EASTON - No matter their past experience or present status, this one was special.

The first-ever District 11 Girls Wrestling Tournament was a showcase event for the best of the best.

And a chance to make a statement on the road to Hershey.

Lehighton’s Addison Chavanic, Northwestern’s Katie Brensinger and Panther Valley’s Brenda Banks all took top billing during the marquee event Sunday at Easton Area Middle School, coming away with district titles and securing a spot at next week’s regional tournament.

“It was honestly really unexpected to have our own girls districts, because girls wrestling was only sanctioned (by the PIAA) this year, so it’s its own sport as of the beginning of the season,” said Banks. “Last year, girls didn’t even have a district tournament. But this year it’s really great. I wasn’t expecting to be able to wrestle just girls and put those skills to use, because I’m used to wrestling the boys. But this is a lot more suited for me, I guess.” The skills on display gave a glimpse into why girls wrestling has flourished.

Banks, a regional and state champion last year in non-PIAA sanctioned events as a freshman, had three pins in under a minute to claim the 235-pound title.

Brensinger, a senior who won a regional title and placed third at states last season, powered to the 148-pound title with three pins.

And Chavanic, a first-year wrestler as a senior, had three pins en route to the 190-pound championship, including the decisive victory in the final against an opponent she had lost to twice this season.

In addition to Banks, Brensinger and Chavanic, Pleasant Valley’s Juliette Trout and Northwestern’s Angelina Spachman also advanced to the finals at 112 and 136 pounds, respectively, and qualified for regionals with runner-up finishes.

Pleasant Valley’s Lily Decker punched her ticket to regionals with a victory in her 235-pound third-place match.

The champ is here

Success is nothing new for Banks. But winning a district title is.

Unbeaten in over 20 matches with nearly as many pins and a champion at six tournaments already this season, Banks was at her best under the bright lights.

The sophomore and top seed capped her run by pinning Liberty’s Addyson Munro, seeded second, in 0:54 in the final. Banks pinned Pocono Mountain West’s Kiera Moore in 0:12 in her quarterfinal match, and dispatched Decker in 0:59 in the semis.

Despite her dominance, Banks wasn’t taking anything for granted.

“No matter what I’ve accomplished or done so far, I always tend to be nervous, no matter what,” said Banks. “Because I feel like that’s just a given with the sport; it’s very tough, and it’s very aggressive. So I do go in a little bit nervous, no matter how many matches I’ve wrestled that day. But I do what I can.”

Banks is prepared for any situation that might arise, one of the many reasons she has been ranked first in the PA-Wrestling.com 2023-2024 PIAA Girls Rankings at 235 throughout the year.

“I do watch my opponent’s matches before I compete to get an idea of what they like to go for,” said Banks. “Or whether or not they’re more of an attack-type wrestler or defensive-type wrestler. And I just kind of cater to that, because I feel like my style of wrestling is a bit more aggressive than what’s normally seen. But I try to be smart about my aggression.”

It’s propelled Banks to an elite status. And now her first district title.

Talented Tiger

Brensinger has been a staple in the Northwestern lineup throughout her career. Since the Tigers do not have a girls team, she has made the most of her mat time in the boys lineup and against girls when she has the opportunity.

The senior has gone 12-44 against boys in her career, and 28-5 against girls, where she was also a regional champion and state runner-up two years ago.

Her talent is undeniable. Brensinger, the top seed, finished off an impressive day by pinning Pine Grove’s Eve Kurtz, the No. 2 seed, in 4:32 for the 148-pound title.

“Being able to wrestle these girls at this tournament, (after) having to wrestle the guys all year, all season, this tournament is amazing,” said Brensinger, who wrestled 20 matches against boys this season, and compiled a 3-17 record. “And it gives us amazing opportunities.” Brensinger was impressive in the semis, pinning Lehighton’s Maggie Pagotto, seeded fifth, in 2:51. She built a 4-0 lead in the first period with a takedown and two back points, and got an escape and another takedown in the second period before securing the pin.

She pinned Liberty’s Symarah Drey, a state qualifier last season, in 1:16 to reach the 148 semis, and had a bye in the first round.

