Morgan Hyland realized she spent two periods of Sunday’s Southeast Regional tournament final at 112 pounds taking shots with no intent to finish.
The Easton sophomore also was sick.
But instead of continuing to take shots for the sake of taking them or packing it in until next month’s PIAA Girls Wrestling Championships, Hyland sharpened her attacks. She found energy with each shot she finished.
The result was overcoming a seven-point deficit in the third period to beat Southern Lehigh’s Xuan Graham for the second weekend in a row, this time 13-9.
“Going into the third period,” Hyland said, “I was thinking that this wasn’t the end game. I have nothing to lose. Just let it fly. Who cares? I end up getting the three takedowns I needed, which was really cool.”
Hyland’s last takedown came with a bonus — four near-fall points that were the difference.
“After all my shot attempts in the first two periods, I was thinking, ‘Oh, shoot. Maybe this isn’t working.’ But after I got that first takedown, I was like, ‘Oh, yeah. I got this.’
“On the last takedown, I was just looking for any possible way to take her down. It happened to be a hip throw roll that worked out in my favor.”
Sunday’s meeting at Quakertown High School was much different than last week’s District 11 final, when Hyland was gassed by the second period but somehow managed the energy to get a takedown in sudden victory for the gold medal.
Graham countered two of Hyland’s shot attempts Sunday and finished to build a 7-0 lead going into the third period. But that’s when Hyland hit her stride and rode the momentum.
Quakertown’s Ashley Stank (100) and Caroline Hattala (190), Emmaus’ Olivya Kroope (155), Palisades’ Bryce Snyder and Panther Valley’s Brenda Banks (235) were the area’s other regional champions.
Top four advance in each weight class advance to the PIAA Girls Wrestling Championship on March 5-7, at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Kroope was the one who was sick at last year’s regional tournament and looked it. She lost in the 155 semifinals but mustered up the energy to take third with back-to-back pins.
On Sunday, the Emmaus senior needed no such drama. She won at the same weight class with two pins and a technical fall in the final. Kroope won 20-4 over Neshaminy’s Annette Barry, but trailed 11 seconds into the title match.
“I just slipped,” she said laughing. “That’s what I believe. It happens when you’re wrestling all day. Yeah, it definitely turned things on. It was full steam ahead after that. It didn’t faze me at all.”
There also was time during the second period where it looked like Kroope was sick. She huddled near a bucket as Barry’s ankle was being tended to. But it was just another match in which Kroope forgot to do something basic.
“I have a tendency to forget to breathe when I wrestle,” Kroope said, “so that’s what happened with the bucket. I started to feel nauseous. But I was OK from there.”
Stank, Hattala and Banks all were repeat champions. Stank was challenged the most, fighting off several shots late by Nazareth’s Chelsea Dressler in the third period to hold on for a 1-0 win at 100.
Dressler opted for a neutral start to begin the third period down by a point. She pushed the pace, but Stank stayed strong and prevented Dressler from finishing.
“I wrestled a little timid,” Stank said, “but it worked out. My coach told me to not do anything stupid, so it was definitely nerve wracking with all the scrambling.”
Hattala barely broke a sweat with three pins totaling 1 minutes, 21 seconds to capture her fourth regional championship in her home gym.
Banks likewise was not tested. She needed only 1 minute, 19 seconds in three matches to take home her fourth regional gold medal.
Snyder had two pins and an 8-1 decision to bring home her second regional championship. She, unlike Stank, Hattala and Banks, is chasing her first state title.
The senior was second last year after breaking out in hives from head to toe due to nerves. She is hoping to be more relaxed this time around.
“I feel a little underprepared, to be honest,” Snyder said. “I wish I was in the gym more. I know I’m working hard to get to where I am, but it still feels like not enough sometimes.
“I don’t look at brackets, so my mind is clear. I don’t know who I’m up against until I see them across from me. I’m open-minded, empty-minded, ready to go.”
Southern Lehigh’s Mai Graham, Xuan’s older sister, also had a seven-point lead in her 124-pound final against unbeaten returning state champion Neve O’Byrne but lost by fall in 2:57.
Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com
Southeast Regional Girls Wrestling Championships
Sunday at Quakertown H.S.
