Feb 17, 2024 By Jonathan Guth 4 min read

WEXFORD – Team scores weren’t calculated in the inaugural WPIAL individual girls wrestling championships on Saturday at North Allegheny High School.

If they were, Canon-McMillan would have been the runaway winner, as the Big Macs crowned three champions and had 11 wrestlers advance to the PIAA Southwestern Regional Tournament that will be held March 2 at Canon-McMillan High School.

The top five in each weight class were guaranteed a spot in the regional tournament, while the sixth-place finisher could qualify if District 8 doesn’t field a representative in a particular weight class. District 8, which is commonly known as the “City League,” is not known for its wrestling tradition, which could bring several WPIAL wrestlers into the regional tournament.

The Big Macs’ Valarie Solorio, Capri Chambers and Natalie Rush earned titles; Malia Ramos (112) and Audrey Calgaro (170) were second; and Yunuen Ayala (118), Bailey Emery (124) and Dynisty Williams (155) finished third.

Leilani Ramos (130) and Eva Gray (142) took fourth and Milly Williams was fifth at 136.

Solorio, a senior and Iowa recruit, used a takedown and turned Montour’s Kristen Walzer three times for six near-fall points to extend an 8-1 lead into a 16-1 technical fall in 5:46 for the championship at 100 pounds.

Solorio not only won his first district championship, but she made history in becoming the first ever WPIAL champion in girls wrestling.

“It feels amazing to be the first ever WPIAL girls champion in wrestling,” Solorio said. “I feel like I am paving a pathway for a lot of young girls. I personally coach my own girls practice on Tuesdays, and they all wished me a lot of good luck. I did this to them to show there is a future for them.”

Solorio won her first two bouts by fall to advance to the finals.

Solorio has been dealing with injuries this season, but she has been able to get back on the mat for the postseason tournaments.

“I have a partially-torn ACL and a strained MCL that kept me out for about five months,” Solorio said. “It doesn’t cause pain, so that’s the biggest thing. I don’t think it will require surgery after the season. My quads are pretty stable and nothing is going wrong with my knee so far. I even wear a brace whenever I compete, so I am pretty much in the clear.”

Chambers pinned her way to the title at 106, but gave credit to the work that she puts in the wrestling room with Solorio and Ramos.

“It really helps working with Val (Solorio) in the room,” Chambers said. “She really helps me with the stuff that I need to work on, especially using hip pressure on top and that really helped me out today.

“I feel pretty confident going into the regional tournament. I hope I can get first. I just want to win as many matches as I can. My dad used to wrestle, so I know how important it is in this area.”

Rush works out with Peters Township’s Liliana Guilianelli in the wrestling room, but the two were opponents in the 190-pound final with Rush earning a fall in 2:17.

“It is definitely a hard thing to do (wrestling a practice partner), but when you step out on the mat, that’s your opponent, and you do whatever you need to do to win,” Rush said. “After the match, they go back to being your practice partner and friend. I think my top and bottom wrestling was what helped me out in this tournament.”

Canon-McMillan’s wrestling tradition is known across the state on the boys side, but the girls team has proven its worth.

“Since we started, the girls have emerged and been a solid team,” Rush said.

Trinity’s Nila Bland (5th at 100) and Daelyn Norris (5th at 235) clinched their spot in the regional tournament, while Jordan Gonzales (6th at 106) and Elaina Ashby (6th at 148) will have to wait and see if they qualify.

Peters Township’s Grace O’Korn was second at 142.

Abigail Dolanch (136) and Isabella Spotti (235) finished third for Fort Cherry.

Ringgold’s Anna Duncan (3rd at 130) and Mia Scalise (5th at 118) will be moving on to the regional.

Bentworth’s Baylee Oreski (100) qualified for the regional tournament after a fourth-place finish.