'It's absolutely unreal': 8 area girls 'ecstatic' for 1st PIAA wrestling tournament

Mar. 7—Anticipation is at an all-time high for girls wrestlers getting ready to compete in the first PIAA tournament Thursday through Saturday.

This will mark the first time the commonwealth's top girls wrestlers will battle inside Giant Center in Hershey since this is the first season the PIAA recognized girls wrestling as a sanctioned sport.

Eight local athletes begin their quest at 2 p.m. Thursday.

"It's my first time, so I'm really excited," Bishop McCort Catholic junior Jordyn Fouse said. "I'm trying to stay calm.

"There's a lot of emotions coming with it. I'm trying to remember all the girls who came before me and trying to just keep their legacy going.

"Last year, we were in a high school in a little gym. This year, it's a three-day tournament in the Giant Center. I grew up watching my brother and his friends there."

Fouse is 39-1 and ranked No. 2 in the state at 136 pounds by www.Pa-Wrestling.com.

Fouse also checks in at No. 6 in the pound-for-pound state rankings. She has won two MyHouse state titles in 2022 and 2023. She was one of three area wrestlers to earn Central Regional crowns Saturday in Milton. Bishop McCort senior Alyssa Favara (190) and Chestnut Ridge freshman Violette Lasure (142) also earned gold.

Bedford freshman Mylah Steinbuch (235) and senior Camryn Steinbuch (155), Bishop McCort sophomore Lane Fordyce (112), Chestnut Ridge senior Patron Plummer (130) and Greater Johnstown sophomore Sayona Harris-Haye (142) are set to compete as well.

"It's absolutely unreal," Favara said of wrestling inside Giant Center. "I've only been to Giant Center once and it was for state duals to watch our boys compete. Walking in and just seeing how big it was and how professional it all looked, how many mats can fit on the floor, it kind of took me back to when I first walked into Silver Spurs, which was my first state arena in Florida. I was really overwhelmed and I started picturing myself wrestling there. I'm just looking forward to it."

"I am ecstatic," Lasure said.

"I feel so blessed to be part of making history for Pennsylvania women wrestlers. Wrestling alongside the boys at the Giant Center are what many wrestlers dream about and I get to live it."

Lasure is ranked No. 1 at 142.

She is 29-0 with 27 pins. The freshman is third in the pound-for-pound rankings across the commonwealth. She pinned her regional semifinal opponent in just 10 seconds.

"My mindset," Lasure said of what propelled her to a dominant regional title. "I was determined to make it to states. My plan is to be focused on wrestling my match, being confident in my training and knowing I worked hard for this all year. My goal is a to pin my way through the state bracket, continuing that domination."

Each weight bracket includes 16 wrestlers, four from each of the Central, South Central, Southeast and West regions.

Lasure will meet the fourth seed out of the South Central region in Wilson sophomore Tammy Hguyen, who is 17-14, in the 142 first round.

Harris-Haye, the Central runner-up at 7-2, battles East Pennsboro sophomore Veronica White, who is 7-3. Both of Harris-Haye's losses have come against Lasure in pins.

Fordyce (26-4) matches up with Brashear junior Tamara Humphries (17-6) in the first round.

Plummer, 23-5 with 2021 and 2022 MyHouse state titles on her resume, meets Downingtown West freshman Sarah Pearson (28-9) in the 130 first round.

Fouse battles Cumberland Valley junior Mariana Bruscino (19-6) in Thursday's 136 first round.

"So it's definitely good to know what they normally do, but in the long run, I'm going to go out there and wrestle my style," Fouse said of facing unfamiliar foes. "I'm going to wrestle my style and let them match my style. "

Fouse will be looking to earn her third state title.

"For me, scoring points is fun," Fouse said. "It's good to acknowledge the small accomplishments like districts and regionals, but in the long run, the job's not finished. When it's done, I'll be really happy. For now, I'm just staying the course and having fun with it."

At 155, Camryn Steinbuch (24-12) battles Hickory senior Avry Ryhal (22-2).

Favara, a Lock Haven signee with a 6-3 mark and ranked No. 2 in the state at her weight, draws Pottstown senior Vida Torres (13-9) in the 190 first round.

Favara pinned all three of her opponents Saturday in the regional.

At 235, Mylah Steinbuch (18-1) meets Greater Latrobe freshman Miranda Kantoris (13-8).

Mylah Steinbuch is ranked No. 4 in the state at her weight.

Jake Oswalt is a copy editor for The Tribune-Democrat. Follow him on Twitter @TheWizOfOz11.