4/5/2020
Times Leader wrestling all-star team

Adam Eckhart - Senior - 160 pounds Second Team
Seth Pelton - Senior - 285 pounds Second Team

3/9/2020
GIRLS WRESTLING: Pegarella, Walker win titles

Nanticoke Area’s Kaitlyn Pegarella (162) and Wyoming Seminary’s Caitlyn Walker (115) followed up Saturday’s PIAA wrestling medal haul by getting to the top of the podium themselves. Each won state championships at the MyHouse Pennsylvania High School Girls State Wrestling Championship on Sunday at Gettysburg High School.

Pegarella returned to the tournament after suffering a severe concussion when she was thrown into a table at last year’s event.

“The atmosphere at the tournament is definitely very positive, very outgoing” Pegarella said. “The girls there all support each other. The tournament is definitely growing. There’s so many more girls there compared to last year from what I remember. It was just amazing to see how many girls are coming out and doing this again.”

She pinned BTSP’s Hannah White in the quarterfinals before dislocating her shoulder in the semifinals. She simply popped it back in and beat Phoenix’s Abigail Erdely by an 18-12 decision.

“It was a tough match, but I got it,” Pegarella said.

She pinned Downingtown East’s Grace Wileczek in the final for her first state title.

Pegarella had the support of her best friends LAWW’s Alexandria Ortiz and Montoursville’s Dominica Daugherty at the tournament.

“If they didn’t tell me that I needed to get here to be with them, I wouldn’t have done it,” Pegarella said. “I’ve got to give all my credit for doing this and getting my title to them.”

She was also approached by a Lake-Lehman coach to help with the school’s girls.

“I love that,” Pegarella said. “I love helping the other girls who are starting to come out. It gives me the pride to be a female wrestler.”

Walker pinned Gettysburg’s Jordyn Browning, Central Mountain’s Madison Parker, Hatboro Horsham’s Alanna Barberio and West York’s Carly Gross to defend her crown.

Delaware Valley junior Lily Sherer, a runner-up finish at last year’s tournament, captured her second title.

“I haven’t wrestled folkstyle since this tournament last year,” Sherer said. “So, I was just going out there to have fun and see what happens.”

She pinned Parkland’s Gabriella Ruiz in 37 seconds in the quarterfinals, Harry S. Truman’s Stacy Couillard in 2:11 in the semifinals and LAWW’s Alexandria Ortiz in 4:17 in the final for the 140-pound crown.

“I feel like I wrestled really well,” Sherer said. “I didn’t get any points scored on me besides escapes, but I didn’t really want to wrestle much on top because I haven’t really wrestled folkstyle. But, I got out from bottom in my finals and I pinned her.”

Sherer’s boyfriend DuBois’ Ed Scott, who won his second straight PIAA Class 3A championship Saturday, and Joe Stabilito from the Mohawk Wrestling Club helped coach her during the tournament, which continues to grow.

“It was crazy,” Sherer said. “There were so many girls. So inspiring.”

Sherer’s teammate Danah Downer (122) went 3-2 with a 9-4 decision, pin and a 15-4 major decision to finish in the top six.

Montrose’s Larissa Taylor (108) went 3-2 and finished in the top six. Her three wins came by first-period pins.

Honesdale’s Tommi Vizcaino (115) also went 3-2 and placed in the top six. Her three wins came by first-period pins.