That became impossible to ignore at this year’s Central Regional on Saturday, as five of the top eight wrestlers within the state resided within one 13-man slate. But as has often been the case for Central Mountain senior Kendall Wagner, nerves weren’t a part of the equation as she looked to run the gauntlet as if it were any other tournament.

“I try not to get nervous,” said Wagner on the prospect. “Just stay calm and wrestle my matches like I know how to wrestle.”

That calmness would pay dividends throughout her run.

After achieving a first-period pin against Hazleton’s Annalia Ward to kick off her run, the returning state medalist would endure tough matchup after tough matchup, facing No. 7 Abigail Wagner (Athens) in the quarterfinals before following that up by working to overcome No. 2 Sierra Ripka (Great Nanticoke Area). In both cases, she’d clutch things out with a takedown in sudden victory, the latter which clinched her a second PIAA bid.

FRANK DIMON/For the Express Central Mountain's Kendall Wagner, rear, ties up with Abigail Wagner of Athens at 170 pounds during the PIAA Girls Central Regional tournament at Milton High School on Saturday.

“It was very exciting to pull off,” said Wagner. “I did it last year, so I knew I could do it this year. I went out, gave it my all and came out with the win.”

Though her run at a title would end at the hands of a familiar foe, the top of the gauntlet in defending state champion Jael Miller (Punxsutawney), there was plenty to be proud about following the run. Not only did she earn another state bid to go with her third regional silver, she was also joined by teammate Austynn Falls at the top of the podium, with Falls taking second at 142.

“We all came out here and did our best,” said Wagner on her team.

As a freshman, Falls showed tremendous promise, compiling a 22-8 record and qualifying for regionals.

After falling just two placements short of states then, she took what she learned from her first season, worked hard to improve and never stopped working once the season began. The result at the end of the day was her punching her first ticket to Hershey as a sophomore.

FRANK DIMON/For the Express Bald Eagle Area's Grace Crestani, right, wrestles Shikellamy's Kristen Grubbs at 190 pounds during the PIAA Girls Central Regional tournament at Milton High School on Saturday.

“It feels really good coming back from last year, when I placed fifth at districts and sixth here and not making it,” said Falls. “I’m improving, my record’s better this year and I’m just going out there and having confidence.”

With her first shot at clinching a state bid on the line in the semifinals, facing No. 11 Shelby Shirley, the Wildcats would find herself trailing on multiple occasions, surrendering an early takedown and going into the third down 5-4. But an early escape would force overtime and in sudden victory, Falls used controlled aggression to work Shirley into a match clinching stall call.

“I just kept keeping my head in, not giving up,” said Falls on the match. “I knew that I had beaten her before and that she got tired, and I knew that I could just keep pushing myself longer than she could. I think it just came down to who was in better shape, who had the best technique in the end.”

Rounding out the Wildcats’ regional participants was junior Ashlyn Miller, who kicked off her run at 235 with a second-period pin before enduring back-to-back defeats against state-ranked opponents. Though it was a tough way for her season to end, she still built on her sophomore campaign, winning four more and five less matches on the way to a 22-8 record.

Outside of Central Mountain, Bald Eagle Area also finished with two state qualifiers in seniors Grace Crestani (190) and Eden Eveleth (106).

FRANK DIMON/For the Express Bald Eagle Area's Cameron Corl, right, tries to escape from Georgina Leete of Montgomery at 155 pounds during the PIAA Girls Central Regional tournament at Milton High School on Saturday.

Although Crestani’s run was bittersweet, as she suffered a tough 6-1 loss to Juniata’s Katelynn Krepps with a shot at gold, she still earned her best finish at regionals and earned her second PIAA bid. She considers the loss – her first at 190 this season – a learning experience, one she’ll take a lot out of through preparations next week.

“I pinned her on the same move twice already, so I guess I kind of underestimated her. I thought I had it in the bag,” said Crestani on Krepps. “I’m gonna be giving it my all in the practice room as long as my knee’s okay. If I only take one loss now and don’t lose at states, that’s going to be a pretty good season.”

And after falling in a neck-and-neck overtime bout to kick off her run, Eveleth ran the table through consolations, winning three straight matches – two by pin – to put herself in position to clinch a second straight PIAA bid.

