HS Girls’ Wrestling: Panthers’ Banks leads growing girls’ contingent
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, 2025, at the Giant Center. (Photo by Bob Lipsky)
When we last saw Brenda Banks on a high school mat, the Panther Valley star ran roughshod through the 235-pound bracket at the PIAA Girls’ Wrestling Championships.
Under the bright lights of the Giant Center, Banks felt right at home. She smiled easily as she took the mat, then just flattened the competition. Four falls — all of them in the first period — and she stepped to the top of the podium with her second PIAA championship (and third overall). Against the best in the state, the falls came quickly: 1:38 in the preliminaries, 1:00 in the quarterfinals, 10 seconds in the semifinals and 42 seconds over Southmoreland’s Zoey Murphy in the finals.
Now, nearly nine months later, Banks is back for her senior season in a Panthers singlet. Her career has been nothing short of legendary: 36-1 a year ago (the only loss by injury default) and a career record of 73-2.
Each season, Banks has grown as a wrestler, adding technique to vary her arsenal, increasing her genius-level mat IQ in terms of positioning and avoiding trouble and polishing those skills while racking up win after win.
“You can’t talk about this team without first mentioning we have one more year with returning two-time PIAA state champion Brenda Banks at 235 looking to reach her 100 wins and a third PIAA title,” Panther Valley coach Kris Nalesnik said.
Panther Valley, though, is a whole lot more than Banks.
Continue with state qualifier Alisa Williams (33-10), who is also back for her senior season. Senior Anelia Bennick, junior Adrianna Cabrera and sophomores Ella Vega-Santiago and Bailey Snyder return as well. Panther Valley also has four freshmen, most notably Amelia Spino, who went 10-10 last season on the boys’ junior high team.
“This girls’ team is likely to be one of the best all-around teams we are going to field for years to come,” Nalesnik said. “If we put in the work that we are capable of, this team is going to find unbelievable success this season.”
Another team poised to enjoy success is Pine Grove, which returns seven starters. The Cardinals also welcome seven newcomers to add depth and help fill out the lineup. State sixth-place finisher Eve Kurtz, a two-time All-Stater, has graduated, but Pine Grove’s cupboard is far from bare.
Sophomore Geanna Lemke came one win from qualifying for states last season, going 33-8 and placing second at districts and fifth at regionals. Junior Audrey Graeff came on strong down the stretch, placing third at districts to qualify for regionals. And senior Samantha Eisenhauer (28-12) finished fourth at districts.
Another established program is Tamaqua. The Blue Raiders’ numbers are a little low (8), but they have a few wrestlers to watch. Junior Jalissa Correa and sophomore Kiely Kunkel both had winning records last season and will look to become more competitive in the postseason.
The biggest change in local girls’ wrestling is the addition of North Schuylkill as a varsity program. The Spartans have 13 wrestlers on their roster, just one of them a senior (Phoebe Smith), as they work to establish a solid foundation.
A pair of freshmen begin their careers with success under their belts. Ka’ren-is Holmes was a District 11 Junior High runner-up, while Kaitlyn Sargeant took third at junior high districts.
“We are preparing to be competitive in all of our competitions and to get the first dual-meet win,” North Schuylkill co-head coach Corey Fetterolf said. “Individually, the girls are willing to get better each day and become the best wrestlers possible with our eyes set on the postseason.
“We have had 10-plus girls in the wrestling room since the start of our offseason practice, starting in the beginning of June,” Fetterolf added. “… The team has been working hard all summer to make a name for themselves and to get this team off the ground.”
Tri-Valley enters into its second year of a co-op with Upper Dauphin, and the combination has led to success for both. UDA went 6-0 in dual meets last season and returns seniors Cambrie Herb and Maggie Hoffman-Long from Tri-Valley. New Bulldogs to the roster include junior Taniya Brown, sophomore Myleigh Gannunis and freshman Calli Clark.
Upper Dauphin is the defending Tri-Valley League champion and should challenge for the top spot with Susquenita and Line Mountain. Junior Jada Dillard (29-11) qualified for states last season, while sophomore Chloe Ratcliffe (28-6) won a sectional championship. Hoffman-Long, junior Lydia Engle, senior Jacelyn Henninger and junior Kristen Rosado qualified for regionals, too.
“Obviously, this is still only the third year of our program being in existence,” Upper Dauphin coach Todd Rupp said. “We have been very competitive the previous two years, and now we are looking to take some steps forward to the next level, We really believe that the first state medalist is on this team. We also feel that we can compete with the top teams in our area.
