Hickory's Avry Ryhal a gold medalist during historic PIAA girls wrestling tournament
HERSHEY — A Way of Life.
Avry Ryhal had that primitively printed on the pullover top she wore awaiting the start of her 155-pound championship final during Saturday's PIAA girls wrestling tournament.
Ryhal, a Mercer student who competed for Hickory's co-op program this season, didn't wear it during her match against North Allegheny rival Leyna Rumpler.
She did, though, gather it after the win of her life.
Ryhal forever became District 10's first gold medalist during the PIAA's inaugural girls state wrestling meet. The Lock Haven University recruit made a second-period escape point hold up for a 1-0 decision at the Giant Center.
Rumpler and Ryhal were ranked first and second in the state's 155 rankings throughout most of the PIAA's historic 2023-24 season. The PIAA agreed to sanction girls wrestling last July after more than 100 of its schools formally agreed to do the same.
Ryhal and Rumpler, seniors who had a combined career record of 132-21 going into Saturday, met three times alone this season.
While Rumpler won twice, she didn't in their only match that ultimately mattered.
Ryhal briefly wept once the match's final whistle was heard. The Lock Haven University recruit shook hands with Rumpler, herself bound for Baldwin Wallace University, and North Allegheny coach Daniel Heckert.
Ryhal then had an unrecorded takedown. She hugged Hickory coach Eric Mount before she casually threw him to Giant Center's pink and gray mat in a burst of spontaneous joy.
"I've been waiting for this moment for 13 years. Really, all my life," Ryhal said. "Being able to show what I've got on the mat in front of thousands of people at the Giant Center is a great opportunity that I'll remember. It was nerve-wracking, but so exciting at the same time."
Successful tactic
Ryhal's title win mostly went to plan, according to Mount. He learned from watching the other Ryhal-Rumpler matches that the latter was more effective from neutral positions.
Having Ryhal keep Rumpler wrapped up as long as possible, while also not forcing two-point takedown attempts, was the desired strategy. That played out after Ryhal recorded her escape point shortly before the final's halfway point.
"It's always tough wrestling the same person (multiple times)," Mount said. "When we got that escape in the second, we were able to ride out (Rumpler) in the third."
The match's decisive sequence occurred in the third period, when Rumpler got to her feet from the bottom position but couldn't break free of Ryhal's grasp.
Ryhal forced Rumpler out of bounds with 46 seconds left.
"I had to hold on for dear life," Ryhal said. "She didn't escape, thankfully, and that kind of determined the match."
Ryhal, who recorded falls for her previous three tournament victories, received simultaneous online congratulations from Mercer and Hickory fans once word spread of her life-changing fourth one.
She thanked the Hermitage community for making her feel like one of them.
"I'm grateful for everyone who supported me," Ryhal said.
Second still historic for Enterline
For all the district history Ryhal accomplished Saturday, the one feat she didn't gather was being northwestern Pennsylvania first female state finalist.
That Greenville's Madilyn Enterline's lost the tournament's106 gold medal match won't change that fact.
Julia Horger denied Enterline the glory Ryhal claimed. The Conwell-Egan sophomore dominated the second and third periods of her 9-3 decision.
"I thought it was a good match," Enterline said, "but she was better on her feet."
Enterline, similar to Ryhal, competed Saturday courtesy of a co-op arrangement. The Jamestown senior, who went 7-1 for the postseason, competed on Greenville's boys team.
Coaching Greenville wrestlers during PIAA matches wasn't novel for veteran coach John Reynolds. However, he still regarded the last three days as a unique experience and one he hopes to again with other females expected to come up through Mercer County's already-healthy feeder systems.
"(Girls wrestling) is really going to enrich the experiences for the kids," he said. "I'm so excited about the future."
Reynolds anticipated a parade or ceremony in Jamestown will be held to honor not one but two Enterline siblings. Kelly Enterline, Madilyn's freshman sister, also placed fifth in Saturday's 124 field.
"I think we'd enjoy that," Madilyn Enterline said.
Others on the podium
The Enterline sisters and Ryhal were the notable half of the district's six wrestlers who medaled for this weekend's inaugural meet.
Half of that half-dozen represented Crawford County schools and two of them wore Saegertown singlets. Each lost their respective finales.
Pottstown's Savannah Richards doubled up the Panthers' Leah Sample 2-1 for seventh place at 118. Montgomery junior ended Kacie Mook's varsity career with her 4:33 fall for the bronze at 130.
The losses did little to douse the satisfaction of Saegertown girls wrestling coach Melissa Bartholomew, who loved her three days at the arena.
"I was just along for the ride," she said. "It's all about these girls. We had two here. Two here who medaled.
"PIAA girls medals."
Bartholomew added she hadn't been so nervous for a varsity wrestling action since her son, Dawson, concluded his Saegertown career in 2019.
"But that's because you want so much for (the girls) to be successful," Melissa Bartholomew said.
Conneaut's Daylee Watson lost the bronze bout at 112. Williamsport's Lillian Rumsey, who was 32-0 going into Thursday's action, recorded an 8-4 sudden-victory decision over the Eagles sophomore.
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.
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This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Hickory wrestler Avry Ryhal a gold medalist at historic PIAA girls meet