“Knowing I’ve been a part of the national team, it gives me a boost, just that,” said Brensinger, who had wrestled one girls match this season in an exhibition setting before her first official bouts of the season Sunday. “But knowing I’ve beaten some of the girls I’ve already had to wrestle, and knowing they don’t get to go against the guys, so they don’t have the strength experience, they don’t have the mentality. And being a senior, and having so many goals for myself, it just gives me more confidence.

“I feel like over the past couple years I’ve made so many new friends; new wrestlers, new coaches, new people to train with. I just feel like all that experience and all those people that give me the support, it just helps me flourish in the sport.”

Quick study

New to wrestling this season, it hasn’t taken Chavanic long to find success.

That trend continued Sunday. Beyond just her ability, she also displayed the heart of a champion in the finals.

Trailing 5-0 to top seed Bryce Snyder of Palisades, Chavanic was able to get a reversal with 0:49 left in the first period before finishing the match with a fall in 1:50.

It was a remarkable turnaround against an opponent who had pinned Chavanic twice - in 0:36 and 0:28 - this season, two of her four losses.

But those matches were both in December. And Chavanic has come a long way since then.

“I feel like I just have a new mindset every single time I wrestle somebody that I wrestled before,” said Chavanic. “I just try to think positive.

“I was just looking back on videos of how she reacted in our previous matches, and I just planned my strategy based on those videos. I wanted to stay on my feet more, keep my hips higher.”

Chavanic, seeded third, made quick work of Charlotte Sampson of Bethlehem Catholic in the 190-pound semifinals, pinning the No. 2 seed in 0:59.

The senior powered into the 190-pound semifinals, pinning Petra Perez of Emmaus in 0:50.

“From day one, not knowing anything to know feeling like I know so much, it’s just amazing,” said Chavanic.

In the finals

Spachman, unseeded at 136 pounds, reached the finals before being pinned by No. 3 seed Ruth Rivera of Whitehall in 0:51.

The sophomore made her presence felt in the 136-pound quarterfinals, pinning top seed Jamie Castillo of Easton in 5:58. She carried the momentum of a big win in the quarterfinals over the top seed into the semis, where she pinned No. 4 seed Brynn Koberlein of Emmaus in 1:33.

Spachman started the day with a 7-1 decision victory over Amy Loza of Executive Education.

“This was really cool,” said Spachman, a sophomore in her first year wrestling. “I was really excited about it for a couple weeks.”

Trout, a freshman, was pinned by top seed Andi Bibeau, the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler, of East Stroudsburg North in 1:16 in the 112-pound finals.

Trout wrestled No. 3 seed Mia Lopez of Pocono Mountain East in the semifinals and took control quickly en route to a 12-1 win.

The No. 2 seed, who had a first-round bye, Trout powered into the semifinals, pinning Alexis Ogutu of Emmaus in 0:21 in the 112-pound quarters.

“I’m not going to lie, I didn’t really expect to make it to the finals,” said Trout. “I just wanted to go out there and wrestle. It’s only my freshman year. But honestly, it was awesome to be able to make it. It gives me a lot of confidence, and knowing I have more years to learn. I’m just excited for more opportunities.”

And Sunday’s district tournament was the first of many for Trout and her peers.

MEDALISTS AND MOVING ON

... Pleasant Valley’s Lily Decker secured her spot at regionals by pinning Danielle Glaser (Northampton) in 1:21 in her 235-pound third-place match. Palmerton’s Gretchen Schaible (130) and Skylar Benninger (136) each placed fifth, as did Panther Valley’s Kyla Mcquillen (142). Lehighton’s Maggie Pagotto (148) and Panther Valley’s Haylee Fessler (170) were both sixth. The regional tournament will be held next Sunday at Quakertown High School.

WELL REPRESENTED

... The tournament featured 24 different schools, and also included wrestlers from Tamaqua. Parkland won the team title with 160 points ahead of Liberty (144) and Easton (123).

