Kaelon Connolly

Maybe it goes without saying, but since Warren freshman Kaelon Connolly won a District 10 girls wrestling championship this season, it only makes sense she was also named a D10 all-star.

This year’s District 10 girls wrestling all-stars were selected by the Erie Times-News based on the entire 2024-25 season with an emphasis on the postseason; it’s not necessarily a prerequisite for an D10 all-star to be a D10 champ.

It didn’t hurt in Connolly’s case. It took the ninth-grader a combined 3 minutes, 25 seconds to win three matches at 136 pounds, becoming Warren’s third D10 champion in just two seasons of the PIAA’s newly sanctioned sport.

Connolly pinned Youngsville’s Ellie Shellhouse in 24 seconds at Sharon High School before pinning Fort LeBoeuf’s Emma Salmon even quicker, 21 seconds, to advance to the championship match. It took a bit longer to pin Corry’s Koda Kuzma in the second period (2:40) to win the title.

Prior to that, Connolly had only wrestled seven matches in her first high school regular season. She went nearly a month without wrestling due to injury. She finished 8-4 with seven pins and potentially three more seasons ahead of her.

“‘KK’ only had 12 matches this season,” said Warren girls wrestling coach Madison Hollenbeck. “Not what she wanted, and not what us coaches wanted for her, (but) KK has no quit in her. She was injured numerous times this season. I told her to take it easy multiple times throughout the season, but nonetheless, she persisted. KK’s goal was to become a four-time PIAA state qualifier. She fell short of that goal. I was crushed for her. I knew what she was trying to attempt.”

Connolly was 0-2 at 136 pounds in the PIAA West Girls Regional on March 1 at North Allegheny High School — the only two times she was pinned her freshman season.

“My heart broke in her last match at regionals, more so because she was winning,” said Hollenbeck. “As a wrestler, that crushes you to know you were winning and then you fell short because of a mistake you’ll shortly beat yourself up for right after. KK has the potential and the skill and the experience to attain all of her wrestling goals. She was only a freshman coming into this season, but a freshman with more experience than most of her opponents and most of the girls in the state. Wrestling is always a learning process — some good (experiences), some bad. Even when you’re winning, you’re learning. If you’re not learning, then you’re doing something wrong. We will see KK on the podium next year. She’s no stranger to the podium. She’s no stranger to success at the top, but she also knows what it feels like to be at the very bottom. That’s important for every wrestler. KK will blossom into her best version. I am excited to see what her future holds.”

That future includes this Saturday’s USA Wrestling freestyle state qualifier at PennWest Clarion.