Big Macs’ Rush pins her way to Powerade title
Mark Marietta/For the Observer-Reporter
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CANONSBURG — The Rush household could be a pretty destructive place during wrestling season. Natalie and brother Owen could make quite a fuss and the furniture was fair game when the third period arrived in their workouts.
Fast forward now to Wednesday afternoon in the Canon-McMillan gym. Much has changed for Natalie Rush, from the blue and gold singlet the Big Macs wear to the warrior, who seemingly can’t be beaten on the mat, she has become.
Rush ran her record to 17-2 with a pin in the finals of the girls championship in the Powerade Wrestling Tournament. This is the first time girls varsity wrestling was eligible for competition in this tournament.
Of Rush’s 17 victories this season, 14 have been by fall. She pinned Arianna Benard of Valley to win the 190-pound title.
The junior varsity boys get underway today and varsity boys compete Friday and Saturday.
Canon-McMillan is coming off a season in which the Big Macs won the PIAA team title with Rush finishing second.
Rush notched three pins last week at the Findlay (Ohio) Invitational in the 190-pound weight class before losing in the championship.
“I grew up in a wrestling family so it was something I’ve always been around,” said Rush. “Last year was a pretty good year. I took second at states. Hopefully, I’ll do better this year.”
Rush said that she has always had the support of her family when it came to wrestling. Everyone was excited when the number of girls varsity programs surpassed 100 in the state, the magic number that made wrestling a certified PIAA sport.
“The toughest competition I’ll have will be against the girl I lost to last year (in the state finals), Quakertown’s Caroline Hattala,” Rush said. “Canon-McMillan has always been a great wrestling school. This is my third year but I’ve been my brother’s practicing dummy since I was 7 or 8.”
“Natalie is blessed with outstanding strength and agility,” said Canon-McMillan head coach Brian Krenzelak. “She works hard. She has a good pedigree and good genetics. She is one of our leaders. There is no doubt about that.”
Canon-McMillan won the team title, easily outdistancing Connellsville.
Five local girls made the finals, four from Canon-McMillan, including Rush.
Bailey Emery was pinned in the finals at 124 by Alexia Beadle of Spire Academy; Grace O’Korn of Peters Township was pinned in 2:48 in the 142 pound finals by Violette Leasure of Chestnut Ridge. Paige Ward of Canon-McMillan was pinned in the 148 pound finals by May Cuyler of Brantsville, Va. Audrey Calgaro of Canon-McMillan was pinned in the 170-pound final by Jael Miller of Punxsutawney in 2:21.
Trinity’s Nila Bland finished third at 100 pounds; Rayla Sentipal of Burgettstown took fourth place at 118; Elaina Ashby of Trinity took fourth place at 142.