Valarie Solorio makes history, loses at Who’s Number One

BY BRANT PARSONS —

Florida’s Valarie Solorio faced off against Erica Pastoriza at FloWrestling’s Who’s Number One on Friday night in the 94-pound weight class.

Solorio took an early 2-0 lead with a takedown seconds into the match before Pastoriza rallied back to the lead.

With Pastoriza winning 4-3 and time ticking away in the first, she converted a takedown into a fall to get the win.

Solorio, who now attends Wyoming Seminary in Pennsylvania after attending Arnold last season, won a national title at Fargo over the summer.

She was the first-ever female wrestler from Florida to compete in the Who’s Number One event.

Pastoriza, a junior from Arizona, was a Cadet World Champion this summer, pinning her way to the title.

Solorio said on Thursday that she was enjoying the experience and getting to know her opponent.

"I'm excited to be able to wrestle someone like Erica and get to know her, she's actually super nice," Solorio said at Thursday’s press conference. "I think we'll just not be friends for about six minutes and then we'll probably go out to dinner afterward."