Off the mat, Panther Valley wrestler Brenda Banks is soft-spoken and laid back. But during competition, she takes on an entirely different persona — one defined by unrelenting intensity.

That duality was on full display earlier this month in Fargo, North Dakota.

Banks, 17, finished third in the 235-pound bracket at the 2025 U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals on July 12-13 — despite competing with a serious hand injury.

The three-time state champion and defending national champ lost a 5-0 semifinal decision to eventual winner Delonna Borders of Ohio, a fellow junior and state champion in her home state. It was the third meeting between the two, with Banks winning the previous two, including a pin in 1:56 in last year’s national final.

Still, the Lansford native battled through the bracket with her trademark grit — and with a torn flexor tendon in her right hand.

She opened the tournament with a 35-second pin of Indiana’s Fanta Sall, then followed it with another quick win, pinning Georgia’s Shaylee Bachand in 59 seconds.

“In the quarterfinals, that’s when my hand was bothering me a little bit,” said Banks.

Even so, she outpointed Nevada’s Leafaatoto, 6-2, before falling to Borders in a semifinal that took place less than 30 minutes after the quarterfinal — a tight turnaround that deviated from the typical one-hour rest period.

Banks bounced back in the consolation match, pinning Utah’s Tilisa Matakaiongo to secure third place.

Borders went on to win the title with a decision over an opponent from Indiana.

Banks’ presence at Nationals was no guarantee. Only wrestlers who place in the top four at their state tournament, or are returning All-Americans earn a spot. But even with the hand injury — which she concealed throughout the event — Banks never considered sitting out.

This marked her third trip to Nationals. As a freshman, she finished fourth while competing in the women’s division due to the absence of a 235-pound weight class in the junior division. That category was added last year.

“The competition’s definitely a lot harder,” she said. “Girls wrestling is more established now.”

She credited Panther Valley head coach Kris Nalesnik with teaching her the “slide-by” move she used to pin Sall in the opener — a technique she hadn’t used much in high school. In other matches, it was her explosive double-leg takedown that led the way.

Banks didn’t start wrestling until her freshman year. She earned her spot by winning a wrestle-off to join the boys’ team, as the school didn’t yet have a girls’ program.

Since then, her career record stands at an impressive 73-2, with one loss in a tournament as a freshman, and another earlier this year due to injury. She’s won three straight District 11 and PIAA titles.

Earlier this summer, Banks went undefeated at the Indiana National Duals, helping her team place fourth — just two weeks before Nationals.

Wrestling excellence may run in the family.

Her younger sister, Scarla, is entering eighth grade and competed at the junior high level this past year, mostly against boys due to the lack of a girls’ division. Wrestling at 155 pounds, Scarla notched several wins.

“I try to stress to her that’s how I started — wrestling against boys,” said Brenda. “Biologically, boys are stronger at that age. But she’s strong herself.”

The sisters even competed together at this year’s Freestyle Nationals Ultimate Club Duals at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex. Scarla went 4-0 on Day 1 and 2-1 on Day 2.

“I feel like she’ll do so well,” said Brenda with a smile. “I know she’ll be great if she just sticks to it.”

Banks is the daughter of Glynnis Banks.