EAST STROUDSBURG – The No. 14 Lock Haven women’s wrestling team soared to the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships (NCWWC) Region 2 title with three wrestlers claiming individual titles in their weight classes. Lock Haven finished with 10 national qualifiers, the most in team history.

Despite having a younger roster compared to other teams, The Bald Eagles totaled 155.5 points, finishing ahead of host East Stroudsburg (148.5) and Ursinus (127). Of the 13 wrestlers entered in the tournament for Lock Haven, 11 are freshmen and sophomores.

“I knew running numbers before, that it could be a close team race,” Lock Haven head coach Matt Lackey said. “I thought everything had to work out perfectly for us to have a chance to win. And I wouldn’t say it worked out perfectly, but it was a pretty good day. We have wrestlers that were All-Americans last year that aren’t in the lineup this year and to come in with a young team like this, a lot of freshmen and sophomores, r and dethrone the champs [East Stroudsburg] here in their own building is a cool moment for our program and this team. They deserve it.”

Jayleah Pletz finished first with a record of 3-0 on the day with two pins at 117. Pletz made her way to the semifinals with a pin in 32 seconds over Muhlenberg Alessandra Rodriguez.

Against Olivia Palmer (ESU), Pletz built a 4-0 lead but Palmer quickly scored three takedowns for a 6-4 advantage. Pletz responded with two takedowns and grinded out a hard fought 9-7 decision to make her way to the finals. In the first-place bout, Pletz wasted no time and soared past York’s Gisele Ramirez, winning by fall (1:00).

“Last year was tough because I got fifth place and fell one spot short of becoming a national qualifier,” Pletz said. “To come back and win the tournament, it’s just crazy. And it shows all the hard work I’ve been putting in is paying off.”

Azariah Moore (180) placed first in the 180-pound bracket. Moore downed Cedar Crest’s Draydon Charman in the first round by fall (1:50) before recording two tech fall victories to push herself into the first-place bout. The first-place bout featured two Lock Haven wrestlers in Moore and Lindsay Laws. Laws scored the opening takedown and held a 2-0 lead after the first but Moore rallied back for the 6-2 decision. With her first-place victory, Moore has qualified for nationals in back-to-back years.

“Last year, I didn’t have as much wrestling experience as I did this year,” Moore said. “I thought if I qualified last year, then I better do it this year. It’s a little anxious but mostly exciting because I’m really looking for an opportunity to be an All-American this year.”

Alyssa Favara, ranked fourth in the country at 207, went 2-0 with two tech falls. Favara made quick work of her two opponents with the first tech coming in 46 seconds over Emma Lavalle of York. In the finals, Favara teched Delaware Valley’s Sophie Pollack 11-0, needing 48 seconds.

“[Qualifying for nationals is] a blessing,” Favara mentioned. “I’m incredibly grateful to Coach Lackey and all my teammates for helping me get to a point where I could do that. I’m looking forward to what nationals has to bring.”

Laws placed second at 180 finishing 2-1, recording one tech and a pin. Laws opened the day by dropping Maya Landefeld of Misericordia 10-0 (0:30). In the semifinals, Laws picked up a victory over York’s Allison Brandt by pin (1:33).

“I’m really proud of myself and the team,” Laws said. I had to face my own teammate [Moore] in the finals. But, there’s no one I’d rather wrestle, so if I’m gonna take second place to anyone, I’ll take second place to her.”

At 103, Summer Batts picked up a pin in 44 seconds to make her way to the third-place bout. Batts needed 2:44 to earn a 12-2 tech fall over Delaware Valley’s Jesenia Camargo.

Lily Sherer placed third at 131. Sherer dropped a 5-2 decision to East Stroudsburg’s (ESU) Jackeline Ramos but earned a victory by pin over teammate Lydia Knarr in 4:32 pushing herself to the third-place match against a very familiar opponent in Zoe Gress (ESU). Gress, who pinned Sherer at last year’s Regional title, had an 8-0 lead after the first period. It looked like Gress would secure the win with one more takedown, but Sherer erupted for 12 points to earn a 12-8 decision and secure her spot at nationals.

“Lily came back and got one [takedown] right out of the gate,” Lackey mentioned. “And I think it just kind of got it started. She just built on her momentum, and what she did out there, showed so much heart to come back from a tough wrestler like Zoe [Gress] was pretty impressive.”

Sherer made history by being the first women’s wrestler at Lock Haven to qualify for the national tournament four times.

“This has been the craziest ride in my life,”Sherer said. “This team has meant everything to me. It’s great to be a four time national qualifier but I think the best thing from these last four years is just the family I’ve met and built. And there’s no better place where I could have chosen to go. I’ve been making history my entire career and I’m starting to realize how grateful I am for my team. They helped send me out as regional champions. We’ve never done that.”

The freshman duo of Williamsport grad Marissa Rumsey (145) and Avry Ryhal (160) placed third in their weight classes.

Rumsey finished 4-1 with two tech falls and two pins. The freshman made her way to the semifinals where she lost by fall to eventual champion Cloe Charlesworth (Ursinus) in 1:17. Rumsey fought back and pinned Rebekah Patzke in just 28 seconds to make her way to the third-place bout. Rumsey picked up a 12-2 tech fall in 4:12 in the third-place match.

Ryhal opened the day with a huge redemption victory over Kathryn Martin of Delaware Valley by way of tech fall, 12-1. Martin pinned Ryhal in 1:40 at the Lock Haven and Delaware Valley dual meet on Feb. 9.

Ryhal dropped an 8-4 decision in the semifinals but earned back-to-back pins to finish third. The first pin came over Muhlenberg’s Kelsey Gelb in 1:35. Ryhal then made quick work of East Stroudsburg’s Jade Huerta for third, needing only 42 seconds for the pin.

After going 0-2 at last year’s Regionals and failing to qualify for nationals, Trinity Monaghan bounced back in a big way, finishing third at 207. Monaghan placed third after a 12-2 tech fall in 4:18 over Emma Lavalle.

Paige Jackson went 4-2 with two pins and one tech fall to place fourth at 138.

Isabella DeVito and Lydia Knarr placed fifth at 124 and 131, respectively.

UP NEXT

National qualifiers will travel to the 2025 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships (NCWWC) National Championships in Coralville, Iowa (Xtreme Arena) on Friday and Saturday, March 7-8.

Lock Haven’s 2025 National Qualifiers:

Jayleah Pletz (1st, 117)

Azariah Moore (1st, 180)

Alyssa Favara (1st, 207)

Lindsay Laws (2nd, 180)

Summer Batts (3rd, 103)

Lily Sherer (3rd, 131)

Marissa Rumsey (3rd, 145)

Avry Ryhal (3rd, 160)

Trinity Monaghan (3rd, 207)

Paige Jackson (4th, 138)