Facing top-seeded Mia Gifford (Western Wayne) in the consolation semifinals, one win removed from the third-place bout, Eveleth would shake off a 2-0 deficit, securing a takedown just before the second period ended. Then, with Gifford bearing down on her in the third, she’d avoid surrendering a late takedown, playing sound defense while not giving any room for last-minute stall calls.

“I had a really good talk with a couple people that were here to support me and got me out of my head, just being reminded by people around me what was at a stake and what the goal was, was helpful to pushing me through the rest,” said Eveleth on the run. “I pulled through and I’m going to states either way. I have another chance to prove myself, so I’m happy with what I’ve got but I’m not settling.”

FRANK DIMON/For the Express Isabella Gottschall of Jersey Shore, left, battles Emily Smith of Delaware Valley at 170 pounds during the PIAA Central Regional Girls tournament at Milton on Saturday.

Of Bald Eagle’s five participants, all five secured at least one win, with first-time PIAA regional qualifiers Lily Spicer (2-2), Addison Tice (1-2) and Cameron Corl (1-2) all leaving their marks on the event despite not placing. On the day, the Eagles led all Express area teams by placing tenth with 47 team points, scoring one more point than Central Mountain.

Jersey Shore finished with one medalist in sophomore Isabella Gottschall, who made it all the way to championship semifinals amidst the stacked 170 bracket before falling to Jael Miller and coming one point short of states against Abigail Wagner. It was a tough conclusion to a great season for the Bulldog, but she has plenty of time left to build on it.

Like Bald Eagle and Central Mountain, every Shore participant left its mark, with seniors Olivia Spotts and Addison Dangle combining for three wins. And though Bellefonte’s Ella Johnsonbaugh finished without a competitive win, making it this far as a freshman was commendable.

Overall, the area was represented well at a stacked event featuring some of the best talent in the state, including seven wrestlers ranked in the top two in the state. With four set to represent the area at Hershey next week, the excitement isn’t over just yet.

TOP 10 TEAM SCORES

FRANK DIMON/For the Express Bellefonte's Ella Johnsonbaugh works for a takedown against Miah Molinara of Hazleton at 136 pounds during the PIAA Girls Central Regional tournament at Milton High School on Saturday.

1. Montgomery 127; 2. Hughesville 92.5; 3. Athens 91.5; 4. Chestnut Ridge 72; 5. Northern Bedford 69.5; 6. Honesdale 67; 7. Bedford 62; 8. Shikellamy 55; 9. Greater Nanticoke 48; 10. Bald Eagle Area 47.

FIRST PLACE FINALS

100: Kaylee Ebersole (Northern Bedford) dec. Nina Twigg (Marion Center), 13-7. 106: Jenna Houseknecht (Montgomery) pinned Lillie Maynard (Towanda), 0:52. 112: Iris Reitz (Redbank Valley) pinned Gia Silva (Wallenpaupack), 3:55. 118: Lillian Rumsey (Williamsport) pinned Saige Olver (Honesdale), 4:43. 124: Anaiah Kolesar (Northeast Bradford) major dec. Emily Murphy (Montgomery), 10-1. 130: Zoe Furman (Montgomery) pinned Callie Hess (Benton), 1:21. 136: Charlotte Hunt (Philipsburg-Osceola) major dec. Brielle Walk (Montgomery), 12-1. 142: Sayona Harris-Haye (Greater Johnstown) pinned Austynn Falls (Central Mountain), 2:28. 148: Violette Lasure (Chestnut Ridge) pinned Alexis Kurzawa (Hughesville), 0:29. 155: Juliet Alt (Chestnut Ridge) injury default Raegan Snider (Northern Bedford), 4:00. 170: Jael Miller (Punxsutawney) pinned Kendall Wagner (Central Mountain), 1:23. 190: Katelynn Krepps (Juniata) dec. Grace Crestani (Bald Eagle Area), 6-1. 235: Mylah Steinbuch (Bedford) dec. Jaidyn Mikulak (Honesdale), 6-1.

