HS Wrestling: Panthers’ Banks wins title at Coal Cracker Girls’ Wrestling Invitational

Brenda Banks, Panther Valley

JIM THORPE — With five falls, Panther Valley’s Brenda Banks powered her way to the 235-pound championship Saturday at the Coal Cracker Girls’ Wrestling Invitational at Jim Thorpe Area High School.

Banks had pins of 30 seconds, 22 seconds, 1:37 and 18 seconds en route to the finals. There, Banks (22-1) decked Big Spring’s Esther Reed in 1:04.

Panther Valley’s Alisa Williams (23-4) placed third at 172. She had a 5-1 record in the tournament, including a fall in 2:17 over Northern York’s Aambur Brletich in the bronze-medal bout. Williams had four pins and one technical fall on the day.

Tamaqua and Tri-Valley (co-op with Upper Dauphin) competed but did not have any placewinners.

Fifty-eight teams participated in the tournament.