Sophomore Juliette Cuevas took a trip to Hershey to compete in the PIAA State Wrestling Tournament over the weekend. Through the the three day tournament Cuevas went 3-2, earning a 7th place finish.
This was a year of firsts for both Cuevas and girls wrestling as a whole. Cuevas has never wrestled before and has now placed in a state tournament as well as capturing a regional title along the way.
Wrestling was originally never in the cards for Cuevas, who said she joined the team to help improve her martial arts skills.
“Originally I wanted to wrestle to get better at jiujitsu. I was never really planning to take this seriously,” she said.
This is the first year for a PIAA sanctioned tournament for girls wrestling.
Girls wrestling, in general, has had a record breaking season this year at Bellwood-Antis. Earlier in the year Hailey Loupe recorded the first ever female win for the boys wrestling team at B-A. Bellwood also had 3 girls wrestlers make it to the first ever District 6 girls championship held at UPJ. All 3 girls placed and made it to the regional tournament.
Cuevas placed 3rd, Hailey Loupe placed 5th, and Ella Patterson placed 4th.
Cuevas wrestles in the 100-pound weight class. She was matched up against Mount Lebanon’s Sophia Beanner in the first round on Thursday and prevailed with an 18-6 major decision win. This would advance her into the quarter finals.
Friday afternoon Cuevas faced off against Bensalem’s Payton Hinkle in the quarterfinals. She suffered a tough loss after having an early lead. It was 9-4 in the second period when Hinkle avoided a Cuevas offensive move and Hinkle earned the pin in 3:45.
With the loss Cuevas was sent into the consolation round where she matched up with Nazareth’s Chelsea Dressler. The B-A sophomore stayed head strong with a short memory of her loss and bounced back with a win. She was down 4-2 with time running out in the third period. Cuevas got a takedown with 29 seconds left to even the score and send the match into overtime. With 40 seconds remaining in overtime Cuevas got a takedown to secure her a win.
In the third round of consolation Cuevas took a hard loss to Parkland’s Ella Hesener. Cuevas was pinned in 55 seconds. Hesener would go on to take 4th place in the tournament.
For her 7th place match Cuevas went up against Hattie Mack from Hempfield. The B-A sophomore wrestled a hard fought match and won on decision 6-1, earning her a 7th place medal.
“I’m happy with the outcome of states, but I know I could have placed better,” Cuevas said. “The girls there were all tough and good opponents.”
Wrestling coach Nick Torsell was very proud of Juliette and is excited to see what is in store.
“For myself, it was the most fun time I ever had coaching. She let it fly and wrestled in a way to be proud of. She focused on her performance and not the outcome, and therefore the outcome was great!”
Cuevas said she was grateful for her coaches and family for pushing her along the way to the championships. And although she never planned to love the sport she’s looking forward to wrestling again next season.
“I’m excited to see the outcome of next year,” she said.
