Solorio and Big Macs get 1st titles

It was a night of firsts as the PIAA concluded its inaugural season of girls wrestling with the last of three nights of championshipcompetition on Saturday at Giant Center in Hershey.

Canon-McMillan celebrated two firsts. Senior Valarie Solorio became the first PIAA champion and the Big Macs became the first teamchamp.

Solorio put Neshaminy freshman Grace Nesbitt on herback three times before recording a fall at 3:14 to claim the100-pound title. It was Solorio’s fourth pin of the tournament as she finished with a 170record.

“I love being on the big stage with all the eyes on me,” Solorio said. “I love being the center of attention. Wrestling on the center mat put me over the top. I’m so excited to be the firstPIAA champ.”

Solorio was joined in the finals by Big Macs teammate Natalie Rush (33-3), who was not as fortunate in her title match at 190. Rush was pinned by Bishop McCort’s AlyssaFavaro.

Rush and Solorio were two of five medal winners for the Big Macs, who accumulated 93 points to claim the first teamtitle.

Moon’sHaley Smarsh (28-1) had hoped to become the first freshman to win a PIAA girls title, but her unbeaten season came to an end when she was pinned by Easton junior Aubre Krazer (26-0) in the 130poundfinal.

The 118-pound final also featured two unbeaten wrestlers. Butler senior Ana Malovich (18-1) fell from the ranks of the unbeaten with a 13-6loss to Palisades junior SavannahWitt (30-0).

North Allegheny senior LeynaRumpler (35-2) came up one point short in her bid to win the 155-pound weight class. A second period escape was the difference in Rumpler’s 1-0 loss to Hickory senior Avry Ryhal (25-3). Rumpler had beat Ryhal in the Westernregion final.

Twenty of the WPIAL’s 40 entries came home with a medalafter placing among the topeight in their weight class.