High school wrestling notebook: Norwin pair eyes success at PIAA girls tournament

By: Paul Schofield
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 | 3:38 PM

A year ago, the PIAA held its first girls wrestling tournament.

Norwin sophomores Karsyn Champion and Octavia Walker enjoyed the experience, but neither was able to earn a medal.

Now the Norwin duo hopes getting the experience of competing on the big stage carries them to bigger things this weekend.

Champion and Walker have their eyes set on getting on the podium like junior teammate Josephine Dollman did last year when she placed fifth. Dollman will miss this year’s state tournament because of a lower body injury.

“I’m ready to go,” Walker said. “I am in a good state of mind, and I’m focused on getting on the podium.”

Walker finished second in the West Regional, falling to Erie sophomore Davaya Turman, 14-10. She rallied from a 10-0 deficit to tie up the match before giving up a late reversal.

“That match gave me a lot of confidence,” Walker said. “I used an inside leg trip and scored a bunch of points. That pumped me up.”

Walker will face Greater Nanticoke junior Sierra Ripka in the opening round.

Champion finished third in the West Regional. She defeated Hickory junior Trinity Webster for third place.

She will face Northern Bedford senior Reagan Snider in the opening round.

“I feel my training has me ready to do my best,” Champion said. “I am confident in my ability, and I am ready to go.

“I do not pay attention to who I am wrestling. My goal is to do my best and get on the podium. I have worked extremely hard for this moment.”

Southmoreland junior Zoey Murphy is seeded third in the PIAA tournament. She will face Crestwood sophomore Samara Bailey.

Western Pa. representation

There will be 36 girls from Western Pennsylvania competing this week in Hershey.

In addition to the Norwin pair and Southmoreland’s Murphy, several area wrestlers will be in the hunt for spots on the medals podium.

The WPIAL had one girl — Canon-McMillan’s Valarie Solorio (100) — win a state title last season. Solorio now wrestles at Iowa.

Returning PIAA placewinners who have qualified include Montour junior Kristen Walzer (sixth at 100), Plum juniors Saphia Davis (fourth at 118) and Alaina Claassen (sixth at 235), Moon sophomore Haley Smarsh (second at 130), Canon-McMillan sophomore Yuni Ayala (sixth at 118) and senior Natalie Rush (second at 190), Connellsville senior Janayah Nobles (seventh at 138), Kiski Area junior Ava Golding (third at 138) and Avella’s Abigail Dolanch (fourth at 136).

Other WPIAL girls in the tournament include Shaler freshman Blythe Letters (100); Fort Cherry junior Ella Trahan (106); Canon-McMillan sophomores Malia Ramos (106), Marlee Solomon (112) and London Ellis (235) and senior Evangeline Gray (148); Knoch junior Braylee Ireland (118); Mt. Lebanon junior Paige Jox (118); Beaver senior Emmaleah Cunningham (124); Pine-Richland freshman Aariona Strader (124) and senior Tiffany Gathers (148); South Park sophomore Anna Duncan (124); Laurel junior Maggie Alfera (136); Kiski Area sophomore Alyssa Tresco (142); Upper St. Clair freshman Grace Nasman (142); Trinity juniors Alexia Ashby (142) and Elaina Ashby (148); Connellsville junior Trinity Moore (112) and sophomore Olivia Shultz (170); Seneca Valley junior Hannah Hornick (170); Peters Township sophomore Liliana Giulianelli (190); Valley senior Arianna Bernard (190); and Woodland Hills junior Brooklyn Pearson (235).

Brashear senior Tamara Humphries (112) also is in the field representing the City League.

Junior high state champions

The Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling state championship was held recently, and the following are the WPIAL placefinishers:

First: Riverside’s Nelson Villafane (89)

Second: Derry’s Mason Keesecker (96), Fox Chapel’s Olympic Serrao (132), Norwin’s Noah Curre (140), Canon-McMillan’s Austin Smith (212)

Third: West Allegheny Jack Stonebraker (103), Derry’s Will McNeal (147), Armstrong’s Trace Kinzey (192), Latrobe’s Gamon Owens (252)

Fourth: Derry’s Patrick Bulger (89), Canon-McMillan’s Lee Dreshman (110), Trinity’s Aiden Willaims (192)

Fifth: Baldwin’s Shamil Islamov (103), Derry’s Camden Olsen (117), Indiana’s Nate Turner (132), Central Valley’s Ethan Bosco (140), Avonworth’s Logan Kurl (147), Derry’s Ty Blasko (157), Ligonier Valley’s Levi Foust (172), Fort Cherry’s Archie Shuttuck (212), Seneca Valley’s Ryland Kelly (252)

Sixth: Latrobe’s Maddox Mehalic (82), Trinity’s Gavin Bricker (117), Avonworth’s Xavier Harding (212)

Seventh: Latrobe’s Logan Peagler (132), Bethel Park’s Lucas Skerbetz (157), Peters Township’s Luke O’Korn (192)

Eighth: Frazier’s Brayden Broadwater (103), Hopewell’s Christian Tirado (124), Chartiers-Houston’s Tylere Clayton (212)

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.