On Saturday, the Central Mountain junior wrestled with the poise and control reflective of her three deep postseason runs, patiently waiting for her opportunities to strike, capitalizing and playing sound defense in the process. It wasn’t easy, but the hard work she’s put in since last year’s eighth place finish paid off, as she posted two final decisions to take third at 170.

“You can’t really change what has happened in past, so I just tried to put it behind me and worked my way back up the ladder,” said Wagner when discussing Friday’s hard suits. “Obviously feels great to place third, still trying to comprehend it.”

“She stayed positive, went out there, got on the attack and got the job done,” said head coach Dylan Caprio on Wagner. “Extremely proud of her.”

In a rematch of last Saturday’s Central Regional semifinals, facing Greater Nanticoke’s Sierra Ripka, Wagner had to compose herself as she surrendered three unanswered points in the third to see her lead decrease to two. But she’d manage to do just that, answered Ripka’s reversal with one of her own before riding her out for the 7-3 decision.

Isabella Priano of Central Bucks is taken down by Kendall Wagner of Central Mountain during the PIAA Wrestling Championships in Hershey. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Then, with her next opponent – Central Bucks’s Isabella Priano – striving for a late takedown, Wagner used that opposing momentum to her advantage, carrying it into a throw before wrapping around for a takedown. That sealed her 7-1 win and clinched her state bronze.

She dominated late-period scenarios, securing multiple takedowns, and was able to attribute a momentum-boosting escape out of bottom in both bouts. It was a balanced, well-rounded day for the junior overall, one which displayed the progress she’s made in both sides of her game.

“I love to get to my underhook because I feel I can do so much with an underhook,” said Wagner on what was working for her through Saturday. “I can do so many moves, like snap down and go to the leg. Defensively, it’s like my dad always tells me, try to beat the whistle from the ref. Just always trying to be as fast as I can off the bottom.”

That progress has been a product of hard work, in terms of conditioning and building up technique.

“I was trying to hit the weight room more and go to as many practices in a day as I can, trying to work on new moves and hit new moves in a match. I’m just trying to improve in all ways,” said Wagner on the work that got her here.

Sierra Ripka, Greater Nanticoke tries to hold onto Kendall Wagner, Central Mountain during the PIAA Wrestling Championships in Hershey. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“We really focused on getting to our shots and feeling comfortable, and that’s what won that match for her, getting that first takedown and getting to her stance and getting her feet moving,” emphasized Caprio. “She’s looked to be a little less one-dimensional, having different attacks and different things she can get to, and that’s where I’ve seen the most improvements. She sets the pace in these matches.”

While the goal was to make it to the top of the podium, she’ll look to take another crack at it as a senior next season. With how much progress she made following her sophomore season and throughout this one, the sky’s the limit come 2026.

“I hope to be back next year, improve from this year and keep climbing the ladder,” said Wagner.

CHRIS MANNING/For The Express Central Mountain's Kendall Wagner competes on Saturday in Hershey.

CHRIS MANNING/For The Express Central Mountain's Kendall Wagner competes on Saturday in Hershey.

CHRIS MANNING/For The Express Central Mountain coaches yell out to Kendall Wagner during a bout on Saturday.

CHRIS MANNING/For The Express Central Mountain's Kendall Wagner competes on Saturday in Hershey.