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Wyoming Seminary’s girls to battle Canada as part of Myhouse Melee, an elite boys high school dual event

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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling

Vayle Baker of Wyoming Seminary, shown at the 2017 Cadet World Championships, will compete in the featured dual meet against Canada on Saturday. Photo by Richard Immel.


High school wrestling fans are getting pumped up for the Myhouse Melee, hosted by Wyoming Seminary in Kingston, Pa., January 26-27.


Five of the nation’s best high school teams will wrestle in dual meets over the two days. The teams on the schedule include No. 1 Bergen Catholic (N.J.), No. 2 Blair Academy (N.J.), No. 3 Montini (Ill.), No. 4 Wyoming Seminary (Pa) and No. 8 St. Edward (Ohio). By the end of the weekend, the No. 1 team in boys high school wrestling will be determined at this point in the season.


Also on the card is a high school girls dual meet, as the first-year girls program at Wyoming Seminary will battle Team Canada in a freestyle match


All of the action, including the boys and girls dual meets, will be broadcast live by FloWrestling. You can find extensive previews of these great high school boys showdowns on FloWrestling


The girls dual meet is intriguing, as many of the best young athletes from both nations will be showcased.


Wyoming Seminary is coached by head coach Erin Vandiver, a USA Wrestling Assistant National Coach for many years, and assistant coach Adeline Gray, a three-time World champion and 2016 Olympian. The program is focusing on freestyle wrestling, and has attracted many of the nation’s top young talents.


“This dual meet is to get high-level competition on our calendar and to build from there,” said Vandiver. “This dual will introduce the girls to the international style and get them more experience. This should help our athletes get ready for the U.S. Trials event coming up in May.


The Sem lineup for the Canada Dual includes seven girls in the most recent National High School rankings, released by USA Wrestling, FloWrestling and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.


The ranked wrestlers from Wyoming Seminary are No. 1 Emma Bruntil of Washington, No. 2 Vayle Baker of Pennsylvania, No. 3 Ashlyn Ortega of Colorado, No. 3 Amanda Walker of Pennsylvania, No. 4 Caitlyn Walker of Pennsylvania, No. 8 Sophia Smith of North Dakota and No. 9 Shaina Murray of New Jersey.


These ranked stars have extensive international experience, with Baker, Ortega and Caitlyn Walker all having been members of two U.S. Cadet World Teams, and with Bruntil winning a 2017 Pan American Junior gold medal.


Canada’s team includes a strong lineup, mostly from Ontario, and includes 2017 Cadet World Team member and 2017 Pan American Cadet bronze medalist Nyla Burgess and 2017 Pan American Cadet Team member Amelia Frisbee.


“Our girls are working hard. This is different for many of them, being in a room with a lot of quality athletes and high intensity. So far, this season has gone well. We are entering some good tournaments and going to international training camps,” said Vandiver.


Next up for the Wyoming Seminary girls is the Flatz Open in Austria, where 10 athletes will compete and attend an international training camp. Assistant Coach Adeline Gray will be among the coaches on the tour, but will also enter the Senior competition there at 76 kg. Other coaches working with the American athletes in Austria will be Assistant National Coach Emma Randall and former Team USA member Ku’u Robinson.


First things first. Vandiver is pleased that the Wyoming Seminary girls team, the Canadian girls team and the sport of freestyle wrestling, will be on display side-by-side with elite boys high school competition.


“For this area, the Mid-Atlantic Region, this will introduce women’s freestyle wrestling to them and open some eyes. It will be an exciting event, for sure,” said Vandiver.

Wyoming Seminary Girls vs. Team Canada matchups

46 kg – No. 4 Caitlyn Walker (SEM) vs. Kaliegh Prieux (Canada)

50 kg - Maria Jonsson (SEM) vs. Virginia Gascon (Canada)

53 kg – No. 2 Vayle Baker (SEM) vs. Kelyn Young (Canada)

55 kg – No. 8 Sophia Smith (SEM) vs. Selena Reneadu (Canada)

57 kg – No. 3 Amanda Walker (SEM) or Julia Dailey (SEM) vs. Jolie Brisco (Canada)

59 kg - Cheyenne Sisenstein (SEM) or Tzi Schwartz (SEM) vs. Savana Pinsent (Canada)

62 kg – No. 9 Shaina Murray (SEM) vs. Diana Arsagov (Canada)

65 kg – No. 1 Emma Bruntil (SEM) vs. Aylah Mayali (Canada)

68 kg – No. 3 Ashlynn Ortega (SEM) vs. Nyla Burgess (Canada)

72 kg - Tiffani McNelis (SEM) vs. Amelia Frisbee (Canada)

** National ranking from January 12, 2018

MYHOUSE MELEE

At Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Pa.



Complete Schedule


Friday, January 26

5:30 p.m.

Blair Academy (NJ) vs. Easton (PA)

7 p.m.

Wyoming Seminary (PA) vs. Easton (PA)

Blair Academy (NJ) vs. St. Edward (Ohio)

Saturday, January 27

10 a.m.

St. Edward (Ohio) vs. Bergen Catholic (NJ)

Wyoming Seminary (PA) vs. Montini Catholic (IL)

12:00 noon

Wyoming Seminary (PA) vs. St. Edward (Ohio)

Bergen Catholic (NJ) vs. Montini Catholic (IL)

2:00 p.m.

Wyoming Seminary (PA) vs. Bergen Catholic (NJ)

Wyoming Seminary (Girls) vs. Team Canada

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