Dec 5, 2024 3 min read

By Jerin Steele

Staff writer

jsteele@observer-reporter.com

Canon-McMillan senior Natalie Rush has accomplished pretty much everything in her wrestling career, but there’s still one major prize on the list.

A PIAA gold medal.

Rush, the reigning 192-pound WPIAL champion, has finished as the runner-up at the state tournament each of the last two years and was third as a freshman.

This season she’s aiming to break through and win state gold in her final try.

“I’d say it’s my main goal, especially after placing in the top three the last three years,” Rush said. “It’s something that I want more than anything, honestly.”

A self-described “practice dummy” growing up for her younger brother Owen, who’s the heavyweight on the boys team, Rush has blossomed into one of the top girls wrestlers in the state.

She has a 72-7 record in her career entering this weekend’s Ironman Tournament at Walsh Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and is a West Liberty recruit.

Rush got a good test right away in Canon-McMillan’s opener Wednesday against Norwin. She faced Octavia Walker, who won the 170-pound WPIAL title last year.

The two battled into the third period, before Rush secured a pin.

Walker got the first takedown of the match, which pushed Rush to find another gear.

“Once that happened, I told myself I had to get my head on straight, so I can go win this,” Rush said.

The pin helped the Big Macs earn a 48-24 win over the Knights.

Canon-McMillan won the state team title last year, but graduated several key members including WPIAL and state champ Valarie Solorio and WPIAL champ Capri Chambers.

Big Macs coach Jurdon Maier said Rush has developed into a leader now that she’s one of the seniors on the team.

“Natalie’s there for every offseason workout and encourages her teammates to be at events and practices,” Maier said. “We have high expectations for this team. We expect a lot of the same from last year and Natalie sets the tone. She lets the girls know how the program operates. She’s really stepped up for us.”

Rush embraced the role right away, because she wants the program’s standards to remain at a high level.

“I definitely knew we needed someone to step up, because we’re state champs and we definitely want to repeat that,” Rush said. “Obviously we all want to win again, so we have to put the hard work in. I figured I might as well step up (as a leader), because it’s got to be someone.”

Along with Rush, Sienna Williams-VanBalen, Marlee Solomon, Kiera Hale, Evangaline Gray and London Ellis had pins in the win over Norwin.

Solomon, Hale and Ellis were making their Canon-McMillan debuts. Solomon, a sophomore, came to the team after moving across the country from California. Maier said she was a runner-up at Junior Nationals this year, is ranked sixth in the country in her age group and that they’re excited to have her on the team.

Hale and Ellis have only been wrestling for a week and a half.

Rush enjoyed seeing her new teammates get off to a strong start.

“I love supporting my teammates, especially my practice partner London (Ellis),” Rush said. “She got her first win (Wednesday) night. It’s an amazing feeling to see them be able to experience what I’ve experienced these last three years.”