THIRD PLACE FINALS

100: Autumn Dersham (Mifflinburg) pinned Julia Ritter (Hughesville), 1:00.106: Ava Helsel (Northern Bedford) dec. Eden Eveleth (Bald Eagle Area), 7-0. 112: Emily Kivler (Greater Nanticoke) pinned Emma Renninger (Athens), 0:44. 118: Isabella Seip (Wyoming Valley West) dec. Chloe Stiles (United), 4-0. 124: Rylee Campbell (Shikellamy) dec. Joyce Clink (Athens), 7-1. 130: Hanna Rathbun (Athens) pinned Aubrey Rebuck (Shikellamy), 4:06. 136: Karissa Springer (Selinsgrove) major dec. Kalea Dey (Chestnut Ridge), 11-1. 142: Maddison Miller (Honesdale) tech. fall Avery Earnest (Hughesville), 15-0 2:41. 148: Mayah Miller (Bishop McCort) dec. Gabby Bambarger (West Branch), 9-5. 155: Makayla Taylor (Clearfield) pinned Kate Prior (Delaware Valley), 5:00. 170: Sierra Ripka (Greater Nanticoke) pinned Abigail Wagner (Athens), 1:00. 190: Noelle Murray (Bedford) pinned Morgan Reichard (Central Columbia), 4:15. 235: Leah Nason (Athens) pinned Samara Bailey (Crestwood), 4:30.

FIFTH PLACE FINALS

100: Mariah Hershberger (Bedford) pinned Juliet Steckley (Danville), 2:06. 106: Isabella Olshefskie (Hughesville) won by forfeit over Mia Gifford (Western Wayne). 112: Ariahna Moore (Hughesville) pinned Evelyn Neal (Punxsutawney), 4:38. 118: Maddison Bryner (Juniata) won by forfeit over JC Allis (Towanda). 124: Shaniece Brown (Hazleton) major dec. Kira Watt (River Valley), 14-5. 130: Kaidence Ankner (Hanover Area) pinned Soleil Wright (Wallenpaupack), 1:47. 136: Tessa Queen (Curwensville) dec. Ryleigh Ziants (Shikellamy), 10-5 SV. 142: Shelby Shirley (Bradford Area) fall Juliet Fitzpartrick (Delaware Valley), 3:56. 148: Jacqueline Hernandez (Wilkes Barre Area) pinned Yamira Thomas (Selinsgrove), 1:32. 155: Brooke Long (Wyoming Valley West) pinned Georgina Leet (Montgomery), 1:00. 170: Emily Smith (Delaware Valley) dec. Isabella Gottschall (Jersey Shore), 14-7. 190: Taydem Sanchez (Wilkes Barre Area) pinned Taylor Stewart (Mifflinburg), 3:13. 235: Aubrey Edgar (Central Columbia) pinned Adelyn Rine (Montgomery), 5:31.

CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINALS

100: Kaylee Ebersole (Northern Bedford) pinned Julia Ritter (Hughesville), 1:06; Nina Twigg (Marion Center) pinned Mariah Hershberger (Bedford), 3:22. 106: Lillie Maynard (Towanda) injury default Mia Gifford (Western Wayne), 4:33; Jenna Houseknecht (Montgomery) pinned Ava Helsel (Northern Bedford), 5:20. 112: Gia Silva (Wallenpaupack) dec. Evelyn Neal (Punxsutawney), 10-7 SV; Iris Reitz (Redbank Valley) major dec. Ariahna Moore (Hughesville), 13-3. 118: Lillian Rumsey (Williamsport) pinned Isabella Seip (Wyoming Valley West), 2:54; Saige Olver (Honesdale) injury default over JC Allis (Towanda), 5:05. 124: Emily Murphy (Montgomery) pinned Shaniece Brown (Hazleton), 1:53; Anaiah Kolesar (Northeast Bradford) pinned Rylee Campbell (Shikellamy), 1:18. 130: Callie Hess (Benton) dec/ Hanna Rathbun (Athens), 11-8; Zoe Furman (Montgomery) pinned Aubrey Rebuck (Shikellamy). 0:42. 136: Briella Walk (Montgomery) major dec. Kalea Dey (Chestnut Ridge), 12-2; Charlotte Hunt (Philipsburg-Osceola) major dec. Karissa Springer (Selinsgrove), 9-1. 142: Austynn Falls (Central Mountain) dec. Shelby Shirley (Bradford Area), 6-5 SV; Sayona Harris-haye (Greater Johnstown) tech. fall Avery Earnest (Hughesville), 15-0 4:00. 148: Violette Lasure (Chestnut Ridge) pinned Yamira Thomas (Selinsgrove), 0:36; Alexis Kurzawa (Hughesville) pinned Gabby Bambarger (West Branch), 1:31. 155: Raegan Snider (Northern Bedford) pinned Brooke Long (Wyoming Valley West), 4:44; Juliet Alt (Chestnut Ridge) pinned Kate Prior (Delaware Valley), 4:18. 170: Jael Miller (Punxsutawney)pinned Isabella Gottschall (Jersey Shore), 2:43; Kendall Wagner (Central Mountain) dec. Sierra Ripka (Greater Nanticoke), 5-2 SV. 190: Katelynn Krepps (Juniata) pinned Taylor Stewart (Mifflinburg), 2:58; Grace Crestani (Bald Eagle Area)pinned Taydem Sanchez (Wilkes Barre Area), 1:33. 235: Jaidyn Mikulak (Honesdale) pinnedLeah Nason (Athens), 1:27; Mylah Steinbuch (Bedford) pinnedAubrey Edgar (Central Columbia), 2:41.

CONSOLATION SEMIFINALS

100: Julia Ritter (Hughesville) DEC Juliet Steckley (Danville), 10-7 SV; Autumn Dersham (Mifflinburg) pinned Mariah Hershberger (Bedford), 4:36. 106: Eden Eveleth (Bald Eagle Area) DEC Mia Gifford (Western Wayne), 3-2; Ava Helsel (Northern Bedford) DEC Isabella Olshefskie (Hughesville), 6-3. 112: Emily Kivler (Greater Nanticoke) pinned Evelyn Neal (Punxsutawney), 3:31; Emma Renninger (Athens) pinned Ariahna Moore (Hughesville), 2:43. 118: Isabella Seip (Wyoming Valley West) major dec. Maddison Bryner (Juniata), 14-0; Chloe Stiles (United) forfeit over JC Allis (Towanda). 124: Joyce Clink (Athens) DEC Shaniece Brown (Hazleton), 17-12; Rylee Campbell (Shikellamy) major dec. Kira Watt (River Valley), 13-1. 130: Hanna Rathbun (Athens) pinned Soleil Wright (Wallenpaupack), 0:55; Aubrey Rebuck (Shikellamy) pinned Kaidence Ankner (Hanover Area), 2:24. 136: Kalea Dey (Chestnut Ridge) DEC Ryleigh Ziants (Shikellamy), 4-2; Karissa Springer (Selinsgrove) DEC Tessa Queen (Curwensville), 3-1. 142: Maddison Miller (Honesdale) pinned Shelby Shirley (Bradford Area), 2:08; Avery Earnest (Hughesville) tech. fall Juliet Fitzpartrick (Delaware Valley), 18-0 3:38. 148: Gabby Bambarger (West Branch) DEC Jacqueline Hernandez (Wilkes Barre Area), 11-7; Mayah Miller (Bishop McCort) tech. fall Yamira Thomas (Selinsgrove), 19-4 2:43. 155: Makayla Taylor (Clearfield) pinned Brooke Long (Wyoming Valley West), 3:31; Kate Prior (Delaware Valley) pinned Georgina Leet (Montgomery), 1:52. 170: Abigail Wagner (Athens) DEC Isabella Gottschall (Jersey Shore), 4-3; Sierra Ripka (Greater Nanticoke) pinned Emily Smith (Delaware Valley), 0:48. 190: Morgan Reichard (Central Columbia) pinned Taydem Sanchez (Wilkes Barre Area), 3:34; Noelle Murray (Bedford) pinned Taylor Stewart (Mifflinburg), 2:15. 235: Samara Bailey (Crestwood) tech. fall Aubrey Edgar (Central Columbia), 17-2. 3:14; Leah Nason (Athens) pinned Adelyn Rine (Montgomery), 1:30.