BUTLER TWP — By the time a full girls varsity wrestling team is established at Butler High School, Ana Malovich will probably be graduated.

But she’ll be a big reason why it’s there.

“Absolutely. Positively,” Butler wrestling coach Scott Stoner said. “Ana is a pioneer in this sport. Her accomplishments have been noticed by so many other young girls who may be interested in giving wrestling a try.”

Ana’s achievements are far from done.

She competed in USA Wrestling’s 16U Girls National Freestyle Tournament and the Junior Women’s Nationals this past week in Fargo, N.D. There was just under 1,000 entries, making it the largest girls wrestling event in history.

Ana placed fifth at 16U nationals last year. She was fourth there this year, her only two losses coming by decisions of 12-10 and 7-4.

“I was happy with the way I wrestled out there,” she said. “I’ve definitely gotten better in the past year. I’m doing better training practices and I have better training partners.”

After wrestling at 106 pounds in the 16U tourney, Ana bumped up to 112 for the Junior Nationals. She finished 4-2 in that event, which included opponents two to three years older than herself.

“I bumped up a weight class because it would have been hard to cut weight again back down to 106,” Ana said. “I probably could have done it, but I wanted to be physically stronger (for Junior Nationals). It was the right choice.”

Her two losses at Junior Nationals were by competitive scores as well.

“She fared well against the best competition she’s gonna find,” Stoner said. “That’s where Ana is right now. There were all kinds of college scouts at that tournament. Her name’s out there. They know about her.

“Ana’s been doing this since she was 4 or 5 years old. She’s done the work. Her passion for the sport keeps getting stronger.”

Ana trains and gets on the mat with standout female wrestlers Jordyn Fouse of Northern Bedford and Lane Fordyce of Indiana on a regular basis. She attends the same wrestling camp — Young Guns in Ebensburg — as Lane.

“I’ll travel an hour, hour and a half to meet with those girls and train with them,” Ana said. “It’s worth it.”

Her next big tournament will be the Super 32 in North Carolina this October. Besides that, she’ll be getting ready for her junior season at Butler. Competing on the boys team, she will bump up to 114 pounds.

Stoner doesn’t think that will be a problem for her.

“Ana is more experienced now and she’ll still be facing younger kids, a lot of freshmen and sophomores,” Stoner said. “She’s already proven she can more than hold her own.

“While she’s a tough competitor for us, it’s good that she’s doing these freestyle tournaments because that’s the style she’ll be wrestling in college.”

Through two seasons with the Golden Tornado, Ana has a 38-17 record, including 23-12 as a sophomore. She qualified for the WPIAL Tournament last season.

She has her eyes on 90 career wins, which would break the state record for career girls wrestling victories (89) held by Montana Delawder of Gettysburg. She will be wrestling at King University.

“I really want that record,” Ana declared. “I believe I can get there. I also think I’m capable of getting through to the state tournament. It won’t be easy, but I believe I can do it.”

Ana is the first girl in Butler to go all the way through the elementary and junior high wrestling programs and to start for varsity. She wants to be remembered for more than that.

“I want my legacy to be known as the best girl wrestler to come out of Butler,” she said. “I’m very proud of what I’ve done for girls wrestling in this area. I want us to have a team here. I want other girls to experience what I have.

“I’m hoping to be wrestling for a number of years yet.”

Stoner won’t bet against her.

“There’s a lot of women’s wrestling programs popping up at the Division II and III levels, not just Division I,” the coach said. “Ana’s going to continue on someplace. She’s certainly earned it.”