And here's another first for the venerable coach known as "Schnell": Well accustomed to coaching second-generation wrestlers, he has his initial father-daughter combination. He coached Mike Ferrell, Cass' dad, back in the 1980s.
"She doesn't miss [practices]. She's got a great attitude," Schnellenbach said of Cass Ferrell. "She's tough."
She's experienced and accomplished, too.
Cass Ferrell has been wrestling for about eight years, both in girls-only competition and against boys.
She competed with boys at Ridley Middle School. She also was a member of the Friends' Central team. But in the Friends Schools League, competition was sparse - because of their Quaker beliefs, some schools chose to forfeit matches against her.
Ferrell also works out with, and competes for, Women Only Wrestling, a club for females based at Friends' Central. The group participates in national tournaments.
Ask about her achievements on a national stage, and she rattles them off: Two national championships. Since she left elementary school, all-American status (for top-eight finishes) in every national tournament she has entered. Fourth place at folkstyle nationals last year, and second at freestyle nationals.
Facing boys in PIAA competition is obviously less eventful. "It's rough," she said of her season. Ferrell lost her first eight dual-meet matches - half by pin, half by decision - before entering the Delco Duals on Dec. 27. There, she earned a 5-2 decision against a boy from Avon Grove.
"When I wrestle boys, I feel like I go out with more aggression, and I just have to wrestle really tough, because guys are a lot stronger than me," Ferrell said.
Against girls, she added: "I think it's a more even playing field. You're not worried about strength issues. You just go out there with a plan, and you know what you're going to do, and you just execute your moves."