FINALS
100: Ashley Stank (Q) dec. Chelsea Dressler (Naz), 1-0
106: Julia Horger (Conwell-Egan) tech. fall Grace Nesbitt (Neshaminy), 21-6, 4:43
112: Morgan Hyland (Ea) dec. Xuan Graham (SL), 13-9
118: Samiyah Rahming (Northeast) pinned Molly Brangan (Archbishop Ryan), 0:30
124: Neve O’Byrne (Garnet Valley) pinned Mai Graham (SL), 2:57
130: Shannon Logue (Archbishop Shanahan) pinned Julie Ortiz (Mariana Bracetti), 4:49
136: Sarah Pearson (Downingtown West) dec. Raylyn Schwoyer (Owen J. Roberts), 7-1
142: Jenny Gautreau (Owen J. Roberts) pinned Michelle Yakupova (Abington), 2:59
148: Jameson Strickland (Sun Valley) tech. fall Meghan Gottschall (William Tennett), 17-2, 2:52
155: Olivya Kroope (Em) tech. fall Annette Barry (Neshaminy), 20-4, 4:35
170: Bryce Snyder (Pali) pinned Lane Harrington (Strath Haven), 4:37
190: Caroline Hattala (Q) pinned MacKenna Atkinson (Souderton), 0:12
235: Brenda Banks (Panther Valley) pinned Kindal Bizzell-Brown (Strath Haven), 0:31
THIRD-PLACE MATCHES
100: Cambria Leshko (SL) dec. Mia Nesbitt (Neshaminy), 7-6
106: Holly McKinney (Souderton) dec. Peyton Schneck (Par), 1-0
112: Mya Pallone (Q) dec. Nevaeh Colon (W), 6-0
118: Mackenzie Gappa (Q) dec. Gracie Murphy (Council Rock), 4-2
124: Payton Hinkle (Bensalem) pinned Layla Namerow (Downingtown West), 3:53
130: Emily Sarr (Souderton) pinned Arianna Pieretti (ESS), 2:18
136: Angelina Spachman (Par) pinned Godie Hart (North Penn), 3:18
142: Anna Trelease (NL) pinned Avery Dunn (Downingtown West), 0:31
148: Daniella Maxwell (North Penn) pinned Natalie Deutsch (Par), 3:51
155: Kai Czaplicki (Strath Haven) pinned Kaitlynn Arnold (Avon Grove), 0:55
170: Jada Akins (Harry S. Truman) dec. Alisa Willams (Panther Valley), 5-2
190: Liz-Karla Grullon-Vasquez (Par) pinned Chelsea Kamgaing (Abington), 1:38
235: Karla Montes (A) pinned Makenzie O’Donnell (Council Rock), 2:38
FIFTH-PLACE MATCHES
100: Nitzana Jamaica (Em) pinned Keyra Seville (UP), 2:12
106: Isabella Iacovino (Norristown) pinned Abigail Landis (UP), 4:23
112: Samantha Bentz (Cheltenham) maj. dec. Isabella Rogers (Neshaminy), 10-0
118: Joey Cappa (ESS) pinned Mia Renda (Pali), 4:25
124: Gianna Jones (Owen J. Roberts) pinned Carolyn Katz (PA), 2:25
130: Bella Waters (Upper Dublin) tech. fall Maiya Lang (Ea), 15-0, 3:13
136: Sawyer Blomgren (Pennridge) dec. Myla Good (Naz), 8-4
142: Geanna Lemke (PG) pinned Yasmina Ergashova (William Tennent), 4:28
148: Ivanka Chernykhovsky (Council Rock) pinned Glory Joledo (PMW), 1:46
155: Ashlie Montano-Giron (Cat) pinned Emily Hernandez (Souderton), 2:34
170: Elif Ozdemir (Upper Merion) forfeit over Amina Kromah (Academy Park)
190: Rieleigh Purcell (PG) dec. Jaylynn Reeder (Coatesville), 1-0
235: Audrey Graeff (PG) pinned Awur Mayom (Souderton), 1:13
SEMIFINALS
100: Ashley Stank (Q) pinned Nitzana Jamaica (Em), 2:46; Chelsea Dressler (Naz) dec. Cambria Leshko (SL), 6-4
106: Julia Horger (Conwell-Egan) tech. fall Holly McKinney (Souderton), 25-8, 3:34; Grace Nesbitt (Neshaminy) maj. dec. Peyton Schneck (Par), 11-0
112: Morgan Hyland (Ea) pinned Nevaeh Colon (W), 2:36; Xuan Graham (SL) pinned Mya Pallone (Q), 1:25
118: Molly Brangan (Archbishop Ryan) pinned Joey Cappa (ESS), 4:30; Samiyah Rahming (Northeast) pinned Gracie Murphy (Council Rock), 1:47
124: Neve O’Byrne (Garnet Valley) pinned Layla Namerow (Downingtown West), 1:48; Mai Graham (SL) pinned Payton Hinkle (Bensalem), 1:00
130: Shannon Logue (Bishop Shanahan) pinned Emily Sarr (Souderton), 0:32; Julie Ortiz (Mariana Bracetti) tech. fall Arianna Pieretti (ESS), 16-1, 6:00