DISTRICT 11

GIRLS WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

First place

100

- Ella Hesener (Parkland) pinned Chelsea Dressler (Nazareth) in 3:16

106

- Lily Snook (Parkland) pinned Carlie Ciresa (PM East) in 4:24

112

- Andi Bibeau (ES North) pinned Juliette Trout (Pleasant Valley) in 1:16

118

- Savannah Witt (Palisades) pinned Autumn Kanas (PM West) in 2:28

124

- Madacyn Rivera (Pen Argyl) pinned Abigail Taylor (Parkland) in 3:29

130

- Aubre Krazer (Easton) forfeit over Alylah Cruz (PM East)

136

- Ruth Rivera (Whitehall) pinned Angelina Spachman (Northwestern Lehigh) in 0:51

142

- Olivia Capra (Easton) dec. Addison Greger (Bethlehem Catholic), 7-1

148

- Katie Brensinger (Northwestern Lehigh) pinned Eve Kurtz (Pine Grove) in 4:32

155

- Mylea Lambert (Northampton) pinned Kelsey Gelb (Parkland) in 1:35

170

- Gracie Haflich (Liberty) dec. Shannon Fratus (Parkland), 3-1

190

- Addison Chavanic (Lehighton) pinned Bryce Snyder (Palisades) in 1:50

235

- Brenda Banks (Panther Valley) pinned Addyson Munro (Liberty) in 0:54

Third place

100

- Seretta Manuel (PM West) pinned Remiah Rivera (Bethlehem Catholic) in 2:17

106

- Koralyz Feliciano-Luyando (PM West) maj. dec. Taylor Sipel (Northampton), 17-6

112

- Sylvyn Parham (Parkland) dec. Mia Lopez (PM East), 4-0

118

- Maiya Lang (Easton) maj. dec. Emilie Capron (Nazareth), 12-1

124

- Danielle Williams (Easton) dec. Samantha Eisenhauer (Pine Grove), 5-1

130

- Olivia Lessing (Palisades) pinned Kierha Castillo (Liberty) in 1:24

136

- Doniya Anwari (Liberty) dec. Aeriel Stallworth (Catasauqua), 6-4 (SV)

142

- Alana Burnette (PM East) pinned Glory Joledo (PM West) in 4:57

148

- Symarah Drey (Liberty) pinned Neysa Lynch (PM East) in 2:11

155

- Summer Footit (PM West) pinned Anaya Velez (Freedom) in 2:10

170

- Maura Case (Easton) dec. Olivya Kroope (Emmaus), 10-7

190

- Ellie Rumbalski (Liberty) pinned Alexis Horvath (Freedom) in 3:47

235

- Lily Decker (Pleasant Valley) pinned Danielle Glaser (Northampton) in 1:21

Fifth place

118

- Paige Roman (ES South) pinned Saige Rittenhouse (Parkland) in 4:19

124

- Grace Bucich (Palisades) pinned Kasiah Dickenson (Liberty) in 5:21

130

- Gretchen Schaible (Palmerton) dec. Alyssa Laubach (Freedom), 3-2

136

- Skylar Benninger (Palmerton) pinned Brynn Koberlein (Emmaus) in 4:05

142

- Kyla Mcquillen (Panther Valley) forfeit over Breanna Hann (Parkland)

148

- Chloe Straub (PM West) pinned Maggie Pagotto (Lehighton) in 3:30

155

- Joselin Flores (ES North) pinned Beatriz Quero (Pine Grove) in 2:34

170

- Lilliana Brader (Northampton) pinned Haylee Fessler (Panther Valley) in 2:22

190

- Charlotte Sampson (Bethlehem Catholic) dec. Petra Perez (Emmaus), 4-1

235

- Nadia Mohammed (Emmaus) pinned Brianna Gold (Nazareth) in 0:11

100

- Janalice Pellot-Feliciano (PM East) pinned Emilee Gaughran (Northampton) in 3:25

106

- Valerie Encarnacion (ES South) forfeit over Anabelle Ramos (Executive Education)

112

- Jaida Onyango (Northampton) dec. Mia Ariola (PM West), 8-4