Undefeated Solomon starts with another win
HERSHEY – One doesn’t have to worry about Marlee Solomon. If Thursday’s performance was an indication, she is well on her way to another state title.
The 118-pound junior from Canon-McMillan showed off the power and the poise that made her a state champion last year and has her on the road to winning a second one this season.
Solomon raised her record to 36-0 with a 15-0 technical fall over Grace Murphy of Council Rock North in the first round of the PIAA Girls Wrestling Championships at the Giant Center. Next up is Gianna Montagari of Governor Mifflin.
“I was anxious for this tournament to start,” said Solomon. “Once I got out there, the butterflies went away.”
The victory was the 62nd straight for Solomon.
“She has her sights set high,” said Canon-McMillan coach Sheila Mitchell. “She’s really grinding. Not that she hasn’t before. Marlee is just built differently. There just is never a time when we feel we have to lock her in. When it comes to a match, she just knows how to prepare.”
Mitchell said she wants Solomon to be more of a leader.
“She is going to do whatever it takes to win,” Mitchell said. “We have some freshman girls on the team and its their first time up here. We need her to be a leader.”
In other results, Burgettstown’s Raya Sentipal won by forfeit, and gets Kylee Trostle of Eastern Lebanon in the next round. Araceli Clem of Canon-McMillan had a good start with a 9-1 decision over Ava Montes of Cumberland Valley. She draws Ashley Stank of Quakertown. Liliana Gialanelli of Peters Township defeated Liz-Karla Grullon-Vasque 5-1. She takes on Esmeralda Tellez of Reading.
Avella’s Abigail Dolanch, Fort Cherry’s Ella Trahan and Canon-McMillan’s Alaya Henderson, Yunuen Ayala and Audrey Calgaro are in the consolations.