Alongside her was fellow Bald Eagle wrestler Marissa Rumsey, who coached at last year’s event. Rumsey, a Williamsport graduate, mentioned the showcase to Murphy, who decided to make the trip to Athens Area High School.

“I thought it was a good opportunity for me to put back into the sport and help some girls,” Murphy said. “I know when I was around some of their ages, the sport was still growing, so I didn’t have the opportunity to have a younger girl coach me. I thought it was a good opportunity for me to take.”

“I thought it was a really well-run event,” she added. “It was a good opportunity for some of the girls to show their abilities if they haven’t really gotten the chance to. I thought it was a really fun event overall.”

Murphy said girls wrestling was still in its early stages when she was growing up, leaving few opportunities to learn from female coaches. She recalled often wrestling boys and said it was rewarding to return as a coach and reconnect with athletes who have helped grow the sport.

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Lillian Rumsey wrestles during the third annual Duals on Desmond showcase in Athens on Saturday.

“It’s grown tremendously. I know when I started, I always had to wrestle with guys,” Murphy said. “Just to see it grow as much as it has is kind of mind-blowing. And seeing some athletes that I’ve wrestled with, it’s really cool to coach and help them.”

Also joining Rumsey and Murphy on the coaching staff was Athens graduate Emma Renninger. The Pennsylvania girls got off to a fast start and used five late pins to secure a 66-36 victory over New York.

Murphy wasn’t the only Lock Haven wrestler giving back to the sport. Rumsey, who coached at last year’s event as well, had a special opportunity of her own.

During one match, Rumsey got the chance to coach her sister, Lillian Rumsey, one final time before she heads to Edinboro to continue her wrestling career.

“It definitely always means something to me,” Marissa Rumsey said. “I love coaching her, and I love watching her wrestle. It was nice watching her before she goes off to college. The sport of girls wrestling is finally growing and I like being a part of it and giving back.”

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Mykia Petruskevich wrestles during the third annual Duals on Desmond showcase in Athens on Saturday.

Lillian Rumsey, wrestling at 118 pounds, defeated Phoenix’s Sonia Munetz by fall in 1:20. Jersey Shore’s Isabella Gotschall (160), Hughesville’s Avery Earnst (148), Williamsport’s Mykia Petruskevich (124) and Malaina Comfort (100) also earned victories for Team Pennsylvania.

Gotschall battled back from an early 1-0 deficit against Waverly’s Abi Reedy before recording a takedown and securing a fall in 1:09 to give Pennsylvania a 19-5 lead. Earnst pinned Waverly’s Gianna Zienuik in 1:21.

Petruskevich rallied from a 5-2 deficit against Groton’s Mya Locke before earning a fall in 1:34. Comfort won by injury default over Cadence Guy of Walton/Delaware Academy.

Also in action were Williamsport’s Mia Davis (190) and Hughesville’s Bella Young (112) and Julia Ritter (106). Davis fell to Tioga Central’s Kyah Nelson by fall in 37 seconds, while Young was pinned by Horseheads Liliynn Wallner. Ritter dropped a 10-0 technical fall in 1:01 to Windsor’s Krysten Yadlosky.

Pennsylvania also claimed the youth dual, 44-36.

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Mia Davis wrestles during the third annual Duals on Desmond showcase in Athens on Saturday.

In the boys dual, New York earned a 46-31 victory.

King’s College wrestler and former Hughesville standout Mason Mordan coached the Pennsylvania boys alongside Towanda graduate Mason Higley and current Canton head coach Garrett Wesneski.

Mordan was asked to wrestle in last year’s event but returned as a coach this year.

“It’s a great atmosphere and nice people to be around,” Mordan said. “The whole promotion is just top tier. It’s great to watch all these local people scrap, even the New York wrestlers. You see them around, so it’s cool to watch them match up against each other.”

South Williamsport’s Garrett Bacorn (107) and Hughesville’s Kile Hartman (160) also competed for Team Pennsylvania. Bacorn lost by fall in 3:51 to Owego’s Gavin Lovell, while Hartman dropped an 11-6 decision to Horseheads Zachary Schrage.

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Malaina Comfort wrestles during the third annual Duals on Desmond showcase in Athens on Saturday.

Co-event organizer Pat McDonald came up with Duals on Desmond after seeing the Maine-Nebraska wrestling exchange. He proposed the idea to Kyle Williams and Duston Bishop, who helped put on the inaugural event in 2024. Three years later, the event continues to grow.

Originally scheduled to take place on Desmond Street in Sayre, the event was moved to the grounds of Athens Area High School because of the threat of inclement weather, allowing organizers to move the competition inside the gymnasium if necessary.

“It feels awesome to see that it continues to grow,” Williams said. “We were a little worried, with the venue change and the unpredictable weather that we were going to have today. I still think we had a bigger crowd out there than either of the first two years. So people still want to come, be part of this and support these athletes.”

YOUTH RESULTS

Pennsylvania 44, New York 36

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville's Avery Earnest wrestles during the third annual Duals on Desmond showcase in Athens on Saturday.

