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Val Solorio Ready to Take on Hawkeye State and Join University of Iowa Wrestling
Val Solorio, a resident of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania is one of the nations top girls wrestling recruits. Solorio is originally from Pennsylvania and moved to Florida for several years during her childhood. She relocated back to Pennsylvania in 2022 for a chance to compete on a higher level consistently for wrestling. She’s committed to continue her wrestling career in college at the University of Iowa with the Hawkeyes women’s wrestling team.
In her already storied career, Solorio has already racked up a resume that includes accolades such as becoming a Fargo National Champion, a two-time Who’s Number One Contestant, a Florida State Championship, a Pennsylvania State Championship, a World Team Trial Runner-up, a Powerade Championship, a Pennsylvania Power Championship, a Super 32 Bronze Medal, a Northeast Regional Championship, and a Central Regional Championship.
She has her eyes set on becoming a PIAA state champion in the first full season of sanctioned girls wrestling in the state of Pennsylvania to wrap up her high school career. Accolades are certainly nice, but being a role model to young girls is something that means more than any award or recognition she may receive.
“It used to be super nerve racking for me,” said Solorio about being a leader and role model in girls and women’s wrestling. “Now I just have fun with it and think it’s a great opportunity. I used to be nervous that I would do the wrong thing, say the wrong thing, lose the wrong match, or react badly and it would leave a bad look for younger girls looking up to me. Now I know that as long as I’m working hard and being myself I can’t really disappoint anyone. I think it’s really nice to know I have influence over our younger girls in PA, and being a leader to them has been so sweet to me.”
It’s certainly a shift from when she first started her journey as a wrestler as a little girl in Florida. There were few girls who wrestled with and against her growing up and it often felt isolating and made her question if she wanted to continue this sport. But her true love for the sport kept her going and has now resulted in her signing her national letter of intent for one of the most storied institutions when it comes to wrestling in the entire country.
Solorio’s message to little girls who may also feel lonely or like an outcast in this sport is simple. Find an older girl in the sport somewhere who can mentor you and make sure that you’re not alone. “I hope no young girl in this sport ever feels that feeling of feeling unaccepted or strange for doing what they love. I think it’s good for these young athletes to see that there is a place for them in this sport when they get older and to be a female wrestler is to be strong and beautiful inside and out. It’s important to fill our younger girls with joy for their future in wrestling and encourage them to be the best they can be. One day our sport will be a normalized sport everywhere if we continue to do those things.”
In a career that’s featured some incredibly highs and incredible lows, Solorio enjoys looking back on the trips she’s taken all across the country with so many of her friends from around the United States. She’s built quite a network on contacts in the sport and her ability to network and build these meaningful relationships is something she plans to learn more about in college. She intends to major in a business field and take classes in sales and marketing to find her niche in the coming years.
As Solorio gets ready for the final few weeks of her high school career, she’s thankful for all the experiences she’s had and friendships she’s made. As this chapter begins to close, her one with Iowa Hawkeyes women’s wrestling opens. The feeling of wrestling with many of the best wrestlers in the country and always having a chance to compete against many of the best in the nation was appealing to her. To also be coached by some of the nations best and have training partners who are some of the best in the entire world was also intriguing as she hopes wrestling may not be over for her past her time in college.
This Florida girl may have given up the beautiful beaches for William Penn’s woods, but the move has made all the difference and has pushed her to new levels along the way. It’s exactly what the move to Iowa City from western Pennsylvania will do for her this summer as well. Good luck as you continue your already impressive career, Val!
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