CHRIS MANNING/For The Express Central Mountain junior Kendall Wagner wrestles Central Bucks’s Isabella Priano in the third-place bout at the PIAA Girls Wrestling Championships on March 8, 2025 in Hershey. Wagner was named Express Girls Wrestler of the Year after posting a strong season that culminated in PIAA bronze.

Though a few tough losses through December and January blemished her regular season resume, Kendall Wagner’s confidence in her abilities never once wavered, as she worked tirelessly to learn from her mistakes and build on her technique. By season’s end, those tough losses slowed to a crawl, with her only losses through February and March coming against the eventual PIAA finalists at 170.

Clutch win after clutch win littered her postseason, as she defeated now two-time PIAA medalist Sierra Ripka twice and two-time qualifier Abigail Wagner thrice. She won six narrow decisions from districts to states, displaying an innate clutch factor and making it all the way to the PIAA semifinals.

Though she’d fall one win short of her goal – a state finals appearance, she didn’t blink in response, claiming PIAA bronze and eclipsing her previous placement by five. With that postseason effort as a whole, coupled with regular season highs, the Central Mountain junior earned this year’s award for Express Girls Wrestler of the Year.

“I kicked it up a notch,” said Wagner when discussing her improvements throughout the campaign. “I was trying to hit the weight room more and go to as many practices in a day as I can and trying to work on new moves and hit new moves in matches. I’m just always trying to improve.”

Alongside her postseason accolades, Wagner’s mindset was a big factor in her finishing as the de facto candidate to take home the award.

Despite falling to eventual state champion Jael Miller four times, she relished that matchup and considered it a great avenue towards improvement. And after missing out on a fifth matchup against the phenom, she shifted her focus to the next best outcome seamlessly, delivering a masterclass performance in the third-place bout.

“She kept her mindset good, stayed positive and went out there, got on the attack and got the job done,” said Central Mountain head coach Dylan Caprio following the match. “I’m extremely proud of her.”

Alongside her PIAA bronze, Wagner claimed her second district and regional silvers amidst a grueling 170-class, particularly at the Central Regional. And through the regular season, she took gold at the Williamsport Showcase (21 teams) and silver at Mid-Winter Mayhem (36 teams) and the Bald Eagle Invite (34 teams).

On the season, she finished with an area leading 29 wins, a win rate 78.4%, 20 pins and a tech fall. The Wildcat heads into her senior seasons with the lofty goal of building on a near-seamless postseason, with the means to do just that if her work ethic and mindsets are any indication.

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

“Four years wrestling, she’s been able to take eighth, third and hopefully she can improve on that next year. That’s the goal, and I know that’s what she wants to do, and she’s focused on it,” emphasized Caprio. “She works really hard in the offseason doing freestyle and things like that. Her doing that is helping our other girls get more into it.”

BREAKOUT NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR — Addison Tice, Bald Eagle Area (112)

Leading up to her first season of high school wrestling, Addison Tice went the extra mile in her preparations, wrestling with the boys in junior high and remaining confident despite the struggles that came with that. She rolled with the punches, developed grit and technique in the process and that showed from the moment she took the mat for the Eagles in December.

Following an emphatic, come-from-behind victory in her debut, the Bald Eagle freshman would continue to hit the ground running, producing the most complete season of any area first-year from start to finish. She finished with a 17-9 record, 15 pins, a District 5/6/9 silver and regional win and multiple deep tournament runs throughout the regular season, earning this year’s title for Express Freshman of the Year.

Challenges came up throughout her freshman season, particularly in the early goings of the New Year. But like her time in junior high, she took those hardships and mistakes and handled them with grace, not harping on them and using them to improve instead. She shook off tough stints at the Curwensville Girls Tournament and Mid-Winter Mayhem before putting together her best tournament performance of the season – a silver-medal showing at the 34-team Bald Eagle Invite.

“Even throughout tournaments, I worked on my mistakes and really tried improving on what I did during a tournament,” said Tice on her keys to success following that run. “If I messed up, I hung my head a little bit but really tried bouncing back after it. I pretty much just worked on it, kept working through practice and working hard so I could place at districts.”

