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Wrestler Seville Excels with New Team, Coach
Written by Bradley Schlegel, Staff Writer
2025-01-15

            Keyra Seville joined Upper Perkiomen's girls wrestling team as its most seasoned athlete. However, the junior lacked the skills preferred by head coach Omar Poratta.

Keyra Seville, top, controls Pottstown's Leyna Johnson at

100 pounds.  Seville posted a technical fall victory on Jan.

8

            A third of the way into its schedule, Seville has emerged as the Indians' top performer. Her technique and practice habits have improved significantly, according to the coach.  Last week, the Pennsburg resident helped her new team defeat Pottstown in a home dual meet. Seville delivered a technical fall victory at 100 pounds during a 33-15 victory in the Pioneer Athletic Conference on Wednesday, Jan. 8.

            Nadia Ventrella scored a first-period pin at 106 pounds. Avery Holly (142) added a major decision victory to help the Tribe win their initial dual meet of the season.  Alexandra Cannon (112) and Charlotte Pierson (118) were each awarded forfeit victories.  Alyssa Crist, a ninth grader, absorbed a 6-5 loss at 148 pounds.

            The coach expressed excitement about the progress of the program in its second season. Poratta described it as a testament to assistant coaches Mark Smith, Michelle Stone and Ryan Garner.  "Things are on the right track," said Poratta.

            Seville (13-4) -- who transferred from Boyertown for the current school year -- has already exceeded her win total from last season when she finished third at districts and qualified for regionals. According to Poratta, she initially lacked consistency in her technique and practice habits.

            "It's wonderful to see how she is gaining her confidence with us," he wrote in a text message. "It's often the small things that can have a significant impact, especially when it comes to winning those big matches."

            Last week, Seville dominated Pottstown's Leyna Johnson, clinching her victory early in the third period.  Four days earlier, she posted her most impressive performance of the season with an overtime victory at a tournament in Lycoming County.

            Seville outlasted the No. 2 ranked wrestler in the state at the Matness at the MACC Tournament at Montgomery High School. She defeated Danica Bacorn, a junior from Williamsport and a returning state qualifier, 11-8.
            According to the head coach, Seville has embraced the concept of chain wrestling, the concept that one move leads to another. She claimed that previously she would often freeze after taking a shot. 

"Last season, I would go for a takedown, then just freeze," said Seville, who added that she enjoys Poratta's coaching style and having teammates. "I was scared."

            Over the weekend, Adria Page delivered the team's top performance at the Souderton Big Red Girls Individual. She reached the championship match at 155 pounds on Saturday, Jan. 11, at Souderton High School. Seville and Alexandra Cannon both finished fifth to help the Tribe finish 12th out of 35 teams.

            Page (10-6) delivered three consecutive pins before getting pinned in the title bout. Kai Czapicki, a ninth grader from Strath Haven, needed only 82 seconds to capture the gold medal.

            Page opened the tourney with a 44-second fall against Pennsbury's Emma Kaucher. In the quarterfinal round, the sophomore defeated Jada Clayton, a sophomore from Manheim Township, 14 seconds into the second period. She needed only 35 seconds to defeat Big Spring's Alexis Kleckner in the semifinal.

            Seville and Cannon both reached the championship semifinals. At 100 pounds, Seville opened with a 29-second fall over Rozaria Kratz, a 10th grader from North Penn.  However, consecutive losses knocked her into the fifth-place bout. Lily Boop, a ninth grader from Manheim Township, pinned Seville with 29 seconds left in the third period of the championship semifinal match.

            Seville lost by fall in the consolation semifinal. Kennett's Taya Wuchter scored a pin midway through the second period. Seville bounced back in the fifth-place bout by defeating Tessa Homa, a sophomore from Cheltenham, with 35 seconds remaining in the first period.

            Cannon responded to a quarterfinal loss to win three of her final four matches at 112 pounds. The junior capped her tournament with a forfeit victory over Cheltenham's Samantha Bentz.

            In the consolation round, she registered two first-period pins. Cannon needed only 10 seconds to defeat Phyllis Reeves, a sophomore from Pennsbury. The junior beat Elizabethtown's Cassidy Carl midway through the period.

A trio of second-year wrestlers -- Cannon, Pierson and Holly -- have made significant improvements, according to the head coach. He said they each displayed a solid grasp of the fundamentals when the current season commenced.
            Cannon (15-5) won all but one of her matches by pin. The junior has won 13 of her last 16 matches.

            Pierson (11-7) has nearly tripled her win total from last season. The junior has won four straight matches by fall and five of her last six bouts overall.  "Charlotte has shown so much improvement since last year," the head coach said. "I'm hoping it continues."

            Poratta identified Ventrella (8-8) as a step below the trio. However, he said the ninth grader has the talent and athleticism to eventually exceed them.
            "Nadia needs to keep working on the basics," the head coach said. "She could be really good."


 

 

 

 

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