Panther Valley's Brenda Banks celebrates after pinning Southmoreland's Zoey Murphy in 42 seconds in the 235-pound final at the PIAA Wrestling Championships on March 8 at the Giant Center. (Photo by Bob Lipsky)

HERSHEY — There are winners. There are champions. And then there’s Brenda Banks.

Panther Valley’s junior 235-pounder captured her third straight state title (second in PIAA) by pinning Southmoreland’s Zoey Murphy in 42 seconds in the finals of the PIAA Wrestling Championships on Saturday evening at the Giant Center.

Banks just obliterated her bracket: Four matches, four falls — all of them in the first period. Those pins came in a total of 3 minutes, 30 seconds — just a little more than half of a full six-minute match.

Banks displayed vintage form in the finals, stalking Murphy, throwing her directly to her back and flattening her in mere seconds. Once Banks gets on top of an opponent, the end is near, and Murphy (22-2) was no exception.

“I’m glad I got the job done the way I wanted — by pin,” Banks said. “It’s a lot of joy right now.”

Panther Valley head coach Kris Nalesnik has had a front-row seat for the Brenda Banks Show, and he continues to see her getting better and better.

“Every time she wrestles, I feel like she’s getting to another level,” Nalesnik said. “How many levels are there until you max out? If anybody’s going to find it, it’s going to be her.

“She is just an incredible athlete, an incredible wrestler and an incredible person all-around.”

After falls in 1:38 and 1:00 in the first two rounds, Banks cranked it up as the competition grew stronger. In the semifinals, she bulldozed Big Spring’s Esther Reed for a 10-second fall. Murphy didn’t last much longer in the finals.

“I want to impress and also not let down anybody who’s been supporting me in my career — my family and friends, my school, who have all been there for me cheering me on,” Banks said.

With the win, Banks completed a 36-1 season (her only loss came due to injury default) and improved her career record to 73-2.

“I just worked hard on my technique. For the first time in my career, my technique is the most important thing for me,” Banks said. “I’m making sure I don’t get complacent.”

To prevent complacency, Banks is already looking forward to wrestling on the national level during the offseason, particularly at Fargo, North Dakota, and at the national duals in Freestyle.

As Banks has improved her technique — outside single-leg shots, blast doubles, cradles and power half-nelsons — she has become more unpredictable on the mat, more difficult to handle — and more dangerous.

“Even though I do pretty well, wrestling is hard,” Banks said. “It’s not just physical. It’s mental. It’s an emotional sport, but I enjoy it a lot.”

PIAA Wrestling Championships

At the Giant Center, Hershey

GIRLS

Saturday’s local results

Championship Finals

235 — Brenda Banks (Panther Valley) pinned Zoey Murphy (Southmoreland), :42