The first season in program history for Point Park’s women’s wrestling team was defined by milestones, growth and early signs of promise as the freshman-led squad established its identity on the mat.
The Pioneers finished 2-9 overall, a record that underscored the challenge of launching a brand-new program with an entirely first-year roster. Still, the season featured several highlights, including three top-four finishes at the John Carroll Open and a third-place team finish at the Alfred State Pioneer Invite, where the Pioneers scored 72.5 points.
A defining moment came in December when Point Park earned the first two dual-meet victories in program history at the Berg Holiday Duals hosted by Heidelberg University.
For Amanda Prince, competing immediately at the collegiate level accelerated her development.
“It was exciting,” Prince said. “Not many freshmen get to be in the starting lineup their first year, so to go up against experienced wrestlers helped a lot with improving my technique and confidence. We also got to set the foundation and standards for future women who will join Point Park, and that’s an honor.”
Despite the losing record, Prince said the season never felt discouraging.
“For us to even go 2-9 is insane as a first-year program of all freshmen,” she said. “Other teams had years of experience while we were still defining ourselves. It never felt like we were losing, only growing.”
Cailyn Casto, who placed first at the Spartan Mat Classic, described the year as a steep learning curve, particularly as she transitioned into freestyle wrestling.
“It was pretty hard being on an all-freshman roster because we’re inexperienced compared to most teams,” Casto said. “But this season really showed me what I need to work on. It was my first year wrestling freestyle, and I had a blast with my teammates despite the wins and losses.”
Casto said an early defeat helped shape her mindset.
“After my first match, I lost, but I wasn’t upset; I was excited to work on my mistakes,” she said. “That gave me confidence in my mindset and ability to overcome challenges.”
Payton Moyer pointed to the team’s chemistry as a key takeaway. Moyer earned a runner-up finish at the John Carroll Open, one of the program’s early competitive breakthroughs.
“This season was a roller coaster,” Moyer said. “There was a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but it built me mentally and physically. We celebrated together, and it showed we were more of a family than anything.”
Her standout personal moment came during competition at Indiana Tech.
“My biggest moment was being the first female wrestler from our school to score a five-point move there,” she said. “That was huge for me.”
Across the roster, patience and technical growth became recurring lessons.
“This season taught me my weaknesses early,” Prince said. “Excuses weren’t going to win matches, growth would.”
Casto added that mastering fundamentals takes time.
“Technique matters so much, and I learned I have to be patient,” she said. “You can’t fix everything overnight.”
Looking ahead, the wrestlers expect their early struggles to translate into future success. With a year of experience behind them, the team believes it is better prepared to compete at a higher level.
“People should expect a big standard from us,” Moyer said. “We bring BPU (Beat People Up) to tournaments, and it’s something that will continue.”
Casto said the team will enter the year more mentally and physically prepared, while Prince emphasized elevated expectations.
“Next season we’re zeroing in on the podium,” Prince said. “We’ll compete at a higher standard.”
For a program in its infancy, the season marked the beginning of a long-term build, one shaped by resilience, rapid development and a shared commitment to growth.
