HS Wrestling: Banks victorious at Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic

Brenda Banks, Panther Valley

PITTSBURGH — Brenda Banks proved, once again, that she is one of the best scholastic wrestlers in the nation.

The Panther Valley senior traveled to Western Pennsylvania over the weekend to compete Saturday in the 52nd annual Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic.

She wrestled at 235 pounds for the Women Pennsylvania All-Stars against the Women Oklahoma All-Stars at the AHN Arena at Peters Township High School. Banks went 37-0 this season and finished her high school career with a 110-2 record.

Banks, a four-time state champion ranked No. 2 in the nation by FloWrestling, controlled the match against Brielle Williams, from Lawton, Oklahoma, who is ranked 21st nationally. With 24 seconds left in the first period, Banks converted the first takedown for a 3-0 lead. She escaped 15 seconds into the second period and took that 4-0 lead into the third period. Williams chose neutral for the third period, but Banks notched another takedown just 10 seconds into the period and rode Williams for the remaining 1:50 for a 7-0 victory.

Team Pennsylvania won the dual meet 51-3.

In another dual, the men’s WPIAL All-Stars topped the Oklahoma All-Stars 56-3.

In the main event, the men’s USA All-Stars downed the Pennsylvania All-Stars 23-19.

Two Penn State recruits earned wins in the latter dual.

Jayden James, a two-time New Jersey state champion from Delbarton School, used a late six-point throw to defeat Warrior Run’s Reagan Milheim 17-10. James, the top-ranked 160-pounder in the nation and PSU recruit, went 150-4 in his high school career. Milheim, a four-time PIAA placewinner and one-time champion headed to American, went 195-10 in his scholastic career. Milheim is ranked 13th nationally.

Elijah Brown, a Belle Vernon 215-pounder and two time PIAA Class 3A state champion, is also a Penn State commit. Brown thumped Arizona State commit Kal-el Fluckiger by technical fall, 15-0 in 1:12. Brown, who projects at 285 pounds for the Nittany Lions, is ranked 16th nationally by FloWrestling. He went 173-20 in his high school career. Fluckiger, No. 3 in MatScout’s 215-pound rankings and No. 7 by FloWrestling, went 90-15 at Valiant College Prep in Arizona.

In a featured bout at 189, No. 2 Adam Waters of Faith Christian edged No. 1 Michael White of Lawrence North High School in Indiana, 8-7. Waters, a four time PIAA Class AA champion, is headed to Ohio State. White is an Oklahoma State commit.