Butler girls wrestling team debuts with 29-team tourney at home
BUTLER TWP — Kaylee Christie made history. Brin Zemisch, Anastasia Manchester and Kaitlynn Plopi all placed.
And Butler’s first varsity girls wrestling season got under way Saturday with 29 teams represented at the Butler Tournament in the Intermediate High School gym.
There were more than 150 girls competing in the tournament, which took place simultaneously with the annual Doc Phillips JV tourney on the boys side.
“I’ve never seen this many people in this gym. This is a good thing for the boys and girls,” said Don Geibel, who coached the Golden Tornado girls team Saturday. “Girls shouldn’t have to wrestle against boys to compete in the sport and when a boy is wrestling a girl, it’s a no-win situation for him.
“This is how the sport is supposed to be.”
Seven girls competed for Butler: Plopi placed second at 142 pounds, Manchester third at 136, Zemisch fourth at 112. Christie won the first match in Tornado girls wrestling history, securing a pin at 112.
“That felt great,” said Christie, a freshman. “I’m so happy. I’m excited that we have a team.
“Winning my first match ... I don’t even know what to think right now.”
Other Butler wrestlers in action Saturday were Haley Greseck, Lauren Minda and Melissa Arcuri. Ana Malovich was not at the tournament as she participated in the Iron Man Tournament at Walsh Jesuit in Ohio. Malovich, a senior, reached the finals at 115 pounds as Butler varsity girls coach Nathan Bottiger made the trip to coach her.
She wound up winning the title in her weight class.
“Ana’s one of the best in the country,” Plopi said. “She’s going to be the leader of our team. We’re all learning from her.”
Plopi, a junior, wrestled with the Butler boys team the past couple of years.
“That experience is definitely going to help me now,” she said. “I’m wrestling opponents similar in strength to myself and I was used to facing guys stronger than I am.
“Now it’s all about technique. I wish this team was here two years ago, but I’m glad it’s here now. My goal is to get to the state tournament.”
North Allegheny won the girls tournament Saturday with 126 points. Hickory was second with 113. Seneca Valley placed sixth with 70 points, Butler eighth with 68.
Zemisch and Manchester are both freshmen with previous wrestling experience. Zemisch competed at Fargo Nationals in girls wrestling during the summer and Manchester had a year of junior high wrestling.
“We’re hoping to get more girls to join the team over the next year or two, really take it seriously,” Zemisch said. “We’re a welcoming group and everyone wants to help everyone else.
“I’ve got four years with this team. I want to see it grow.”
Manchester described the atmosphere of the packed gym Saturday as “simply amazing.”
“I love it,” she said. “Our team is already sticking together. We’re wrestling on an even (physical) level now. Anything can happen.”
Geibel agreed.
“This is going to be a positive experience for these girls. It already is, today,” he said.
Seneca Valley had four girls place in Saturday’s tournament. Sarah Breeger won at 100 pounds, Everly Harrell was third at 106, Maddie Fischer second at 130 and Haley Hunter second at 190.
