Liberty Wrestling Club opens its doors, creating a welcoming space for young female athletes to grow in the sport

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A passion for wrestling can travel a long way—just ask 10-year-old Quinn Bauer.

After being evacuated from her home in Saipan due to a powerful Pacific typhoon, Quinn found herself back in southwestern Pennsylvania this March. Despite the disruption, she wasted no time getting back on the mat. On opening night of the new Liberty Wrestling Club in Murrysville, Quinn joined dozens of girls eager to train in a space built just for them.

“My husband runs a wrestling club back in Saipan,” said Quinn’s mother, Kerri Bauer. “Quinn had already been involved, so when we were looking for activities here, I came across this club online.”

The Liberty Wrestling Club, located on Lillian Avenue, was founded by youth wrestling parents Tony Prosdocimo, Ben Fallon, and Corinne Fallon. What began as a need for more practice space for the local middle school girls’ team quickly turned into something bigger.

“The number of girls is growing fast,” Prosdocimo explained. “We had 31 sign up last year, and we expect even more. When this space became available, we realized there weren’t many options nearby for girls-only wrestling. So we decided to build something ourselves.”

The club is working closely with Franklin Regional girls wrestling coach Hailey Huerta, who has already seen the impact of the sport’s rapid growth.

“Last year, we barely had enough room at the middle school,” Huerta said. “Now, with more athletes joining, this new space couldn’t have come at a better time.”

That growth is showing results. In January, the Franklin Regional high school girls team earned its first dual meet victory, defeating Gateway 36-24. Six wrestlers also brought home medals from the Connellsville Invitational.

Prosdocimo hopes the new facility will help develop younger athletes and strengthen the pipeline for future success.

“At this age, many girls wrestle boys, and that’s valuable,” he said. “But it’s also important to give them a place where they can train with other girls. It builds confidence and makes the experience more comfortable, especially for beginners.”

While many of the opening-night participants came from the Franklin Regional Junior Olympic program, the club aims to reach beyond local boundaries.

“We want girls from all over the area,” Prosdocimo said. “Places like Kiski, Plum, Gateway, Norwin, and Penn-Trafford are all within a short drive. If you’re serious about wrestling, we want you here.”

Events like the club’s March 12 open house are designed to make the sport feel more approachable. For newcomers, wrestling can seem intimidating—but that perception often changes quickly.

“It’s an intense sport, and from the outside it can look overwhelming,” Prosdocimo said. “But once girls try it, they realize how strong and capable they are. That’s what keeps them coming back.”

For Coach Huerta, the new facility represents more than just extra mat space—it’s an investment in the future of girls wrestling.

“I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity,” she said. “Having a dedicated space will make a huge difference for our middle and high school programs in the years ahead.”

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