Forever the first District 10 girls champion at 136 pounds, “Kasey started out (on Thursday) with the girl that ended up second (in the state),” said Warren head wrestling coach Glenn Baldensperger, “then (on Friday) got the girl who ended up eighth. The girl she lost twice to in regionals took sixth.”

The first-ever D10 champ at 148 pounds, “Katie also started out (on Thursday) with the girl who took second,” added Baldensperger, “then lost (Friday) to the girl that took eighth.

“I’m really happy for the girls,” he said. “They came a long way in three years. They’ve set the mark for the girls behind them to achieve.”

That’s a point not lost on Kophazy.

Pictured are the credentials for Warren seniors Kasey Kophazy and Katie Seamens at the PIAA’s inaugural Girls Wrestling Championships in Hershey. Photo submitted to the Times Observer

“Looking back on the season, I realize that it was not just about the firsts and making history,” she said. “It was about breaking barriers and challenging stereotypes. In a sport that is traditionally dominated by boys, I was able to show that girls can excel and compete at the same level. I hope that my accomplishments will inspire other girls to take up wrestling and push for their own firsts. Of course, the season was not without its challenges, but I wouldn’t have changed anything.

“There were times when I doubted myself and faced criticism from those who didn’t believe that girls belonged in the sport, but I used those moments as motivation to prove them wrong and show that I was just as capable and determined as any male wrestler and ended up making it further than any of the boys in the county.

“Reflecting back on my season in girls wrestling, I am filled with an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment,” added Kophazy. “This past year was full of firsts for me, as I became the first girl from my high school to achieve so many milestones in the sport. It started with my victory at the district championships, where I became the first girl to win in the 136 weight class. From there, I went on to qualify for the state championships by placing fourth at regionals. This was a huge feat for me as I had been working towards this goal for the last two years. But the firsts didn’t end there — I was also the first girl from my school to sign for women’s wrestling in college. I was also the first female in Warren to reach 50 varsity wins in just around two years. To be able to do this as the first girl from my school was truly an honor. It was also a testament to the hard work and dedication I had put into the sport throughout my high school career.”

Being a part of women’s wrestling history was also the highlight of Seamens’ senior season.

“This year was my dream season,” she said. “It felt like my junior year was when I made the most progress, but this year has been the most fun and time-consuming, and it was totally worth it. With every tournament, we got closer and closer to states. And each time we made it past another hurdle, especially districts and regionals, it has never felt more like a ‘fever dream.’

“This year was an honor just to participate in the state,” added Seamens. “Coming from a very small team and only now getting the practice we needed has done a lot for us. Even if I was eliminated, being able to make it past hundreds of other girls in my weight bracket is not something I would change. The competition for both boys and girls was fierce. Wrestlers had different times set aside to compete so not everyone was in the arena at the same time. The stadium didn’t seem jammed-packed until you got to the main floor. I noticed when the girls came out to warm up and wrestle, it felt like the crowd increased in size or cheered louder when we stepped on to the mats for the first time. For me, this isn’t something I will forget anytime soon. In five, 10, or even 50 years, I can look back and realize that I did this; that I was part of women’s wrestling history.”

NOTES: The wrestlers Warren regional-qualifier and sophomore Jenna Kophazy lost to at districts and/or regionals at 118 pounds finished second (region semifinals), sixth (region consolation semis), and eighth (D10 final) at the PIAA tournament.

— Hickory wrestler (Mercer student and Lock Haven University commit) Avry Ryhal became District 10’s first gold medalist during the PIAA’s inaugural girls state wrestling meet. Six D10 wrestlers were medalists this weekend in Hershey.

— There were no state champions from District 10 in the PIAA Boys Wrestling Championships.

— Northwestern junior Sierra Chiesa is the only female to have competed in the PIAA Boys Wrestling Championships, and she finished one win shy of a medal at 107 pounds. She finished her season with 33 wins, including the first pin by a female at states. She’s also the first female to surpass 100 career wins in Pennsylvania boys wrestling.