She’d go on to do that and more, making it all the way to the district final with pins over eventual regional qualifier Yasmin Miller and returning state qualifier Anna Lackey. And though her season ultimately ended at the hands of Miller, Tice had already far and away proven herself.

There are challenges that stand in her way depending on what happens with next year’s weight classes, as her biggest obstacles – Miller, PIAA medalist Iris Reitz and PIAA qualifier Gia Silva – were also underclassmen. But with continued practice and hard work and her already established grit, the sky is the limit for Bald Eagle freshman Addison Tice.

MOST IMPROVED — Austynn Falls Central Mountain (142 pounds)

Following a 22-8 freshman campaign that saw her earn a regional medal, there were only so many ways that Austynn Falls could continue building upward. And with the ever-growing field within PIAA girls wrestling, a field which produced abrupt ends to a plethora of promising seasons, a sophomore slump wasn’t necessarily outside the realm of possibility.

But with a tremendous work ethic, Falls grew alongside it, building on already sound technique and posting improvements across the board. She surpassed all her career highs, produced her best runs at districts (silver) and regionals (silver), punched her first ticket to states and even took home a win in Hershey, earning this year’s title for the Express’s Most Improved Girls Wrestler.

While upticks of four in competitive wins, one in pins and 8.6% in competitive win rate don’t stick out on paper, at least when it comes to the Express area’s field, Falls was a model of consistency alongside Wrestler of the Year Kendall Wagner, with four of her six losses coming against eventual top five finishers at states.

She went 6-5 against returning regional qualifiers (previously 4-6) and defeated returning state qualifier Shelby Shirley twice. And when the lights shined brightest through postseason, that’s where she posted her biggest improvements.

After scraping into regionals and falling one win short of states as a freshman, Falls cleared both hurdles without much issue as a sophomore, making it to both the District 5/6/9 and Central Regional finals and clearing her freshman finishes by three and four respectively. Falls showed tremendous grit in a sudden victory win over Shirley to clinch her state bid and that grit earned her the first PIAA win of her career as well, as she shook off an 11-1 deficit and pinned Dakota Dengler.

Heading into her junior season, her motivation to work hard and continue improving was already apparent as her standout sophomore campaign wrapped up back in March. She hopes to build on her mentality, with the goal being to close out her junior campaign on the podium in Hershey.

“I definitely want to work on staying composed. Just going out there and having confidence,” said Falls when discussing her main focus heading into next season. “I didn’t have any confidence this season. I think I need to have more confidence and stay in the wrestling room all summer. Just lift and get myself in shape for next season.”

“If she keeps that attitude, stays focused and stays positive like I know she’s going to, we’ll get her back down here next year and walk out of here with a medal,” said Central Mountain head coach Dylan Caprio on Falls following the team’s run at states.

EXPRESS GIRLS WRESTLING ALL-STARS

100 POUNDS — Lily Spicer, Bald Eagle Area

In her first season with the program, it took time for Bald Eagle Area junior Lily Spicer to establish herself among her talented cast of teammates. Up-and-down stints at the Lady Phoenix Christmas Classic, Curwensville Girls Tournament and Mid-Winter Mayhem displayed the growing pains she was expected to endure, as she posted just two wins through her first eight competitive matches.

However, as the postseason approached, her promise on the mat started to trend upward.

In late January, she’d effectively establish herself at the 34-team Bald Eagle Area Invite, going into the tournament unseeded and coming out of it a fourth-place finisher. There, she most notably took down three-seeded Claire Gyle with a first-period pin, an experienced wrestler who’d go on to wrap up her season with a 27-8 record.

She’d go on to carry that momentum into districts, shaking off a loss against eventual state qualifier Nina Twigg and posting back-to-back second-period pins – including one over a returning regional qualifier in United’s Sierra Oleksa- to clinch a regional bid. Then, she picked up multiple wins at a stacked Central Regional, going 2-2 at the event and falling just two victories short of states.

On the season, Spicer compiled a winning record of 14-12 that featured eight competitive wins, seven pins and a decision. Along with her placement at the Bald Eagle Invite, she also claimed bronze at the Lady Phoenix Christmas Classic (11 teams) and fifth at the Curwensville Girls Tournament.

She heads into her senior season with plenty of progress to build upon, having wrapped her season winning six of her last 12 competitive bouts.

