Latrobe duo among wrestlers eager to hit mat for 1st WPIAL girls tournament

By: Paul Schofield
Thursday, February 15, 2024 | 8:09 PM

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Latrobe junior Lili Maxwell didn’t start wrestling until two years ago.

A torn labrum while swimming convinced her to try the sport.

Now the 17-year-old is preparing to compete in her first WPIAL individual wrestling championship.

It’s a first for all 185 girls set to compete in the inaugural tournament Saturday at North Allegheny.

That’s because this is the first year the PIAA is sponsoring girls wrestling. The girls are trying to advance to the West Regional on March 2 at Canon-McMillan, and from there, hopefully qualify for the state tournament March 7-9 at Hershey.

MyHouse previously sponsored a girls state championship that wasn’t affiliated with the PIAA.

Maxwell and senior captain Meryn Zangaro are the Wildcats’ top wrestlers, according to coach Rich Ludwig, who previously coached the Derry boys.

Both enter this weekend’s tournament with winning records. Zangaro (15-5) is seeded third at 148 pounds and Maxwell (15-9) is seeded fourth at 155.

“I’m really excited to compete this weekend,” Maxwell said. “I’m trying not to think about it. I don’t want to get nervous and allow it to get into my head.”

Maxwell went back and forth between swimming and wrestling. But after her injury, she realized she loved wresting more.

She learned a lot from All-American Club. Her go-to move is a cross-face cradle.

This is Zangaro’s first year in wrestling, and she loves every minute of it.

“The season has gone great,” Zangaro said. “I thought it would be a fun thing. The team is working together. We’re all new to the sport, and we’re working on our strength and endurance.

“During the summer, a couple of boys came to practice and showed us some moves. A lot of our training is watching videos and trying to apply it on the mat. I hope I can make it pretty far. I’ve learned a lot.”

Zangaro also competes on the track and field team as a thrower.

Her goal is to keep working.

“I need to continue to improve my mentality, and body needs to be strong,” Zangaro said. “There is so much to learn. I like to be active. Love to use my energy, give it my all on the mat.”

Canon-McMillan had the strongest team in the WPIAL this season.

Senior Valarie Solorio (6-0) is a returning MyHouse state champion at 100 pounds. Other top wrestlers include sophomore Audrey Calgaro (21-4), seeded second at 170, and junior Natalie Rush (25-2), second at 190.

North Allegheny senior Leyna Rumpler (26-1) is a returning MyHouse state champion at 155.

Other wrestlers to watch include Butler senior Ana Malovich (9-0), who placed second in the state at 118; Connellsville sophomore Trinity Moore (20-2), who placed third at 118; Plum sophomore Saphia Davis (22-2), who placed second at 124; Kiski Area sophomore Ava Golding (21-4), who is seeded first at 136; and Norwin sophomore Josephine Dollman (15-3), who is seeded fifth at 142.

WPIAL girls wrestling championships

Where: North Allegheny

When: Saturday

Times: First round and quarterfinals, 9 a.m.; semifinals, 1 p.m.; finals, 4 p.m.

The skinny: Top 5 in each of the 13 weight classes (100, 106, 112, 118, 124, 130, 136, 142, 148, 155, 170, 190 and 235) advance to the PIAA West Regional on March 2 at Canon-McMillan. If District 8 (Pittsburgh City League) does not send a wrestler in a weight class, she will be replaced by the sixth-place finisher from the WPIAL. … There will be six mats. … There are 185 competitors and 35 schools represented.

WPIAL girls wrestling rankings

100: 1. Valarie Solorio (6-0), Canon-McMillan; 2. Sophia Beanner (12-1), Mt. Lebanon; 3. Miranda Lajevic (18-9), Knoch; 4. Nila Bland (19-6), Trinity; 5. Yasmin Martinez (11-0), Valley.

106: 1. Capri Chambers (21-6), Canon-McMillan; 2. Zainaya Jones (8-3), Valley; 3. Sara Breeger (11-5), Seneca Valley; 4. Jordan Gonzales (7-7), Trinity; 5. Cheyenne Berglund (13-11), Ellwood City.

112: 1. McKenzie O’Neal (9-3), Woodland Hills; 2. Brin Zehmisch (11-5), Butler; 3. Malia Ramos (16-6), Canon-McMillan; 4. Ella Campbell (8-4), Burrell; 5. Taylor Chambers (9-7), Southmoreland.

118: 1. Ana Malovich (9-0), Butler; 2. Trinity Moore (21-2), Connellsville; 3. Yunuen Ayala (19-8), Canon-McMillan; 4. Izzy Leighty (13-6), Seneca Valley; 5. Hannah Williams (21-11), North Allegheny.

124: 1.Saphia Davis (22-2), Plum; 2. Paige Jox (27-3), Mt. Lebanon; 3. Bailey Emery (24-5), Canon-McMillan; 4. Alexis Brua (18-4), Laurel; 5. Natalie Tofanelli (10-8), Seneca Valley.

130: 1. Haley Smarsh (17-0), Moon; 2. Maddee Fischer (32-5), Seneca Valley; 3. Asia Fowler (17-4), Woodland Hills; 4. Leilani Ramos (18-12), Canon-McMillan; 5. Emmaleah Cunningham (17-11), Beaver.

136: 1. Ava Golding (21-4), Kiski Area; 2. Janayah Nobles (20-8), Connellsville; 3. Abigail Dolanch (18-5), Fort Cherry; 4. Alexia Ashby (19-13), Trinity; 5. Milly Williams (15-9), Canon-McMillan.

142: 1. Josephine Dollman (15-3), Norwin; 2. Grace O’Korn (26-6), Peters Township; 3. Anastasia Manchester (19-4), Butler; 4. Audrey Morrison (26-5), North Alegheny; 5. Genevieve Hanson (9-6), Upper St. Clair.

148: 1. Elaina Ashby (23-8), Trinity; 2. Paige Ward (15-9), Canon-McMillan; 3. Meryn Zangaro (15-5), Latrobe; 4. Contessa Cotelessa (13-2), Laurel; 5. Maya Scott (22-12), North Allegheny.

155: 1. Leyna Rumpler (26-1), North Allegheny; 2. Imani Cameron-Botti (18-8), Connellsville; 3. Dynasty Williams (18-6), Canon-McMillan; 4. Linda Maxwell (15-9), Latrobe; 5. Allyssa Stewart (13-7), Laurel.

170: 1. Audrey Calgaro (21-4), Canon-McMillan; 2. Arianna Bernard (9-1), Valley; 3. Octavia Walker (19-8), Norwin; 4. Olivia Shultz (14-10), Connellsville; 5. Kenley Alexander (15-10), Seneca Valley.

190: 1. Natalie Rush (25-2), Canon-McMillan; 2. Kaylee Dean (17-3), North Allegheny; 3. Liliana Giulianelli (13-7), Peters Township; 4. Abigail Hewitt (11-7), Norwin; 5. Haley Hunter (10-7), Seneca Valley.

235: 1. Alaina Claassen (14-2), Plum; 2. Isabella Stewart (5-0), Burrell; 3. Zoey Murphy (8-3), Southmoreland; 4. Isabella Spotti (13-4). Fort Cherry; 5. Vie Filar (8-4), Fox Chapel.

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.