Mar 8, 2025
The Montgomery Girls wrestling team poses for photos after they wont the girls team championship during the PIAA Wrestling Championships in Hershey. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
HERSHEY – With the exponential growth the PA girls wrestling scene has seen since PIAA started sanctioning it in 2023, plenty of great teams set themselves up to land on top in the second rendition of the PIAA Girls Wrestling Championships this weekend. Though plenty stood a chance, just one would reign supreme come Saturday night.
That one just so happened to come out of District 4.
Behind exceptional runs from Zoe Furman, Jenna Houseknecht and Emily Murphy, the Montgomery girls wrestling team accumulated enough points to etch its name within the record books as the event’s second champion.
Furman made it all the way to the state final at 130, falling short of a title against returning champ Aubre Krazer but doing enough to guide the team’s path to history. And though they suffered tough Day Two losses to drop into consolations, Houseknecht and Murphy would never experience another loss, finishing strong to send the team over the hump.
“I’ve always said I’m so proud of every single girl that’s on this team,” expressed Furman once the title was in hand. “Everyone gave it their all and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Zoe Furman of Montgomery walks out onto the floor of the Giant Center before her championship match during the PIAA Wrestling Championships in Hershey. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
It wasn’t just that trio that played a role, or sophomore Brielle Walk’s run to quarters. It was also thanks to the effort their teammates put in through four months of tough practices, an aspect of the team which helped those three improve day-by-day.
“We had some wrestlers who didn’t make it out of districts, some who didn’t make it out of regionals. But they all contributed to this,” said coach Matt Furman on the team. “All those practices helped make that person better. It’s great to see how our collective group could accomplish something like this, especially since we’re such a small school.”
Furman excelled throughout the tournament, racking up three bonus-point victories – including two late pins – to add additional boosts to her team’s score alongside the wins.
While her run didn’t end the way she wanted it to, the effort she put forth on the mat on Saturday, even as the deficit to lofty lengths, showed how passionate she was about her goal. Even after the loss, she still expressed gratitude when discussing the opportunity to see where she was at against one of the nation’s best.
“She’s a great opponent, it’s great to compete against her and put it all out there on my own,” said Furman. “(Moving forward), I definitely want 100-percent to push myself in the room no matter what. Everything I got. Just working to get back on that podium and ultimately be at the top next year.”
Zoe Furman of Montgomery controls the action against Aubre Krazer of Easton during the PIAA Wrestling Championships in Hershey. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
With the Red Raiders entering Saturday in fifth amidst a nailbiter, they needed a lot to go right if they wanted to push towards the top. Motivated both from an individual and team standpoint, Houseknecht and Murphy ran the table against tough competition in consolations.
Trailing 2-0 late in round-five consolations, Houseknecht’s opponent – No. 5 Alexis Pancoast (Mechanicsburg) – seemed to have her beat, with the freshman struggling to shake her grip as the clock ticked down.
But with Pancoast attempting to bring her down for another takedown, Houseknecht found an opening to turn the situation around, forcing Pancoast’s face down to the mat and securing a reversal. Then, in sudden victory, she’d take complete charge, picking Pancoast up and slamming her down to seal the deal.
She’d endure a similar challenge while vying for third, but an early third-period takedown and strong defense kept her ahead, winning her final two bouts by 5-2 and 6-4 decision.
“I just knew if I kept my defense up and kept my feet active, hands active, I’d be fine, and she wouldn’t score on me. I made sure of it,” said Houseknecht when asked about nerves protecting her lead in his final match.
Zoe Furman of Montgomery is tied up by Aubre Krazer of Easton during the PIAA Wrestling Championships in Hershey. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
“I think it’s so special when I get to be a part of our school’s first ever team title at states. It’s super cool, I couldn’t ask for a better team to be surrounded with. The girls on my team are absolutely amazing role models. I’m glad I’m surrounded by them,” she added.
Arguably the biggest push towards history came from the team’s senior leader, as Murphy kicked off Day 3 with a pin before proceeding to secure another to cap her high school career.
Facing a familiar foe in Northeast Bradford’s Anaiah Kolesar, Murphy posted take downs in all three periods, with the latter throw being what she needed to pick up an impactful pin. In slamming her opponent to the mat, she was in perfect position to secure it, doing so just a few short seconds later.
“I’m a thrower. I see an opening and I just take it,” said Murphy on the sequence. “I’m not going to keep the match going if I can end it all.”
“Emily’s throw was incredible and couldn’t have been better timing. That fall solidified it for us,” said Coach Furman. “Emily, we’re going to be sad to see her go. The contribution and what she’s done for this team, it’s going to be hard to replace.”
The parade of champions before the start of the finals during the PIAA Wrestling Championships in Hershey. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
There was plenty of pride to go around once it was all said and done, justifiably so. Though the departure of its two-time PIAA bronze medalist will be tough to handle, there’s plenty of confidence that this team can keep building upward.
“I’m so proud of all the girls,” said Murphy. “Last year it was just me that came down. Now, to have more than just me and all these other girls, I’m just incredibly proud of our team and to see how everybody does.”
“I truly believe we have enough talent to make another run,” said Coach Furman.
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