Feb 22, 2026 By Jonathan Guth 3 min read

Zoey Murphy won her second WPIAL championship in as many years on Saturday at Mount Lebanon High School in the WPIAL Girls Individual Wrestling Championships.

The Southmoreland senior earned a 9-4 decision over Albert Gallatin sophomore Jenna Chapman in the finals of the 235-pound weight class.

The two have met five times this season, and six overall, with Murphy getting the upper hand in five of their bouts. Chapman won the first match this season by fall on Dec. 3 before Murphy won by decision, 10-3, in the Powerade semifinals on Dec. 28. The Lady Scottie won by technical fall on Jan. 3 at the Lady Falcon Invitational and scored an 8-0 major decision a week later in the finals of the Blue Devils Girls Winter Classic at Mount Lebanon.

In Saturday’s championship final, Murphy escaped for a 1-0 lead after a scoreless first period, but Chapman scored a takedown for a 3-1 advantage with 1:34 remaining in the second period.

Murphy regained the lead with a reversal and three near-fall points for a 6-3 edge heading into the third. Murphy scored a takedown for a six-point advantage with 17 seconds left before Chapman added a late escape.

Murphy improved to 20-2 this season and 70-20 for her career. She was second in the state last year and qualified as a sophomore but didn’t place. Murphy was seventh in the state as a ninth grader, but the tournament was not sanctioned by the PIAA.

Chapman is 15-5 this year and 31-14 for her career. She is looking to qualify for the state tournament for the first time.

Chapman and Murphy earned byes into the quarterfinals as the top two seeds, and both won twice by fall to reach the final, and guarantee a spot in next Saturday’s PIAA West Regional at Mount Lebanon. The top four place winners in each weight class at the west regional will advance to the state tournament at the Giant Center in Hershey on March 5, 6 and 7. Districts 8 (City League) and 10 will also be at the West Regional along with the WPIAL.

Connellsville senior Trinity Moore not only placed third at 112, but the Point Park University commit also won her 100th-career match during the tournament with a fall in the consolation semifinals. Moore is now at 101 career victories after earning a win in the consolation final.

Moore is looking for her fourth trip to the state tournament, although the championships were not sanctioned by the PIAA when she was in ninth grade. Moore was fifth as a freshman and sophomore, but didn’t place last year.

Teammate Olivia Shultz was fifth at 155. The junior will look to qualify for her third state tournament. Shultz has a season record of 26-11 and a career mark of 67-40.

The Lady Falcons’ Julieth Flores (100) and Jayden Wiltrout (148) placed sixth to advance to the regional tournament.

In her first competition of the season, West Greene ninth grader Josie Mason went 5-1 at 136 to earn third place.

Southmoreland’s Rylee Mains qualified for the regional tournament after placing sixth at 106.

Beth-Center’s Bailey Bernot placed third at 170 to qualify for the regional, as the top six in each weight class advanced. Bernot, a senior, is 22-4 this season.