80: Judd Garner (NY) pinned Bryce Stanton (PA), 1:07. 50: David Cushner (PA) pinned Jacob Duerr (NY), 1:10. 60: Carter Gage (NY) tech fall Jameson Sheets (PA), 15-0 2:30. 105: Cole Waltemyer (PA) pinned Nikkoh Traynham (NY), 1:25. 75: Axten Mezzatesta (NY) pinned Gunner Lake (PA), 2:14. 50: Anders Baker (NY) dec Jaxxer Coleman (PA), 7-0. 80: Quaid Martin (PA) pinned Jakobi Smith (NY), :50. HWT: Maximus Colburn (NY) pinned Jaxon Camp (PA), :55. 90: Tucker Anello (PA) pinned Logan Riley (NY), 2:14. 105: Jaxson Waltemyer (PA) pinned Baron Daley (NY), :55. 90: Jack Kahley (PA) tech fall Broderick Whitman (NY), 21-1 2:54. 125: Sawyer Hatch (NY) pinned Kruze Payne (PA), 1:51. 165: Beau Hall (PA) pinned Tommy Vesek (NY), 1:06. 105: Jacob Cobb (PA) dec Ethyn Brown (NY), 9-2. 100: Enzo Diloreto (NY) maj dec Landon Isbell (PA) 13-5.

GIRLS RESULTS

Pennsylvania 66, New York 36

124: Anaiah Kolesar (PA) pinned Rayna Coller (NY), 1:45. 190: Kyah Nelson (NY) pinned Mia Davis, :37. Future Star (95): Parker Hoover (PA) tech fall Kendall Brahney (NY), 10-0 1:37. 130: Adelyn Busch (PA) pinned Lillian Vesek (NY), 2:05. 160: Isabella Gotschall (PA) pinned Abi Reedy (NY), 1:09. 112: Liliynn Wallner (NY) pinned Bella Young (PA), 1:38. Future Star (136): Amelia Wright (NY) pinned Lydia Lentz (PA), 1:15. 155: Lily Karn (NY) pinned Skylynn Payne (PA), 1:40. 124: Joyce Clink (PA) tech fall Emma Vanderhoof (NY), 19-9 3:10. 148: Avery Earnest (PA) pinned Gianna Zieniuk (NY), 1:21. 170: Abigail Wagner (PA) dec Elona Homes (NY), 3-2. 112: Phoebe Bishop (NY) pinned Dariela Reyes-Ramirez (PA), 1:33. 100: Mackenzie Boozer (PA) tech fall Madison Farberman (NY), :55. 235: Peyton Mullin (NY) pinned Evelyn Sheer (PA), :53. 124: Mykia Petruskevich (PA) pinned Mya Locke (NY), 1:34. 100: Sophia Barrett (PA) pinned Hadley Merrill (NY), 1:04. 130: Hanna Rathbun (PA) pinned Rayna Coller (NY), :39. 235: Brenda Banks (PA) pinned Katelynn Vanetten (NY), 1:05. 118: Lillian Rumsey (PA) pinned Sonia Munetz (NY), 1:20. 100: Malaina Comfort (PA) wins by injury default Cadence Guy (NY). 106: Krysten Yadlosky (NY) tech fall Julia Ritter (PA), 10-0 1:01.

Exhibition: Brenda Banks (PA) pinned Peyton Mullin (NY), :49

BOYS RESULTS

New York 46, Pennsylvania 31

95: Brayton Murtaugh (NY) pinned Garrett Gowin (PA), 3:59. 133: Rhylee Stotler (NY) pinned Bostyn McMicken (PA), 1:26. 107: Gavin Lovell (NY) pinned Garrett Bacorn (PA), 3:51. 172: Jordan Brown (PA) maj dec Greg Golden (NY), 11-3. 220: Daniel Fox (PA) dec Connor Warwick (NY) 8-2. 113: Connor McAllister (NY) maj dec Levi Vermilya (PA), 10-1. 190: Asher Kolesar (PA) dec Owen Burhans (NY), 7-2. 113: Freddy Smith (NY) dec Chace VanDyke (PA), 8-3. 152: Treyton Barrett (PA) tech fall Lavonte Gibbons (NY), 21-6 5:57. 139: Clayton Ritter (NY) dec Andrew Kapec (PA), 2-1 TB2. 152: Hagen Jones (PA) dec Kole Zufall (NY), 8-2. 172: Connor Davidson (PA) pinned Josh Johnson (NY), :30. 160: William Ackley (NY) tech fall Kale Howland (PA), 18-1 285: Jack Brown (NY) pinned Hayden Stevens (PA), 2:56. 160: Zachart Schrage (NY) dec Kile Hartman (PA), 11-6. 152: Gage Evans (PA) maj dec Asaac Head (NY), 17-8. 285: Luke Sottalano (PA) dec Trey Parker (NY), 5-1. 145: Landyn Shaffer (NY) maj dec Chase Boozer (PA), 12-2.

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Chase Boozer wrestles during the third annual Duals on Desmond showcase in Athens on Saturday.

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville's Kile Hartman wrestles during the third annual Duals on Desmond showcase in Athens on Saturday.

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport's Garrett Bacorn wrestles during the third annual Duals on Desmond showcase in Athens on Saturday.

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Sullivan County's Andrew Kapec wrestles during the third annual Duals on Desmond showcase in Athens on Saturday.

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore's Isabella Gottschall wrestles during the third annual Duals on Desmond showcase in Athens on Saturday.

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Mia Davis wrestles during the third annual Duals on Desmond showcase in Athens on Saturday.

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Mackenzie Boozer wrestles during the third annual Duals on Desmond showcase in Athens on Saturday.

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville's Bella Young wrestles during the third annual Duals on Desmond showcase in Athens on Saturday.