North Schuylkill's wrestlers line up for introductions prior to Thursday's girls' dual meet against Pine Grove. The competition was the first for the newly formed North Schuylkill wrestling team. (Photo by Bob Lipsky)

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — North Schuylkill added to its illustrious wrestling history with a night of firsts Thursday at the Cesari-Hope Gymnasium.

The Spartans’ girls’ wrestling team took the mat for the first time, hosting Pine Grove, an established program that has had girls’ wrestling since its inception as a PIAA sport. The Cardinals defeated the Spartans 54-18, but that didn’t diminish the enthusiasm of North Schuylkill to build its program.

“To me, it was electrifying,” North Schuylkill co-head coach Shane McGrath said. “Just knowing what the girls have put in since we started this on June 2nd, they deserved this moment. I believe they got a little taste of wrestling, but the passion grew a little bit. They were upset, which is good. It builds a little fire to go on to the next one.”

For the record, here are some of the firsts the Spartans achieved Thursday evening:

** First dual meet — Dec. 11, 2025, vs. Pine Grove at Cesari-Hope Gymnasium

** First bout — Ka’ren-is Holmes, 100 pounds

** First takedown — Cora Ortiz, 112 pounds

** First victory — Holmes, by forfeit

Madison Fetterolf (106) and Delilah Farrone (155) also won by forfeit for the Spartans (0-1).

Meanwhile, Pine Grove (2-0) used its experience and superior technique to earn nine victories. Morgan Broy (112), Autumn Martin (118), Renee Eisenhauer (130), Eliza Kurtz (136), Taylor Bast (142) and Rieleigh Purcell (190) notched falls for the Cardinals.

“They’re all coming along great,” Pine Grove coach Jacob Herring said. “We’ve got little things to clean up here and there, but the girls have really come along. They’ve pulled together as a team. Those with experience have helped bring up those who are new to the sport, and I’m really pleased with what I’ve seen so far.”

And about adding North Schuylkill as a full varsity program in girls’ wrestling?

“The more the merrier,” Herring said. “I was happy that North Schuylkill (formed) another team. I hope some of the other schools are able to add some teams, get more competition out there. It’s only going to help improve everybody in the league.”

Pine Grove 54, North Schuylkill 18

100 — Holmes (NS) won by forfeit

106 — Fetterolf (NS) won by forfeit

112 — Broy (PG) pinned Ortiz, 1:18

118 — Martin (PG) pinned Miscannon, 2:31

124 — S. Eisenhauer (PG) won by forfeit

130 — R. Eisenhauer (PG) pinned Allred, :56

136 — Kurtz (PG) pinned Smith, 2:29

142 — Bast (PG) pinned Kimmel, :26

148 — Lemke (PG) won by forfeit

155 — Farrone (NS) won by forfeit

170 — Krill (PG) won by forfeit

190 — Purcell (PG) pined Economy, :39

235 — No bout

Boys’ Wrestling

North Schuylkill 68, Panther Valley 5

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — Gaige Mentusky (107), Noah Leib (133), Brock Holmes (139), Kaden Tavares (152), Bryce Kile (160), Ben Carr (172), Connor Dower (189) and Will Wysoski (285) notched pins as North Schuylkill cruised to a Schuylkill League Division I win at Cesari-Hope Gymnasium.

Bode Gates (145) contributed a technical fall for the Spartans (5-1, 1-0 D-I).

In the featured bout of the night at 215 pounds, North Schuylkill’s Cadyn McGraw posted a 6-1 decision over Carlos Maldonado-Rosa. After a scoreless first period, McGraw scored a reversal and four near-fall points to take the lead. Maldonado-Rosa escaped, but McGraw held him off the rest of the way.

Emmanuel Andrades (127) won by technical fall for Panther Valley (0-1, 0-1).

107 — Mentusky (NS) pinned Ixsaiah Bracero, 1:50

114 — Miernicki (NS) won by forfeit

121 — Padakowski (NS) won by forfeit

127 — Andrades (PV) tech. fall Hoover, 15-0, 3:06

133 — Leib (NS) pinned Hunsicker, 3:18

139 — Holmes (NS) pinned Matula, :36

145 — Gates (NS) tech. fall Rolon, 15-0, 2:20

152 — Tavares (NS) pinned Moore, 1:36

160 — Kile (NS) pinned Smith, :23

172 — Carr (NS) pinned Ixsaviar Bracero, 3:42

189 — Dower (NS) pinned Zarsky, :20

215 — McGraw (NS) dec. Maldonado-Rosa, 6-1

285 — Wysoski (NS) pinned Blose, :55

Jr. High Score: North Schuylkill 84-0