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On Thursday, the PIAA State Wrestling Championships began at Hershey’s Giant Center. Among those from across the commonwealth were 12 wrestlers from five Lebanon County schools, each taking their shot on Pennsylvania’s biggest stage.
Two of those wrestlers remain unbeaten heading into Friday. ELCO’s Kylee Trostle opened her tournament with a dominant technical fall and moved into the girls quarterfinals at 112-pounds, while Northern Lebanon’s Samuel Wolfordfollowed with an impressive technical fall of his own to reach the AA quarterfinals at 121-pounds. Both will return Friday still in the championship bracket as they continue their pursuit of state medals.
A handful of LebCo wrestlers also battled their way through the opening day to stay alive in consolations. ELCO’s Aleric Raihl, ELCO’s Kane Kline, ELCO’s Klint Miller, and Palmyra’s Elijah Foltz each finished the day at 1-1, doing enough to extend their seasons into Friday and keep their podium hopes intact.
For the others, the tournament run came to an end Thursday, but not without strong efforts and seasons worthy of recognition. Lebanon’s Isabella Poole Martinez, Northern Lebanon’s Dakota Dengler, Annville-Cleona’s Oliver Funck, ELCO’s Ashton Kriss, Palmyra’s Tyler Detwiler, and Palmyra’s Aaron Andrew each saw their seasons conclude in Hershey after earning the right to compete at the highest level. Just getting to the Giant Center is an accomplishment in itself, and each represented both school and county well with the kind of postseason run that made them state qualifiers.
Good luck to Trostle, Wolford, Raihl, Kline, Miller, and Foltz as they continue their push to the podium on Friday.
Below is a recap of each wrestler’s Thursday. Blue indicates they are still active in the tournament.
Girls
Kylee Trostle (ELCO)
Trostle is headed to Friday’s quarterfinals at the PIAA State Championships after a dominant opening-round performance at 112-pounds. The ELCO junior, making her third trip to States and chasing her second state medal, rolled to a 15-0 technical fall over Kaylen Sluyter of Towanda in 2:42. Trostle will resume her tournament run Friday when she takes on Raya Sentipal of Burgettstown in the quarterfinals.
Match Results
Round of 16: Kylee Trostle (ELCO) won by technical fall over Kaylen Sluyter (Towanda), 15-0, 2:42
Dakota Dengler (Northern Lebanon)
Dengler wrapped up another strong postseason run with her second appearance at the PIAA State Championships. The Northern Lebanon sophomore returned to Hershey and battled against top-level competition at 145-pounds before closing out the season with a 27-12 record. With two state trips already on her resume, Dengler continues to build an impressive track record for the Vikings.
Match Results
Championship Round 1: Daniella Maxwell (North Penn) pinned Dakota Dengler, 3:42
Consolation Round 1: Alaya Henderson (Canon-McMillan) pinned Dakota Dengler, 2:26
Isabella Poole Martinez (Lebanon)
Poole Martinez capped off a breakthrough junior season by making history as the first Lebanon girl to qualify for the PIAA State Championships. Competing at 100-pounds on Pennsylvania’s biggest stage, Poole Martinez dropped a pair of tough matches in Hershey to close out the year with a 28-9 record. Her landmark season marked an important step forward for Lebanon’s girls wrestling program.
Match Results
Championship Round 1: Kristen Walzer (Montour) pinned Isabella Poole Martinez, 0:52
Consolation Round 1: Cambria Leshko (Southern Lehigh) pinned Isabella Poole Martinez, 0:55
AA Boys
Samuel Wolford (Northern Lebanon)
Wolford is headed to Friday’s quarterfinals in the PIAA AA State Championships after an impressive opening-round win at 121-pounds. The Northern Lebanon senior, who earned silver at last year’s State Championships and is pursuing his third career state medal, powered his way to an 18-1 technical fall over Caleb Hummel of Philipsburg-Osceola in 3:23. Wolford will wrestle Dakota Santamaria of Tussey Mountain in Friday’s quarterfinals.
Match Results
Round of 16: Samuel Wolford (Northern Lebanon) won by technical fall over Caleb Hummel (Philipsburg-Osceola), 18-1, 3:23
Oliver Funck (Annville-Cleona)
Funck closed out a strong senior season with his first trip to the PIAA State Championships, competing in the AA bracket at 145-pounds. The Annville-Cleona senior dropped a pair of tough matches in Hershey to bring his season to an end with a 39-14 record. Funck also finishes his career with an impressive 134 wins.
