O-R Athlete of the Week: Abigail Dolanch, Avella

Name: Abigail Dolanch

School: Avella

Grade: Sophomore

Sport: Wrestling

Dolanch’s week: There were admittedly some nerves, but Dolanch didn’t show that on the mat on her way to winning the 142-pound title at the WPIAL girls wrestling championships Saturday at North Allegheny.

Dolanch pinned all three of her opponents in the first period, including Upper St. Clair’s Grace Nasman in the final.

“I just believed in myself, because I do a lot of work,” Dolanch said. “I put in the work and I don’t know I just go out there.”

The 142-pound championship was the third meeting between Dolanch and Nasman. Dolanch has pinned her all three times.

“The first one was the fast pin, but in the second one I was sick and I almost got headlocked, but I ended up pinning her,” Dolanch said. “In the championship I was on offense and I don’t really remember what happened. It was just fast.”

Dolanch celebrated with a team dinner and a trip to Starbucks.

Pin machine: So far this season, Dolanch is 27-1 with 22 pins, one technical fall and one decision. All but six of her pins have been in the first period. Her only loss was a 9-7 overtime decision against Honesdale’s Maddison Miller in the finals at Powerade.

“I just like to make (the matches) quick,” Dolanch said.

Wrestling revival: Last year Dolanch wrestled for Fort Cherry in a co-op, because Avella didn’t have a team.

With Avella starting its wrestling program this year, a girls team was formed. There’s four girls on the team: Dolanch, Virginia Smith, Ma Kenna Northcraft and Kady Cass.

“It was amazing,” Dolanch said. “We had to go to the school board to get it. I had to go to Fort Cherry last year and nobody would really wrestle me there, so it’s good to have our own team.”

Aiming for states: Dolanch made states as a freshman and placed sixth at 136 pounds. If she finishes in the top four of next week’s Western Regional, she’ll earn a return trip to Hershey. She said she’ll be better prepared in her second trip.

“I was nervous last year, because those stands (at the Giant Center) are huge and it was packed,” Dolanch said. “I have never been in a place that big, but now I know what to expect. It’s just another wrestling match.”

Bookworm: Dolanch’s favorite subject in school is English. She enjoys both writing and reading and isn’t afraid to tackle any homework assignment given to her.

“I could write a book I write so much,” Dolanch said. “I enjoy writing about anything. If I am given an assignment I can turn like five papers in even if we’re only supposed to have like two.”

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