106 POUNDS — Eden Eveleth, Bald Eagle Area

When it comes to the Eagles’ promising yet inexperienced lightweight class, the group had about as strong of a mentor as it could’ve hoped for.

Bald Eagle Area senior Eden Eveleth wrapped up her storied, two-year stint in sanctioned high school girls wrestling having punched her ticket to Hershey on both occasions. The latter scenario took tremendous poise, as the Eagle shook off an opening loss at the Central Regional and won four straight to secure her second PIAA bid.

Though her senior season was more turbulent than her previous, it still featured a lot of success. She compiled a 19-12 record and 11 pins, obtained her highest district placement in silver, secured her fourth regional medal (fourth) and earned placements of first, second and sixth at the Lady Phoenix Christmas Classic (11 teams), Bald Eagle Invite (34 teams) and Curwensville Girls Tournament (24 teams) respectively.

Through her final three seasons, she posted 56 of her 59 career wins and all 33 of her career falls, wrapping up her career with a 59-26 record, a win rate of 69.4% and three seasons where she hit double digits in pins. It wasn’t how she wanted to end things, but she heads into her next chapter with optimism and gratitude.

112 POUNDS — Addison Tice, Bald Eagle Area

On top of earning Freshman of the Year honors, Addison Tice’s strong debut season was also enough to earn her a spot on this year’s all-star team as a first teamer. Not much went uncovered in her Freshman of the Year excerpt, but she did add a Lady Phoenix Christmas Classic title to her 15-7 record and runner-up runs at districts and the Bald Eagle Invite, as well as additional wins against returning district medalists and regional qualifiers.

118 POUNDS — Carly Bair, Bellefonte

Amidst its inaugural season of PIAA girls wrestling, Bellefonte produced immediate promise, particularly within its freshman class. All three of its freshmen surpassed ten wins and qualified for regionals, effectively establishing themselves as cornerstones that could aid the program’s future success.

At the forefront of that success was freshman Carly Bair.

Bair finished the 2024-25 season leading the Red Raiders in wins (17), pins (16) and win rate (60.7%), going on a tear to kick off the season that had her at 12-2 through her first 14 bouts and only slowing down a bit as the postseason approached. Even then, she posted a regional-qualifying placement of sixth at the District 5/6/9 tournament, a run which featured a first-period pin against returning regional qualifier Christine Armstrong.

Of her 16 pins, 14 occurred in under two minutes and five in one, as she displayed an affinity for saving her energy that’s surely a great starting point for a successful tournament career. She placed third at the Lady Phoenix Christmas Classic (11 teams), a team-high fifth at the Curwensville Girls Tournament (24 teams) and went 4-1 at the Lady Bison Wrestling Tournament, wrapping up a campaign filled with tough tournaments with a 17-11 record.

Keep an eye on these Bellefonte freshmen moving forward. We’re not even done discussing them yet.

124 POUNDS — Evangeline Andrus, Sugar Valley

Despite an abrupt end to her individual postseason, Evangeline Andrus put together a strong second campaign with the Phoenix, taking promise displayed at the end of her freshman season and effectively building on it. The effort was enough to warrant consideration for this year’s Most Improved Wrestler award.

The sophomore went from a 4-16 record – six wins away from .500 – to posting a winning record with just one win by forfeit on her resume, finishing 14-12. In the process, she exceeded her freshman win total by ten, win rate by 33.8% and number of bonus point victories by nine, huge upticks representing a strong commitment to improvement.

She claimed silver at Sugar Valley’s Lady Phoenix Christmas Classic (11 teams) and the Juniata Girls Tournament, also coming one win short of placing at the 34-team Bald Eagle Invite. Heading into her junior season, she’ll be at the forefront of a growing Sugar Valley program.

130 POUNDS* — Olivia Spotts, Jersey Shore

With a heightened workload, an uptick of 21 bouts compared to last season, Jersey Shore senior Olivia Spotts managed to maintain the consistency she displayed through her previous campaign. After going 14-4 as a junior, she doubled her wins (28) and falls (22) as a senior, earning a spot on this year’s all-star team.

Though she’d fall two win short of a PIAA bid, she managed to have a decent postseason, earning her second District 4 medal (fourth) and earning two wins in her Central Regional debut. She placed at three regular season tournaments as well, earning silver at Matness at the MACC (24 teams), bronze at the Lady Phoenix Christmas Classic (11 teams) and fifth at the Williamsport Showcase (21 teams).

Against returning regional qualifiers, she held a 6-3 record, going 2-0 against returning medalist Adelyn Bush. Through two seasons with the Bulldogs, she posted a career record of 42-15, win rate of 73.7% and 33 pins, a bright spot on a team that’s produced a lot of positives in the first two seasons of sanctioned competition.

136 POUNDS — Ella Johnsonbaugh, Bellefonte

While there were growing pains, particularly in the early goings of her season, Bellefonte freshman Ella Johnsonbaugh showed a lot of promise throughout her debut campaign of high school wrestling. Steadily, less pain and more growth became the theme, as she won nine of her last 18 bouts after starting 4-9.

At the end of the regular season, Johnsonbaugh took home multiple medals within the span of a week, taking sixth at the 34-team Bald Eagle Invite, clinching her medal with a pin against returning regional qualifier Alara Quickel, and capping the regular season by taking fifth at the Williamsport Showcase (21 teams).

She’d ultimately carry that momentum into her most notable accomplishment of the campaign, a fourth place showing at the District 5/6/9 tournament, before concluding it at regionals. Outside of that, the freshman also claimed a title at her debut tournament in the Lady Phoenix Christmas Classic (11 teams).

Though her 13-18 record doesn’t shine on paper, it was a product of progress and plenty of promise was displayed. Alongside Bair, Bailee Scott and Victoria Schellenberg, this team heads into the 2025-26 season sporting tremendous potential.

142 POUNDS* — Olivia Johnson, Sugar Valley

After finishing her sophomore season tied for first on the team in competitive wins, Sugar Valley’s Olivia Johnson took a step forward as a junior, posting career highs across the board and improving her consistency at tournaments. A tough draw in two-time regional medalist Adelyn Bush put an abrupt end to her postseason run at districts, but she displayed clear improvements throughout the season, nonetheless.

Johnson placed at every regular season tournament to team competed in except for the Juniata Girls Tournament, claiming bronze at the Lady Phoenix Christmas Tournament (11 teams), fourth at the Lady Mountie Invitational (17 teams) and fourth at the Bald Eagle Invite (34 teams). That latter run featured a strong run through consolations, where she won four straight and avenged an earlier loss to fellow all-star Ella Johnsonbaugh.

On the season, the junior upped her career high in wins by three (17), competitive wins by three (16), pins by four (16) and win rate by 6.7% (56.7%). While the jump wasn’t enough to warrant Most Improved consideration, improvement is improvement, and Johnson still has another season to reach new highs.

148 POUNDS* — Austynn Falls Central Mountain

Along with earning Most Improved honors, Central Mountain sophomore Austynn Falls also did more than enough to land on this year’s all-star team. On top of her postseason success, she also claimed silver at the Bald Eagle Invite (34 teams), bronze at Mid-Winter Mayhem (36 teams) and gold at the Williamsport Showcase (21 teams), capping the season with a 30-6 record, win rate of 83.3%, 20 pins, a tech fall and two major decisions.

155 POUNDS — Addison Dangle, Jersey Shore

Among those considered for this year’s Most Improved award, Jersey Shore senior Addison Dangle finished as the runner-up, becoming much more consistent and establishing herself as one of the area’s best despite a lack of experience. In the process, she further cemented herself within the team’s big three, finishing the season leading the Bulldogs in win rate (81.5%).

Of her five losses on the season, two came against eventual top four finishers at states, including the 155-pound champion in Chestnut Ridge’s Juliet Alt, and another two came against Shikellamy’s Roslyn Snyder. Seeded one slot lower than Snyder at the Bald Eagle Invite, Dangle managed to avenge the loss with an emphatic, second-period pin.

Dangle wrapped up her senior campaign as a District 4 champion and prospered in all three regular season tournaments she competed in, claiming gold at the Lady Phoenix Christmas Classic (11 teams), silver at the Bald Eagle Invite (34 teams) and going 3-1 at Matness at the MACC (24 teams).

She finished with a 22-5 record and 16 pins, eclipsing her previous career high in wins by 11, pins by nine and win rate by a substantial 20.4%. Through her Jersey Shore career, she won over 73% of her matches, made two district finals and will surely be missed alongside fellow all-star Olivia Spotts.

170 POUNDS — Isabelle Gottschall, Jersey Shore

Though her season concluded in heartbreaking fashion, one win short of her second PIAA berth, Jersey Shore sophomore Isabelle Gottschall did more than enough to earn a spot on the all-star team.

The area pins leader was borderline unstoppable throughout the regular season, suffering just three losses, only being pinned once and pinning two returning PIAA medalists in Wrestler of the Year Kendall Wagner and fellow first-teamer Grace Crestani. That win over Crestani earned her a title at the Lady Phoenix Christmas Classic (11 teams) and she also claimed bronze at the Bald Eagle Invite (34 teams) and Williamsport Showcase (21 teams).

Of her seven losses on the season, all but two came against eventual PIAA qualifiers, four of which made their second appearance and one coming at the hands of two-time champion Jael Miller. Though some of those losses stung more than others, it’s indicative of how little stands ends her way as she enters her junior season.

Gottschall claimed her second medal at both the District 4 (silver) and Central Regional (sixth) tournaments and finished the campaign with a 28-7 record, 26 pins and a win rate of 80%. She heads into her junior season sporting 45 wins, 38 pins, an appearance and win at states and a District 4 title to her name.

190 POUNDS — Grace Crestani, Bald Eagle Area

Like Gottschall, Bald Eagle Area senior Grace Crestani fell short of her own postseason expectations, as tough draws thwarted her pursuit of building on her previous state placement. However, even with that unfortunate shortcoming, the Eagle was standout and more than earned her spot on this year’s all-star team, finishing as the de facto runner-up for the Wrestler of the Year award.

Throughout her senior season, Crestani produced an impressive catalog of notable wins, notching two wins over eventual PIAA medalists in Kendall Wagner (third) and Katelyn Krepps (sixth) and one win over Whisper Abercrombie (fifth) and PIAA qualifiers in Abigail Wagner and Noelle Murray. Of her seven losses, six came against 2025 PIAA medalists and the other came against Isabelle Gottschall, indicative of her consistency.

She posting her highest placements at districts and regionals, earning her first district title and regional silver. And at regular season tournaments, she prospered, taking first in front of her home crowd at the Bald Eagle Invite (34 teams) and second at the Curwensville Girls Tournament (24 teams) and Lady Phoenix Christmas Classic (11 teams).

On the season, Crestani finished with a 22-7 record, shattering her career high for win rate (75.9%) while also posting 15 pins and one major decision. She wraps up her Bald Eagle career as one of its most decorated members, closing with a career record of 58-35, 46 pins, two district final appearances, four regional medals, back-to-back PIAA appearances and most notably, a PIAA medal (eighth).

235 POUNDS — Ashlyn Miller, Central Mountain

A tough 235-pound Central Regional tournament halted a great season in its tracks, but that doesn’t take away from the progress Ashlyn Miller made from her first season to the next. After a promising debut campaign that concluded in postseason hardware, the Central Mountain junior took what she learned and built on it, increasing her consistency and taking a large step forward as a result.

For the second straight season, the Wildcat earned district silver, postseason success which was complimented by an impressive regular season resume. She most notably claimed gold at a stacked, 31-team Mid-Winter Mayhem tournament, defeating two returning regional qualifiers in the process. And at the 34-team Bald Eagle Invite, she bounced back from an opening loss with three straight wins to take bronze.

From her sophomore campaign to the next, Miller increased her number of wins by four (22), competitive wins by seven (17), pins by seven (15) and win rate by 15.2% percent, finishing her junior season with a 22-8 record. She heads into her final season sporting plenty of promise, a few small improvements away from a shot at states.

*- moved from postseason weight

HONORABLE MENTION

(in alphabetical order)

Marrin Clester, Sugar Valley (190); Cameron Corl-Alton, Bald Eagle Area (155); Ruby McClain, Jersey Shore (136/142); Victoria Schellenberg, Bellefonte (130); Bailee Scott, Bellefonte (155); Kohana Yamashita, Sugar Valley (106).