For Panther Valley sophomore Brenda Banks, the Coal Cracker Invitational was yet another opportunity to sharpen her skills for a run at postseason gold.

Banks - the regional and state champ from a season ago - certainly didn’t waste that opportunity as she captured first place in the 237-pound weight class against an exceptional field on Saturday and Sunday at Jim Thorpe High School.

Banks wrestled three matches in the Coal Cracker, coming through with a pin, a major decision and another pin in the finals. Banks is now 19-0 on the season.

“This one was a little bittersweet for me. I know I was able to take home first place today, but I think there are some areas I need to work on. I just need to keep working hard to get better,” said Banks. “I’m just looking forward to continuing my training and getting better. That’s what the main focus is right now.”

Banks was also impressed both with the talent level of this year’s Coal Cracker tournament, and how the Panther Valley girls’ wrestling team is continuing to grow and get better as well.

“There was a lot of talent here this weekend,” said Banks. “It’s great to see the event growing. There were a lot of strong girls here.

“I think we’re getting better as a team as well. We placed three girls in the last tournament, and two this weekend against a really good field of wrestlers.”

Banks’ teammate and fellow sophomore Alisa Williams also put together a solid day. Williams took home a fifth-place finish in the 172-pound ranks, going 4-2 over the weekend. Williams is new to the sport, but has been picking things up quickly.

“I have been working really hard,” said Williams. “this is only my first year, so to get a fifth-place finish, I’m really proud of that.

“I think I could have maybe even done a little better. But I’m excited to keep working. Wrestling is a sport where you can really test your limits, and that’s what I wanted to do, I wanted to test myself by coming out for the team. I really enjoy it.”

Palmerton’s Gretchen Schaible was also impressive. Schaible was able to bring home a fifth-place finish in the 132-pound weight class. She won her first two matches and then after a loss, fought her way back for fifth. Schaible showed some toughness in the fifth-place match as she rolled her ankle early in the bout, but was able to stick it out for a 7-4 decision.

“This was a really tough tournament today. There were a lot of good wrestlers here today and a great turnout for sure,” said Schaible. “I was happy with today’s results. Like I said, it was a rough bracket. I think I did well, and I was really happy to be able to get a win in my last match. I did something to my ankle during that one, but was still able finish and get the win.”

ADJUSTING TO THE WEATHER ... The tournament was originally scheduled to be held on Friday and Saturday, but Friday’s snow storm backed things up one day with the preliminary rounds starting Saturday morning and the finals eventually taking place Sunday afternoon.

BIG FIELD ... A total of 49 teams competed in the event. Central Dauphin finished first in the team standings with 151 points.

LOCAL PARTICIPANTS ... All four area schools that have girls wrestling programs - Panther Valley, Palmerton, Lehighton and Tamaqua - entered the two-day event. The Panthers finished in 19th place in the team standings with 50 points, the Indians were 23rd with 40 points, the Bombers were 33rd with 26 points, and the Blue Raiders were 46th with four points.

OUTWRESTLING THEIR SEEDS ... Palmerton’s Schaible got her fifth-place finish after entering the tournament as the seventh seed in the 26-person 132-pound class. Panther Valley’s Williams was even more impressive as she entered as the 12th-seed at 172 pounds before working her way through the 26-person field to finish fifth. PV’s Banks was the top seed in the 13-person, 237-pound class.