New opponent for girl wrestler Ortiz

Father Judge's Tim McCall and Mariana Bracetti's Tatyana Ortiz were scheduled to take part in a history-making wrestling match Saturday morning at Archbishop Carroll.

But that matchup has been shelved after a seeding adjustment in the 106-pound bracket of the PIAA District 12 individual championships.

Injured St. Joseph's Prep wrestler Nick Palermo has bowed out of the tourney, moving Ortiz, originally the No. 8 seed, up to No. 7. She is now slated to face Franklin Towne Charter's Conner Shousky, the No. 2 seed and fellow Public League representative, instead of the top-seeded McCall.

Until earlier this week, the Philadelphia Catholic League did not allow coeducational participation in wrestling. A male scheduled to face a female was required to forfeit the match.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia modified its rule Tuesday night, permitting a male to take on a female in a PIAA postseason tournament this season. The organization has yet to say whether the same can take place next season in the regular season or postseason.

There's the possibility that Ortiz could still face McCall or another male wrestler from the Catholic League in Saturday's double-elimination tourney. Also in her half of the bracket is Archbishop Ryan's Shawn Marchesano.

"Either way, it's a great thing that she's still wrestling," Bracetti coach Ben Greer said Friday. "She's continuing to train hard."

Ortiz, a freshman, Greer and fellow Bulldogs coach Max Tanenbaum were guests Friday on Fox 29's Good Day Philadelphia.

"Tatyana has been real positive with all the press she's getting," Greer said. "She keeps referring back to her teammates and how they've supported her."

McCall, a senior who has placed in the top two at districts in each of the last three seasons, is scheduled to meet Overbrook's Kauiree Preister, the new No. 8 seed, in the first round.

robrien@phillynews.com

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