With eye on state wrestling gold, Kiski Area, Southmoreland girls turn focus to regionals

By: Paul Schofield
Thursday, February 26, 2026 | 8:00 PM

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Southmoreland senior Zoey Murphy and Kiski Area senior Ava Golding have earned medals in the PIAA girls wrestling championship.

But will the third time be a charm for the duo as they look to win state gold?

Murphy and Golding have a PIAA Western Regional to work through before they can worry about going for gold in the state tournament.

Murphy (18-1) won her second WPIAL title and Golding (26-0) her third last weekend at Mt. Lebanon.

Both are seeded No. 1 in Saturday’s Western Regional at Mt. Lebanon.

Murphy finished second in the state in 2025 after winning the Western Regional.

Golding is a two-time regional champion. She placed third in the state in 2024 and sixth in 2025.

“My focus is on winning my third regional title,” Golding said. “Then I will focus on winning a state title. Last year, I had a problem when I dropped a weight class. That will not be the case this year. I have a different mindset this year, and I am ready to do the job.”

Golding is ranked second in the state according to PA Power Wrestling, behind Owen J. Roberts sophomore Jenny Gautreau.

Murphy also is ranked second in the state behind Panther Valley senior Brenda Banks, who pinned Murphy in the 2025 finals.

Banks also defeated Murphy in the 2024 quarterfinals.

“As long as I wrestle like I did last week, I will be OK,” Murphy said. “I am excited that there are a couple new faces in the weight class from District 10.”

And while Murphy is focused on this week, she admitted that she is looking ahead to the state tournament and a chance to face Banks again.

“I am more focused this year,” Murphy said. “I am more confident this year.”

This is the third season for the girls tournament.

Canon-McMillan’s Valarie Solorio (2024) and Marlee Solomon (2025) are the only WPIAL girls to win PIAA titles.

Other returning regional champs are Montour senior Kristen Walzer (100), Knoch senior Braylee Ireland (118), Moon junior Haley Smarsh (130), Trinity senior Elaina Ashby (148) and Plum senior Alaina Claassen (190).

PIAA 3A Girls West Regional

Where: Mt. Lebanon High School

When and times: Saturday: 10 a.m. pigtail round and quarterfinals; noon, semifinals and first round consolations; 2 p.m., second-round consolations; 4 p.m., finals and third-place match

Participants: Districts 7, 8 and 10

At stake: Top four finishers qualify for the PIAA championship March 5-7 at the Giant Center, Hershey.

Returning champions: Montour senior Kristen Walzer (100), Corry sophomore Finley Fourspring (106), Canon-McMillan junior Marlee Solomon (112), Knoch senior Braylee Ireland (118), Moon junior Haley Smarsh (130), Kiski Area senior Ava Golding (136), Trinity senior Elaina Ashby (148), Plum senior Alaina Claassen (190), Southmoreland senior Zoey Murphy (235)

Wrestlers to watch: Sharpsville freshman Layia Colich (100), Fort Cherry senior Ella Trahan (106), Mt. Lebanon freshman Isla Silva (112), Erie McDowell sophomore Chloe Zacherl (124), Pine-Richland sophomore Aariona Strader (124), General McLane sophomore Whisper Abercrombie (148), Hickory senior Trinity Webster (155), Kiski Area junior Alyssa Tresco (170)

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: Norwin, Southmoreland