Chippewa's Moroschan wins second state wrestling title

It’s safe to say Chippewa junior Kayla Moroschan has already created a legacy that will be remembered. In her case, it’s a legacy that will be remembered not only by Chipp Nation but by so many people across Wayne County, as she helped put girls wrestling on the map locally.

It’s a moment that almost never happened, as Moroschan lives in Wadsworth, which didn’t have girls wrestling at the time. Entering her middle school years, her club coach, Richard Skelly, got her in touch with Chippewa coach Hanna Hall, and as they say, the rest is history.

“The Hall sisters and Chippewa schools took me,” said the Chipp standout. “They provided the opportunities I needed to have a home for OHSAA wrestling.”

Winning a state title in the 120-pound weight class as a freshman with a 5-0 decision over Brecksville sophomore Anna Madi was an amazing feat in itself. Finishing third at state a year ago was still incredible but definitely short of the preferred spot on the podium. Climbing that mountain again as a junior by a first-period pinfall in 1:59 over East Liverpool junior Paige Cowan, well, that’s something only legends do.

Now the talk will be, can she go back-to-back? Can she win her third in her four-year prep career?

But let’s stop, take a breath and soak in the moment, as Moroschan proved to the state and everyone she is the best.

“Coming up short of where I wanted to be last year,” Moroschan said about standing at the top of the podium at 125, "it made winning this year more special.”

Moroschan has always willingly taken on all challengers and noticeably uses matches throughout the season to refine and hone her skills. A year ago, it just didn’t work out the way she drew it up as she finished with a record of 48-5 at 120. Buckling down, Moroschan, who will now carry a career record of 144-8 and two state titles into her senior year, used the failures of a year ago to fuel the success of today.

“I like to use losses as fuel to make me better,” she said. “After last season, I learned how to have fun in hard matches rather than allowing the pressure of winning to get to me. I learned that the top girls are going to get better every year, and that I need to continue outworking them to stay on top.”

To help spur that process moving forward, Moroschan hit some national tournaments and college opens before the season started. That helped her find her rhythm, build momentum and hone her craft entering this year.

“I was much more prepared to start the season,” Moroschan said. “The Chippewa coaches took me to these tournaments and developed me during the preseason.”

It all paid off in a big way in March, when Moroschan recorded back-to-back pinfalls and then secured a 17-4 major decision over Madi, now a Brecksville senior. In the finals, she attacked Cowan quickly to secure a first-period pinfall and left no doubt with a decisive win.

“My main focus was to perform the way I usually do,” said Moroschan. “I trust my training, and I knew that it was enough. This season, I improved a lot on not allowing the pressure to get to me, and it helped me perform much better this match. I also learned to be fast and attack whenever there is an opening. That mindset helped me get that first-period takedown.”

That victory in the state finals proved to be the cherry on top for Moroschan in a season that went differently, as it was the first year without any high school teammates. Instead, she got support from her coaches Nesity and Skelly in the preseason, coach Lambdin and Preece in season and the boys wrestling team as well.

“Coach Nesity and Skelly prepared me for the season,” Moroschan said. “Coach Lambdin worked with me on being more aggressive. During the season, our team was encouraged to go to Arsenal, and we had days where we went swimming as a team to work on our cardio. I had good drill partners who pushed me daily.”

That sets up a final chapter, a final moment and a chance to ride off into the sunset with another title. For Moroschan, who has thoroughly enjoyed her years in the Blue and White, it’s about giving back to a program that has given so much to her and to have one more final ride to the top.

“I have been really enjoying the sport of wrestling,” said Moroschan. “I love my Chippewa wrestling community. This offseason, I am going to have fun wrestling, and I will come back my senior year a lot stronger and better at wrestling. My mission for my senior year is to improve my skills, get ready for college wrestling and do what I can to leave Chippewa girls wrestling in good shape.”

With records of 45-2, 48-5 and 51-1, Moroschan only continues to improve and excel. That is something that should scare any potential opponent entering next year, as she only continues to get better each year.