“Our girls are like sponges and really seem eager to learn new techniques,” Rupp added. “They are not afraid of hard work.”
Though there’s no Schuylkill League schedule for girls’ wrestling, the local teams will get to see each other over the course of the season. For example, North Schuylkill will have dual meets against Tamaqua, Pine Grove (twice), Jim Thorpe and Mount Carmel. Tamaqua will host its annual tournament Dec. 12 and have a dual against Panther Valley. Pine Grove also has a dual against Panther Valley.
A few times, schools with both girls’ and boys’ programs will meet on the same night. That will happen several times locally, including North Schuylkill at Tamaqua on Dec. 18, Pine Grove at North Schuylkill on Dec. 22 and Panther Valley at Tamaqua on Jan. 21. The girls also compete in many weekend tournaments, with one of the biggest the Coal Cracker Wrestling Championships on Jan. 16-17 at Jim Thorpe.
Girls’ Wrestling Capsules
North Schuylkill
Co-head coaches: Corey Fetterolf (1st season), Shane McGrath (1st season)
Last season: First season as a varsity program
Returnees: First season as a varsity program
Newcomers: Phoebe Smith, sr., 124-130; Cora Ortiz, jr., 112-118; Riley Price, jr., 130-136; Avery Allred, jr., 130-136; Legendairie Harris, jr., 136-142; Delilah Farrone, jr., 155-170; Elizabeth Teter, soph., 124-130; Shylynne Perfidio, soph., 100; Kaitlyn Sargeant, fr., 100; Ka’ren-is Holmes, fr., 100-106; Brynn Miscannon, fr., 118-124; Kamryn Kimmel, fr., 148-155; Josie Economy, fr., 235
Outlook: Strong turnout of 13 girls gives Spartans a chance to fill most weight classes. Holmes and Sargeant were District 11 junior high placewinners last season, and the coaches know how to teach. Young squad will gain experience and skill as season goes on.
Panther Valley
Head coach: Kris Nalesnik (3rd season)
Last season: 4-4
Returnees: Brenda Banks (36-1), sr., 235; Alisa Williams (33-10) sr., 170; Anelia Bennick, sr., 155; Adrianna Cabrera, jr., 136; Ella Vega-Santiago, soph., 124; Bailey Snyder, soph., 142
Newcomers: Ja’Naiyah McGhee, sr., 136; Mya Reyes, jr., 106; Ambar DeLora Torres, jr., 112; Jillian Remes, fr., 100; Amelia Spino, fr., 118; Ashley Williams, fr., 148; Cristiana Johnson, fr., 190
Outlook: Led by state champion Banks and state qualifier Williams, Panthers have an experienced team looking to do some damage. With six returning starters and a roster of 13, Panther Valley will look to have a winning dual-meet season and push several wrestlers through to regionals and states.
Pine Grove
Head coach: Jacob Herring (3rd season)
Last season: 5-4
Returnees: Samantha Eisenhauer (28-12), sr., 124; Taylor (T.J.) Bast, sr., 136; Rieleigh Purcell, jr., 190; Audrey Graeff, jr., 190; Renee Eisenhauer, soph., 130; Eliza Kurtz, soph., 136; Geanna Lemke (30-8), soph., 142
Newcomers: Val Hanson, sr., 155; Payton Reiner, soph., 142; Kiersen Echternach, fr., 100; Morgan Broy, fr., 112; Autumn Martin, fr., 118; Jennifer Keeney, fr., 118; Violet Krill, fr., 170
Outlook: Graduation of All-Stater Eve Kurtz leaves a leadership void to fill, but Cardinals have plenty of experienced wrestlers ready to step up. Lemke came one victory from states last season, and Graeff also qualified for regionals. Still young, but a program on the rise.
Tamaqua
Head coach: Dave Holmes (2nd season)
Last season: 2-5
Returnees: Rylin Arroyo, jr., 112; Jalissa Correa, jr., 118; Kaitlyn Rivera, jr., 124; Kiely Kunkel, soph., 112
Newcomers: Janna Brown, sr., 132; Zania Braewell, jr., 160; Emily Roseland, soph., 142; Adrianna Hernandez, fr., 132
Outlook: Blue Raiders continue to build their program. Low numbers will make dual-meet success difficult, but team looks to improve.
