High School Girls’ News

First-ever girls varsity wrestling teams compete in the Hudson Valley

By: Blaise Gomez
The inaugural season of girls varsity wrestling in New York state is in full swing. In the Hudson Valley, several schools have their first-ever teams, including Minisink, Middletown, Port Jervis and Saugerties. 
The New York State Public High School Athletic Association sanctioned the new girls’ teams last year.
Minisink had their first set of matches against Port Jervis on Friday. Their coach, Dan Gallo, says wrestlers will learn accountability and selflessness through the sport and that they’re excited to welcome their newest athletes.
“I hope the girls will learn several things as a result of being on the first-ever girls’ team here at Minisink. We have talented and experienced wrestlers on our team. We also have first-time wrestlers, with tremendous potential, who are a great fit for the sport and our program. We aspire to be the premier program in New York State. Just watch us,” says Gallo. … story at … Westchester.First-ever-girls-varsity-wrestling-teams-compete-in-the-hudson-valley

First official season for girls wrestling in Pennsylvania getting started
The date May 17, 2023, will not soon be forgotten by those who follow and have an affinity for girls wrestling locally and throughout Pennsylvania.
That day, the PIAA officially sanctioned the sport, making good on its promise that if schools in the state came through and 100 or more sponsored girls wrestling, it would do the same. Pennsylvania became the 38th state to sanction girls wrestling, and now more than 30 teams in the WPIAL, including four in the Alle-Kiski Valley, are putting the finishing touches on preparations to compete, in head-to-head dual meets and also tournaments. “My friend has been coaching a boys team in New Jersey for a while, and he helped start a girls team about four or five years ago,” said Plum girls wresting coach Dave Miller, who guides a group of 10 Mustangs wrestlers, a mix of veteran competitors and others new to the sport, into Saturday’s Butler Invitational, the first official event on the area schedule this season.
“Pennsylvania didn’t have it yet. But there’s been such a groundswell of interest and support the past couple of years. It’s just taken off. Last year, they doubled the number of schools from the year before. It’s growing like wild fire.” Plum, Kiski Area and Fox Chapel will be among more than a dozen teams joining a number of individuals from other schools who don’t sponsor girls wrestling hoping for positive results at Butler. Girls at Knoch, Highlands and Riverview wrestle with the boys teams at their school, but they also will test their mettle at tournaments throughout Western Pennsylvania through February. … story at … Tribhssn.triblive.com/First-official-season-for-girls-wrestling-in-pennsylvania-getting-started

Queens of the mat: Girls wrestling is off and running in 1st season as a PIAA-sponsored sport
Ana Malovich has concluded one wrestling career and begun another in her senior year at Butler High School. Thanks to the PIAA for sponsoring girls wrestling.
Malovich wrestled for Butler’s boys team the past three years and turned in a record-setting 51-34 career mark. She ended her career with the boys team as the only girl in WPIAL history to have 45 or more wins. Now, Malovich and other girls hope to be queens of the mat.
The PIAA has officially recognized girls wrestling for the first time for the 2023-24 season. Malovich could have remained with the boys team or competed on the Golden Tornado’s girls team. ”This choice was easy,” Malovich said. “I want to wrestle with the girls team in my senior year. I will miss being in that environment. I was fortunate to be on the boys team, but I wouldn’t trade anything for this experience of wrestling with the girls.” 
Malovich made her debut for the girls team over the weekend and won a title at the Walsh Women’s Ironman tournament, which was hosted by Walsh Jesuit High School (Ohio). It’s a tournament for top wrestlers. Malovich was seeded No. 3 in the 16-girl bracket at 115 pounds. A pair of pins got her to the semifinals, where she defeated No. 2 seed Harlee Hiller of Loyola Academy in the semifinals. 
Malovich capped off a championship performance with a pin at 3:56 of her title match against Harriton’s Reagan Briggs. … story at … Post-gazette.com/sports/Piaa-girls-high-school-wrestling-wpial-ana-malovich-butler

December 25, 2023 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized