second: Trinity Moore at 118, Janayah Nobles at 136 and Imani Cameron-Botti at 155. Olivia Shultz was a fourth qualifier. She placed fifth at 170.

In the record books, Canon-McMillan senior Valarie Solorio always will be known as the first girls WPIAL champion after she defeated Montour’s Kristen Walzer, 16-1, at 100 pounds.

The Big Macs, the top team in the WPIAL, dominated with three champions and two runners-up. They advanced 11.

Solorio and North Allegheny senior Leyna Rumpler (155), who won MyHouse Pennsylvania State titles in 2023, are looking forward to competing with the boys at Giant Center.

“It means that we belong,” Rumpler said. “Everyone across the country was excited to learn that the PIAA was finally going to sponsor the sport. Now we get to show what we’re made of.”

The other Big Mac winners were Capri Chambers (106) and Natalie Rush (190). Plum also had two champions: Saphia Davis (124) and Alaina Claassen (235).

The other first-time champions were Hampton’s Isabella McNutt (112), Butler’s Ana Malovich (118), Moon’s Haley Smarch (130) and Laurel’s Contessa Cotelesse (148).

The top six in most weight classes advance to the West Regional. The top seven move on at 190 and 235, and the top five at 118 advance.

This is because District 10 and 8 had trouble filling out the bracket.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Kiski Area, Latrobe, Norwin