WPIAL contenders ready to compete in 1st PIAA girls wrestling championship

By: Paul Schofield
Wednesday, March 6, 2024 | 7:01 PM

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HERSHEY – When Canon-McMillan senior Valarie Solorio strolled into the Giant Center on Wednesday, she was listening to “Empire State of Mind” and checking out the size of the arena.

Her first thought: “This is where I belong.”

The PIAA is hosting its first girls wrestling championship over the next three days simultaneously with the Class 3A and 2A boys championship.

There have been girls state championships prior to this season, but none were sponsored by the PIAA until now.

“It’s amazing,” Solorio said. “I can’t wait to get out on the mat Thursday. I love this type of atmosphere. It’s like Christmas to me.”

Solorio and North Allegheny senior Leyna Rumpler won in 2023 when the state tournament was sponsored by MyHouse. Next winter, Solorio will be competing at the University of Iowa, where she’ll wrestle before similar crowds.

The independent girls state championship event has been held since 2018 — first at Gettysburg High School.

“It’s definitely overwhelming,” Kiski Area sophomore Ava Golding said. “You walk in and see all these great wrestlers and then look into the seating area and imagining all the people that will be here.

“I’m going to try to focus on my match. It’s a little nerve-wracking, but I’m excited to compete. Once the adrenaline kicks in, I’ll be fine. I can’t wait.”

Wednesday was a time for all wrestlers in the tournament to practice at the Giant Center.

Some were star-struck by the arena and others, like Solorio, were focused on preparations for the tournament.

“It’s exciting,” Latrobe freshman Rowen Lewis said. “At the beginning of the season, I never thought I’d be here as a first-year wrestler.

“There are a lot of people here. It’s a little nerve-wracking, but I’m excited.”

Freshman teammate Miranda Kantoris said she was overwhelmed when she walked into the arena.

“It’s a new experience,” she said. “Honestly, my goal is to do the best I can. I’m excited and I’m eager to see how other girls from the WPIAL do up here.”

There are 37 girls from the WPIAL entered in the tournament and one girl from the Pittsburgh City League.

“This is a surreal experience,” Canon-McMillan junior Natalie Rush said. “It’s a whole new game. I’m very excited and I’m a little antsy. I’m ready to wrestle.”

Rumpler added at the WPIAL tournament on Feb. 17: “It means that we belong. 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.”

PIAA executive director Robert Lombardi said he’s eager to watch the girls compete.

“A lot of people are excited and I’m sure they’ll do well,” he said.

PIAA Wrestling Championships

Giant Center, Hershey

Thursday thru Saturday

Class 2A boys: 9 a.m.; Girls: 2 p.m.; Class 3A boys: 4 p.m.

Finals: 4 p.m. Saturday

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.