History made
Connellsville蘑菇视频 Moore becomes 1st girl in program history to win 100 career matches
To win 100 career wrestling matches in the toughest state in the country is a challenge that takes years of dedication and hard work.
Entering this season, Connellsville’s program had 35 of its wrestlers reach the century club, but all of its members were boys. The Falcons’ Zachary Franks, Nolan Nice, Tommy Gretz and Kai Vielma joined the list this year, but no girls had reached triple digits in wins.
Trinity Moore, who started wrestling when she was six, and had to take on the boys, became the first girl in program history to win 100 matches after recording a fall in the consolation semifinals at 112 pounds in the WPIAL Girls Individual Championships on Feb. 21 at Mount Lebanon High School.
Moore pinned her opponent to earn third place at the district tournament before winning three more bouts to finish fourth at the regional tournament last Saturday at Canon-McMillan High School.
Moore improved her career record to 104-39. She is 29-8 this season.
“I was so happy when I won my 100th-career match, and I ended up falling on the ground and crying,” Moore said. “I was probably too emotional, but I was very excited at that moment.”
Moore was dominating the boys when she began wrestling, but the tables started to turn as she entered junior high, however, she still held her own and was 5-9 as a freshman for the Falcons’ boys varsity team. Moore was 15-7 in girls competition as a ninth grader, which culminated in a fifth-place finish at the state tournament, which wasn’t a PIAA-sanctioned event.
“Once the boys got a little older and matured, it was tougher, but I pretty much grew up wrestling boys and learning everything about the sport from training with them,” Moore said. “There are many differences between boys and girls wrestling. The girls have much more flexibility and the matches are dictated more by speed than strength. I actually had to adjust when I started wrestling solely against girls.”
Moore, a senior who will continue her academic and wrestling careers at Point Park University, has qualified for her fourth state tournament, which begins Thursday afternoon at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Moore was fifth as a freshman and sophomore at the state tournament, but wasn’t able to reach the podium last season. She has the top seed in her first-round match on Thursday.
“I am sentimental about it because I know this will be my last state tournament,” Moore said. “I also have to wrestle the No. 1 seed in my first match, but anything can happen in wrestling.
“I am excited for college, even though it’s freestyle, which I need to work on because I have always done folkstyle, but I know I can do it. I have improved over the years in scrambles and mat awareness.”
Moore ran cross country for the Lady Falcons, and is also on the track & field team, but will compete in sprints this year instead of distance races.