Match Results
Preliminaries: Julian Bertucci (Burrell) maj. dec. Oliver Funck, 14-1
Consolation Round 1: Colin Walther (Conwell-Egan) dec. Oliver Funck, 4-2
AAA Boys
Elijah Foltz (Palmyra)
Foltz is the lone Palmyra wrestler still alive heading into Day 2 of the PIAA State Championships. The sophomore, making his first State appearance, bounced back after an opening-round loss at 107-pounds to keep his season going. Foltz dropped a 4-0 decision to Parker Jennings of Trinity in the championship bracket, then responded with a 4-1 sudden victory over Michael Nicosia of Bethlehem Catholic in consolations. When action resumes Friday, Foltz will face Luis Moya of Parkland as he continues his push toward the podium.
Match Results
Championship Round 1: Parker Jennings (Trinity) dec. Elijah Foltz, 4-0
Consolation Round 1: Elijah Foltz dec. Michael Nicosia (Bethlehem Catholic), 4-1 SV
Kane Kline (ELCO)
Kline remains alive in the consolation bracket at 127-pounds after splitting his first two bouts in Hershey. The ELCO sophomore, making his second trip to States, opened with a 3-2 decision over Kael Davis of State College before falling 4-0 to Chase Williams of Central Bucks East in the championship bracket. Kline will continue Friday when he faces Nolan Rice of Connellsville.
Match Results
Preliminaries: Kane Kline dec. Kael Davis (State College), 3-2
Championship Round 1: Chase Williams (Central Bucks East) dec. Kane Kline, 4-0
Aleric Raihl (ELCO)
Raihl wrestled his way into Friday’s consolation rounds in his first trip to the PIAA State Championships. The ELCO sophomore opened his tournament at 121-pounds with a 4-1 sudden victory over Ezra Swartley of Souderton before being knocked into consolations by Mateo Gallegos of DuBois, who earned an 18-2 technical fall in 3:03. Raihl will continue his push toward the podium Friday against Jack Famularo of Easton.
Match Results
Preliminaries: Aleric Raihl dec. Ezra Swartley (Souderton), 4-1 SV
Championship Round 1: Mateo Gallegos (DuBois) won by tech. fall over Aleric Raihl, 18-2, 3:03
Klint Miller (ELCO)
Miller battled his way into Friday’s consolation rounds with a big bounce-back win at 160-pounds. The ELCO junior, making his second straight trip to States, opened with a 10-2 major decision loss to Cole Gibbons of Mount Lebanon before responding with a pin of Sutton Stoner of Butler in 0:53. Miller will open Friday with a consolation bout against J.D. Heiser of Boyertown.
Match Results
Championship Round 1: Cole Gibbons (Mount Lebanon) maj. dec. Klint Miller, 10-2
Consolation Round 1: Klint Miller pinned Sutton Stoner (Butler), 0:53
Aaron Andrew (Palmyra)
Andrew brought his career to a close after making his second straight appearance at the PIAA State Championships. Competing at 160-pounds, the Palmyra senior finished his final season with a 23-9 record and ended his career with 84 victories. Andrew battled through a difficult draw on Day 1 before seeing his tournament run come to an end.
Match Results
Preliminaries: J.D. Heiser (Boyertown) dec. Aaron Andrew, 8-1
Consolation Round 1: Keith Barker (Southern Lehigh) dec. Aaron Andrew, 9-4
Tyler Detwiler (Palmyra)
Detwiler closed out his senior season in his first trip to the PIAA State Championships. Wrestling at 139-pounds, the Palmyra senior dropped a pair of close bouts to finish the year with a 40-8 record. Detwiler also wrapped up his career with 104 victories, putting together a strong final season for the Cougars.
Match Results
Preliminaries: Thomas Bencho (West Allegheny) dec. Tyler Detwiler, 5-2
Consolation Round 1: Noah Fenner (Easton) dec. Tyler Detwiler, 6-5
Ashton Kriss (ELCO)
Kriss closed out his career after making his second trip to the PIAA State Championships. Wrestling at 133-pounds, the ELCO senior dropped a 6-2 decision to Shane Young of North Penn in the opening round before falling 10-7 to Charlie Griffin of Wilson in consolations. Kriss finishes his final season with a 34-8 record and wraps up his career with 139 wins.
Match Results
Championship Round 1: Shane Young (North Penn) dec. Ashton Kriss, 6-2
Consolation Round 1: Charlie Griffin (Wilson (West Lawn)) dec. Ashton Kriss, 10-7
Wolford Captures Regional Championship; Funck Punches Ticket to States in Four-Medal Weekend for LebCo
ELCO’s Trostle Wins Gold, Dengler and Poole Martinez Qualify for States; Six LebCo Girls Medal at South Central Regional Championship
Last Weekend: Road to Hershey Continues — Seven Wrestlers Punch Tickets to States, Five Advance to Regionals as LebCo Athletes Earn Thirteen Medals
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