Malovich looks to leave her mark
BUTLER TWP — Ana Malovich is prepping for a big finish to her high school wrestling career.
The Butler junior isn’t sure in what fashion — or what tournament — that’s going to happen yet.
Malovich, 13-17 wrestling at 114 pounds for the Golden Tornado boys team this season, placed third at 112 pounds in the Pa. Girls Wrestling State Tournament on Sunday at Central Dauphin High School. It was the first time she competed in that tournament.
“It’s been around for three or four years now,” Malovich said iof the girls tourney. “I wanted the experience of competing in it this year. It was fun, good competition. I feel like I could have won it.”
She reached the semifinal round, dropping a 4-2 decision to Canon McMillan senior Beth Elliott in that round. Malovich recovered to decision Daylee Watson of Springboro, 12-1, and Madilyn Enterline of Jamestown, 5-0, to take third.
State champion Journie Rodriguez of Lancaster decisioned Elliott, 7-6, in the finals.
“Ana is right there,” Butler coach Scott Stoner said. “If they wrestle that same tournament tomorrow, she might beat both of those girls (Elliott and Rodriguez) and win the thing. It was that close.”
Stoner made the 20-minute drive from Hershey to Central Dauphin after coaching Santino Sloboda to a fourth-place finish at 107 pounds in the boys state tourney Saturday.
“I got my fill of wrestling that weekend, that’s for sure,” the coach said. “It was well worth it, seeing both of our wrestlers place and do so well.
“I’m not sure what Ana’s plans are moving forward. There’s enough schools in Pennsylvania with girls wrestling teams now that the state will sanction the sport. But we won’t have a (girls) team in place by next year and I’m not sure when a girls schedule statewide will be formally organized.”
Malovich does have options. She could join a high school girls team at another school next season or continue with the Butler’s boys team.
“I haven’t decided whether to wrestle in the girls tournament again next year or not,” she said. “All I know is I want to help create a bigger name for female wrestling. I want to do my part.”
Through three seasons on the Butler boys team, Malovich has put together a 51-34 career high school record. While 17 of those wins have come via forfeit, she has also won 23 matches by pin-fall.
The state record of 89 career wins by a female high school wrestler appears out of reach, but a productive senior season with the Golden Tornado is a distinct possibility.
“I’m really hoping she stays with us,” Stoner said. “If Ana is able to wrestle at 109 pounds, with Santino moving up a weight class or two, it would strengthen our lineup. She’d be a senior with experience wrestling against younger opponents.
“Her and I have talked about it ... Ana would get an early takedown on an opponent, then tend to back off and wrestle more conservatively. Honestly, I feel like she could have had a few more wins.”
Malovich went 6-0 at the Virginia Duals this season, including wins over a couple of Virginia state placers. A 107-pound wrestler from Northwestern High School this year became the first female in PIAA history to reach the boys state tournament (Class AA) and won a couple of matches there.
“I was impressed with how well-coached and fundamentally strong the girls were at their state tournament,” Stoner said. “They are making their mark in this sport and it’s great to see.”
Pennsylvania now has 103 high schools with girls wrestling teams.
“I still want to wrestle in college and beyond. I want to do this for a long time,” Malovich said.
She’s not taking any time off, either.
Malovich is wrestling in two tournaments in April, will wrestle in Virginia Beach in May, Tulsa (Okla.) in June, Fargo (N.D.) in July and in North Carolina in October.
“It’s a busy schedule, but my body’s conditioned for it,” Malovich said. “I’m used to this.”
