Sisters from Quaker Valley lead Pennsylvania charge at national youth wrestling tournament

Dublin Parnell, representing Quaker Valley in the 8U/50-pound division, kicked off October as an All-American wrestler.

Dublin participated for Team PA Red at the War of Roses Midwest National Duals Tournament in Indianapolis and was the only team member to go undefeated at the weekend event.

The talented youth grappler posted a 6-0 record and was named as the outstanding wrestler on her team.

Ireland Parnell, Dublin’s older sister, also represented Quaker Valley and placed eighth in the 12U/65-pound open division.

“My daughters were both honored to have their spots sponsored by Pennsylvania and were incredibly humbled to have this opportunity,” Alyssa Beth Parnell said.

“Pennsylvania was represented by two squads (PA Red, PA Blue) at the national tournament. Despite competing from 8 a.m. until after 10 p.m., both teams of girls took first place in their respective pools. That was an outstanding show for a group of girls whose state hasn’t had its first sanctioned season yet.”

Alyssa Beth has been a Quaker Valley Wrestling Association mentor for a decade and coaches her two daughters, Dublin and Ireland.

“Girls wrestling is on the rise as interest continues to grow,” she said. “Our young ladies have proven they are willing to work hard, and their achievements in this sport are nothing short of amazing.”

Alyssa Beth comes from a wrestling family and is a staunch believer in girls competing on the mats, both at the youth and high school levels.

“Girls wrestling is the No. 1 growing sport in the nation right now at the scholastic and collegiate levels,” she said. “Our state had its 100th school add a girls team to their program, which is the PIAA requirement to start the process of sanctioning a girls division across the state.

“At the youth level, the sport itself is growing insanely fast. There were 444 girls that signed up to compete at the Keystone State championships, up from 263 last year. A 70% increase is no small progression. So, while at this age they would prefer wrestling with the boys, we would love it if Quaker Valley had a girls team.”

A total of 40 girls from Pennsylvania on two teams with 20 weight classes were chosen to compete at the Midwest Nationals.

Others who performed well at the national event included Isla Silva and Lennox Derringer, both from Mt. Lebanon.

Isla went 8-0 in the duals and was a Midwest National champion in the 12U/90-pound open division. Lennox Derringer went 6-1 in the duals and did not compete in the open division.

Mimi Skowronski from Seneca Valley won three matches in the duals and did not compete in the open division.

The Midwest National Tournament is regarded as one of the most competitive duals and open tournaments for girls.

More than 600 contestants competed in the duals and upwards of 500 in the open division.

“I am incredibly impressed with the Pennsylvania girls, all together, and excited to see the sport grow here in the state,” Alyssa Beth said. “How cool that so many of the girls from our home state can hang with girls that have had women’s wrestling sanctioned for years? Being one of the fastest growing sports in the nation, it’s actually pretty cool to follow along.”

Pennsylvania’s team rosters were comprised of Dublin Parnell/Lexi Beers in the 50-pound weight class, Reagan Brown/Marley Dixon (58), Ireland Parnell/Parker Hoover (66), Kelly Zacheri/McKenzie Astorino (74), Lennox Deringer/Brooklyn Henry (82), Hadley Heaster/Isla Silva (90), Layla Namerow/Morgan Hyland (95), Shannon Logue/Miranda LaJevic (100), Brin Zehmisch/Mimi Skowronski (106), Lillian Seagreaves/Lillian Rumsey (112), Braylee Ireland/Trinity Moore (117), Chloe Zacheri/Sierra Chiesa (122), Madalyn Rapp/Elaina White-Vaga (127), Sienna Landrum/Emily Murphy (132), Mari Bruscino/Josephine Dollman (138), Liliana Rodriguez/Alanna Morris (144), Emma Beaven (152), Jael Miller/Alyssa Favara (164), Bryce Snyder/Natalie Rush (180) and MacKenna Atkinson/Caroline Hattala (200).

Many of the Pennsylvania team members also competed and medaled in the Midwest Nationals open individual tournament.

Dublin Parnell placed second to New Jersey state champion Tyanna Evans in a hard-fought finals match.

Over the summer, Dublin was named an All-American three times, once at the Rumble Duals in Lansing, Mich., and twice at the Summer National Duals in Atlantic City, N.J.

Ireland Parnell was also honored as an All-American in the freestyle division at Summer Nationals.

Both girls helped their PA West team snag second place at the Battle in the Burgh Duals. Both went undefeated and Dublin was named outstanding wrestler for her team.

The PIAA has sanctioned girls wrestling as an official high school sport starting in 2023-24.

“With wrestling season just on the horizon, it would be amazing to see the sport grow within the Sewickley region,” Alyssa Beth said.