Plum girls wrestling coach Dave Miller could easily see the excitement level of his returning and new competitors long before the start of official preseason practices Nov. 15.
“They wanted to get started with work real early this year,” said Miller, who will help guide the Mustangs through their dual matches and tournaments leading up to championship opportunities in February and March.
“I told them to relax and that it is a long season. So, we waited a little bit and then started conditioning to get ready, and the girls are in great shape and ready to go.”
Miller said he is looking forward to seeing seven returning letterwinners — senior Emma Leindecker; juniors Alaina Claassen and Saphia Davis; and sophomores Addison Claassen, Haley Leindecker, Caroline Perez and Amora Sorzano-Lee — take that next step in their development.
Miller said he saw good things in the team’s scrimmages at Saegertown and Fox Chapel prior to last week’s season opener against Burrell.
Davis and Alaina Claassen lead the returnees after both captured WPIAL and regional championships last year and qualified for states.
“They are both really excited to go after state championships this year,” Miller said.
Claassen placed sixth at the PIAA championships at 235 and finished the season 23-5 overall.
“Alaina looks good,” Miller said. “She wants to get down to 177 this year. She’s working at it. Right now, she’s wrestling 190.”
Davis, 33-4 last year at 124, capped her season with a fourth-place finish at the state tournament.
Addison Claassen, 21-13 last year at 130, placed sixth at WPIALs, two places shy of a trip to regionals.
“Addison is really working hard to try and get to states this year,” Miller said.
Emma Leindecker enters her third season of wrestling.
She wasn’t able to finish last season because of injury. But before that, she compiled a 14-9 record.
Leindecker has been slowed somewhat by a concussion, but Miller said he hoped she would be able to get cleared to return as early as this week.
Haley Leindecker (11-8), Perez (4-9) and Sorzano-Lee (8-15) were not able to wrestle in postseason tournaments.
“During the year, you can put two girls at each weight,” Miller said. “For the postseason, you can have only one girl at each weight. They were all around the same weight as some others. Haley, for example, was around Sophia’s weight. There was a logjam. Hopefully, it works to where they can compete at WPIALs this season.”
In addition to the seven who are returning with varsity experience, five newcomers — sophomores August Caradine-Hileman and Kelsie Nesbitt, and freshmen Aiyanna Cawley, Renya Harper and Lily McLean, are wrestling for the first time.
“That is exciting,” Miller said. “It’s all new to them. They have a lot of energy and the desire to get better. We’re looking forward to seeing how they do.
“It’s nice to see how this program is growing. We started out with three or four girls, and last year we had eight to 10. Now, we have 10 to 12. But it is still hard to talk girls into wrestling. A lot of them are afraid of getting hurt. I keep telling them they are not going to wrestle anyone bigger than them. Hopefully, we can see more numbers in the program. The girls that are here now are having a good time. They’re having fun.”
McLean, who also cheers for the football team and is a member of Plum’s competitive cheer team, had a dramatic and successful varsity debut in Plum’s 36-24 loss to Burrell.
McLean, engaged in an energy filled, back-and-forth 148-pound bout with Bucs sophomore Cayla Brothers.
On the strength of a reversal and three nearfall points, Brothers took a 16-12 lead in the second period and looked to close out the match. But McLean rallied for a reversal and had taken the lead with nearfall points before scoring the pin in a total time of 3:52.
“I was very nervous before my match,” McLean said. “When I got out on the mat, though, it got quiet in my head, and the nerves went away. It just took a lot of focus and listening to my teammates and coaches give me advice and encourage me. I felt so much adrenaline when I got that pin. It was my first match. I was super happy.”
“All I told Lily was to go have fun and do the best she could and trust her abilities,” Miller said. “She kept wrestling and battling. I am so proud of her.”
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Davis, at 136, added a win by fall against the Bucs, while Alaina Claassen and Perez picked up forfeit victories at 190 and 235, respectively.