RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport’s Marissa Rumsey wrestles during last year’s Queen of the Mountain tournament.

The annual Queen of the Mountain wrestling tournament takes place on Sunday and will be a one-day tournament beginning at 10 a.m. The tournament features 10 teams with Central Mountain and Williamsport being the only local teams competing. The Wildcats hosted the event last year and was a success although the sport was not yet sanctioned for girls.

Other schools competing are Bald Eagle Area, Boyertown, Canon-McMillan, Honesdale, North Allegheny, Owen J. Roberts, Philipsburg-Osceola and Saegertown.

This year’s tournament is not only the second-ever girls tournament held at Central Mountain, but it’s a historical milestone. This year’s tournament will be the first-ever tournament held where multiple wrestlers from many different schools will compete under PIAA-sanctioned rules.

WILLIAMSPORT

The Millionaires are the only other nearby team in the tournament. After finishing with a fourth-place finish last weekend at the Jarvis Memorial Tournament in Athens, Williamsport is looking to build off of that. Other than Central Mountain, Williamsport may be one of the better teams coming into the tournament due to the depth of their roster matched with their experience.

The Millionaires are headed by sisters Marissa and Lillian Rumsey, who have gained plenty of experience wrestling in exhibition matches. Marissa, last year’s Queen of the Mountain champion, is a Junior Olympian and 2022 U17 Pan-American silver medalist who has plenty of experience under her belt.

Marissa has wrestled against many boys, most memorably last year when she also wrestled some matches at the King of the Mountain. At 148 pounds, Marissa has already begun her final season 5-0 with all wins coming by fall, so watching how she approaches a possible second consecutive Queen of the Mountain title will be interesting.

Lillian, who is just a sophomore, is on the same track as Marissa and has shown a lot of upside thus far. She produced an 11-1 record last season and finished third in the state and first in the region. This season, she has already begun 5-0 like Marissa, all with pins.

The Rumsey sisters have dedicated their fair share of time on the mat, and it’s set a precedent for her teammates. Sophomore Danica Bacorn (100 pounds) also saw a lot of success opening weekend as she began her second year 4-0. She picked up two pins, a tech fall and a decision before winning the tournament after receiving a first-round bye.

Two more wrestlers to keep an eye on for the Millionaires are Mykia Petrusevich and Ella Adkins, who finished sixth and seventh places, respectively, in the opening tournament. Petrusevich lost in the opening round but battled back to win by decision and major decision before falling by pin that would have given her fourth place.

Adkins also lost consecutive bouts early on but found a way to bounce back in the consolations. If there is any telling tale of Williamsport’s abilities, the opening weekend gave a solid glimpse of what the Millionaires are capable of, regardless if it’s a fourth or fifth-place finish or being at the top of the podium.

CENTRAL MOUNTAIN

Central Mountain comes into the tournament after competing at the Cumberland Valley Kickoff Classic. The Wildcats are a mostly new team on the mats this year with the exception of a few who wrestled last season in exhibition matches.

Austynn Falls impressed early on with a perfect 5-0 record at the dual tournament and will be one of Central Mountain’s wrestlers to keep an eye on. Between 142 and 148, Falls earned two pins, including one in sudden death, and one decision to cap off her early-season performance.

While Falls was the lone Wildcat to finish undefeated in the tournament, Central Mountain still has other pieces that complete its team. Emma Scarborough-Perez brings some promise to the mat after gaining exhibition experience last season along with Paisley Beatty and Ellen Banfill.

One newcomer to watch is sophomore Callie Cella. Cella picked up a pin in the dual loss to Boiling Springs.