Norwin trio getting serious ahead of WPIAL girls wrestling championships

By: Paul Schofield
Thursday, February 13, 2025 | 8:39 PM

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There is a change in attitude of the three girls from Norwin as they prepare for Saturday’s WPIAL wrestling championships at North Allegheny.

This year, the young ladies are putting in the extra work at practice, going to club workouts and some went to Fargo, N.D., to improve their style.

These girls are getting serious, and they hope their hard work pays off during the individual tournaments over the next four weeks.

Junior Josephine Dollman and sophomore Octavia Walker are looking for their second titles, and sophomore Karsyn Champion is looking to improve on her fourth-place finish.

All three are seeded No. 1 in their weight classes: Dollman at 148, Champion at 155 and Walker at 170.

Dollman and Walker are among seven returning champions. The others are Saphia Davis (124) of Plum; Haley Smarsh (130) of Moon; Ava Golding (136) of Kiski Area; Contessa Cotelesse (148) of Laurel; Natalie Rush (190) of Canon-McMillan; and Alaina Claassen (235) of Plum.

“We’ve all worked harder this season, and I can’t wait to see if the extra works pays off,” said Champion, who is a returning West Regional champion. “It’s neat that we are close in weight, and we can work out with each other.”

Champion and Walker usually work out together, and Dollman and Avalin Barry had worked together until Barry suffered an injury.

“We’re a lot more focused this season,” Champion said. “I’m more experienced and know what to expect. I didn’t place at states last year, so I want to medal this year.”

Champion’s go-to move is the dump and fireman’s carry.

Walker’s favorite move is the high crotch from an underhook.

“I’m more confident this season,” Walker said. “I have a better work ethic, and I like to go to my club, Silent Victory, for extra work and work out with other girls. I’m excited to see how much I improved.”

Dollman was the only one of the three to place at states in 2024, finishing fifth. She placed fourth in 2023, but the PIAA did not sponsor the tournament.

“This is my favorite time of the year,” Dollman said. “The season has gone well, and now I want to finish strong.”

Her favorite attack is low singles.

“We all have set high goals,” Dollman said. “We want to get on the podium at states.”

The 190-pound weight class features two returning WPIAL champions: Rush (the returning champion) and Claassen (the 235 champion).

Two other returning champions are at 130, where Davis is seeded second behind Smarsh. Davis won at 124 in 2024 and Smarsh at 130.

The other returning champion seeded No. 2 is Cotelesse at 155. She was the 148 champion in 2024. Champion is seeded No. 1 at 155 because she pinned Cotelesse last month.

WPIAL girls individual wrestling championship

When: Saturday

Where: North Allegheny High School

Times: 9 a.m.: Wrestling begins; 1:30 p.m.: semifinals; 4 p.m.: finals and consolation finals for third and fifth place.

Returning champions: Saphia Davis (124) Plum; Haley Smarsh (130) Moon Area; Ava Golding (136) Kiski Area; Josephine Dollman (142); Contessa Cotelesse (148) Laurel; Octavia Walker (170) Norwin; Natalie Rush (190) Canon-McMillan; Alaina Claassen (235 Plum).

What’s at stake: Top 6 in each weight class advance to PIAA Western Regional Tournament on March 1 at North Allegheny.

Top four seeds

100: 1. Blythe Letters (12-1), fr., Shaler; 2. Kristen Walzer (16-8), jr., Montour; 3. Natalie Clem (14-6), so., Canon-McMillan; 4. Mia Jordan (9-4), sr., Southmoreland.

106: 1. Ella Trahan (21-5), jr., Fort Cherry; 2. Malia Ramos (22-7), so., Canon-McMillan; 3. Isabella Martinez (22-5), fr., Valley; 4. Ella Campbell (18-9), so., Burrell.

112: 1. Marlee Solomon (25-2), so., Canon-McMillan; 2. Trinity Moore (20-5), jr., Connellsville; 3. Carly O’Connell (17-13), fr., North Allegheny; 4. Rhiana Tolliver (17-10), jr., Ringgold.

118: 1. Paige Jox (23-1) jr., Mt. Lebanon; 2. Braylee Ireland (18-5), jr., Knoch; 3. Brin Zehmisch (17-6). so., Butler Area; 4. Sadie Sarver (14-9), jr., Greensburg Salem.

124: 1. Anna Duncan (21-3), so., South Park; 2. Aariona Strader (19-7), fr., Pine-Richland; 3. Emmaleah Cunningham (19-6), sr., Beaver; 4. Addison Claassen (19-10), so., Plum.

130: 1. Haley Smarsh (19-6), so., Moon Area; 2. Saphia Davis (13-3), jr., Plum; 3. Maddee Fischer (23-6), sr., Seneca Valley; 4. Juliana Van Slyke (23-5), fr., Mt. Lebanon.

136: 1. Ava Golding (23-0), jr., Kiski Area; 2. Janayah Nobles (22-5), sr., Connellsville; 3. Maggie Alfera (22-3), jr., Laurel; 4. Lorelei Bungard (20-13), so., North Allegheny.

142: 1. Abigail Dolanch (24-1), so., Avella; 2. Alyssa Tresco (21-4), so., Kiski Area; 3. Grace Nasman (24-5), fr., Upper St. Clair; 4. Kaitlynn Plopi (8-4), sr., Butler.

148: Josephine Dollman (26-4), jr., Norwin; 2. Evangeline Gray (23-6), sr., Canon-McMillan; 3. Elaina Ashby (22-3), jr., Trinity; 4. Maya Scott (20-9), sr., North Allegheny.

155: 1. Karsyn Champion (27-5), so., Norwin; 2. Contessa Cotelesse (17-4), so., Laurel; 3. Sophia Folks (19-2), jr., North Allegheny; 4. Imani Cameron-Botti (19-8), sr., Connellsville.

170: 1. Octavia Walker (22-7), so., Norwin; 2. Audrey Calgaro (6-2), jr., Canon-McMillan; 3. Virginia Smith (19-6), so., Avella; 4. Hannah Hornick (15-5), jr., Seneca Valley.

190: 1. Alaina Claassen (21-1), jr., Plum; 2. Natalie Rush (27-5), sr., Canon-McMillan; 3. Arianna Bernard (17-5), sr., Valley; 4. Jenna Chapman (11-5), fr., Albert Gallatin.

235: 1. Zoey Murphy (11-0), jr., Southmoreland; 2. Vie Filar (8-2), sr., Fox Chapel; 3. Alex Gosnell (18-10), so., North Allegheny; 4. Monica Osborne (8-11), so., Butler.

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.

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