York-Adams League girls' wrestlers pepper the podium at inaugural PIAA championships
Five of the league's eight girls' qualifiers earned podium finishes in Hershey.
HERSHEY — If the attendance at the Giant Center this weekend was a reflection of how things went for the PIAA individual wrestling championships, there’s no doubt it was a big smash.
The arena was filled nearly to capacity for Saturday's finals, and it wasn't just to watch the boys. There was plenty of energy and excitement surrounding the first PIAA-sanctioned girls' wrestling state championships as well.
That energy was also noticeable among the wrestlers who took part in history. While no York-Adams League girls took home any of the inaugural gold medals, it’s crystal clear that the future of the sport is bright around the county and the commonwealth.
A total of five Y-A wrestlers — and one from Northern York — left Chocolatetown with medals they will cherish and likely use to fuel their dreams for future success.
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The York Suburban duo of Alysiana Price-Ierley and Angela Imorhoa were both clearly proud of their efforts. Price-Ierley, a freshman, placed fourth overall at 106 while Imorhoa took sixth at 170.
“This just validated everything that I worked for the entire season,” Price-Ierley said. “I really met the goals I had although I could have done better, but it really proved where we are as wrestlers.”
For Imorhoa, the thought of standing on the podium and receiving a medal in wrestling never entered her mind just a year ago. The junior only took up the sport in the last year, so to finish among the state's elite as a rookie is a statement of its own.
“I think I succeeded past what I expected of myself,” Imorhoa said. “I think that four months ago I would not have expected to be here, and to do what I did, I feel, is good for me.”
A runner in cross-country as well as a standout in track, Imorhoa took up wrestling as something new in her life. Her success amazes herself, much like her victory in Friday's "blood round" over Cumberland Valley's Veronica Guise that secured her a medal.
“I was about to get pinned,” Imorhoa said of the decisive consolation match. “But I just flipped and I pinned her. It was just crazy. I was lost looking up at the lights and I somehow pinned her. I think the challenge was a lack of confidence, but I think I got more now for sure.”
Price-Ierley got her boost of confidence last week at the District 3 and South Central Regional tournament when she downed previously unbeaten Natalie Handy of South Western in the semifinals at Penn Manor en route to a second-place finish. Both wrestlers fell to eventual champion Julia Horger of Conwell-Egan at states, Handy in the quarterfinals and Price-Ierley in the semifinals. But the freshman added another consolation victory to secure a top-four finish.
“Just being on the podium as a freshman and in the top four is crazy,” Price-Ierley said.
Handy was one of three South Western girls to take home a state medal. She finished seventh at 106, while Mustang junior Tatum Duckworth was eighth at 124 and Kayla Henderson placed third at 235 after reaching the semifinals. Northern York’s Aambur Brletich bested Imorhoa for fifth place at 170, winning by a 7-1 decision.
South Western senior Davina Crump (190) dropped her blood-round match Friday to miss the podium. Dallastown freshman Kenna Hoffman (130) and Avery Baldwin (155) rounded out the league's eight inaugural PIAA qualifiers.
Gettysburg, which was a York-Adams League member when it started its girls' wrestling program in 2020, was represented by 148-pound gold medalist Zoey Haines and 155-pound fifth-place finisher Kylie Monroe.
Friday:Pair of York-Adams League wrestlers reach state finals; 10 secure medals
Thursday:10 York-Adams League wrestlers reach PIAA quarterfinals
PIAA girls' wrestling championships
York-area medalists
106 - Alyisana Price-Ierley (York Suburban - 4th)
235 - Kayla Henderson (South Western - 3rd)
170 - Aambur Brletich (Northern York - 5th)
170 - Angela Imorhoa (York Suburban - 6th)
106 - Natalie Handy (South Western - 7th)
124 - Tatum Duckworth (South Western - 8th)