136: Sarah Pearson (Downingtown West) pinned Sawyer Blomgren (Pennridge), 3:42; Raylyn Schwoyer (Owen J. Roberts) tech. fall Godie Hart (North Penn), 18-3, 6:00
142: Jenny Gautreau (Owen J. Roberts) pinned Anna Trelease (NL), 1:55; Michelle Yakupova (Abington) dec. Geanna Lemke (PG), 7-2
148: Jameson Strickland (Sun Valley) pinned Ivanka Chernykhovsky (Council Rock), 2:34; Meghan Gottschall (William Tennent) pinned Natalie Deutsch (Par), 0:58
155: Olivya Kroope (Em) pinned Ashlie Montano-Giron (Cat), 0:56; Annette Barry (Neshaminy) tech. fall Kaitlynn Arnold (Avon Grove), 17-1, 5:28
170: Bryce Snyder (Pali) dec. Jada Akins (Harry S. Truman), 8-1; Lane Harrington (Strath Haven) dec. Alisa Williams (Panther Valley), 3-1
190: Caroline Hattala (Q) pinned Rieleigh Purcell (PG), 0:28; MacKenna Atkinson (Souderton) pinned Karla Liz Grullon-Vasquez (Par), 3:49
235: Brenda Banks (Panther Valley) pinned Makenzie O’Donnell (Council Rock), 0:26; Kindal Bizzell-Brown (Strath Haven) dec. Karla Montes (A), 5-0
QUARTERFINALS
100: Ashley Stank (Q) pinned Keyra Seville (UP), 3:00; Nitzana Jamaica (Em) maj. dec. Madison Schultze (Upper Merion), 14-5; Cambria Leshko (SL) pinned Mia Nesbitt (Neshaminy), 1:20; Chelsea Dressler (Naz) tech. fall Alexis McIntyre (Conwell-Egan), 18-3, 4:00
106: Julia Horger (Conwell-Egan) tech. fall Abigail Landis (UP), 17-2, 1:37; Holly McKinney (Souderton) pinned Nalia Rodriguez (D), 1:59; Grace Nesbitt (Neshaminy) pinned Fiona Clare (ESS), 0:45; Peyton Schneck (Par) dec. Isabella Iacovino (Norristown), 5-2 SV
112: Morgan Hyland (Ea) bye; Nevaeh Colon (W) tech. fall Samantha Bentz (Cheltenham), 20-3, 4:22; Xuan Graham (SL) by forfeit over Helena Stanley (Upper Dublin); Mya Pallone (Q) pinned Isabella Rogers (Neshaminy), 3:33
118: Joey Cappa (ESS) pinned Kyla Riley (Upper Merion), 2:33; Molly Brangan (Archbishop Ryan) pinned Mia Renda (Palisades), 0:53; Samiyah Rahming (Northeast) pinned Danielle Williams (Ea), 1:47; Gracie Murphy (Council Rock) pinned Mackenzie Gappa (Q), 4:41
124: Neve O’Byrne (Garnet Valley) pinned Gianna Jones (Owen J. Roberts), 3:12; Layla Namerow (Downingtown West) maj. dec. Elaina Mercadante (PME), 9-1; Payton Hinkle (Bensalem) pinned Carolyne Katz (PA), 1:41; Mai Graham (SL) pinned Hawa Konate (Academy Park), 2:26
130: Shannon Logue (Bishop Shanahan) pinned Maddie Wright (Pennsbury), 0:38; Emily Sarr (Souderton) pinned Maiya Lang (Ea), 3:15; Julie Ortiz (Mariana Bracetti) pinned Kamora Gilbreath (PME), 1:47; Arianna Pieretti (ESS) pinned Bella Waters (Upper Dublin), 1:56
136: Sarah Pearson (Downingtown West) pinned Ava Akacha (Upper Merion), 2:52; Sawyer Blomgren (Penn) dec. Myla Good (Naz), 4-1 TB-1; Godie Hart (North Penn) pinned Jayden Learn (ESS), 0:34; Raylyn Schwoyer (Owen J. Roberts) dec. Angelina Spachman (Par), 7-6
142: Jenn Gautreau (Owen J. Roberts) pinned Annetta Barry (Neshaminy), 1:39; Anna Trelease (NL) pinned Emma Rose Arnold (Avon Grove), 3:13; Michelle Yakupova (Abington) pinned Laura Volpe (Par), 3:10; Geanna Lemke (PG) pinned Yasmina Ergashova (William Tennent), 3:23
148: Jameson Strickland (Sun Valley) pinned Raegan Crawford (Bensalem), 0:40; Ivanka Chernyakhovsky (Council Rock) pinned Glory Joledo (PMW), 1:00; Meghan Gotschall (William Tennent) pinned Ellia Sales (Ea), 3:42; Natalie Deutsch (Par) pinned Daniella Maxwell (North Penn), 1:45
155: Olivya Kroope (Em) pinned Irelynn Cahoon (William Tennent), 2:40; Ashlie Montano-Giron (Cat) pinned Emily Hernandez (Souderton), 3:59; Annette Barry (Neshaminy) by forfeit over Chloe Straub (PMW); Kaitlynn Arnold (Avon Grove) maj. dec. Kai Czaplicki (Strath Haven), 12-0
170: Bryce Snyder (Pali) pinned Amina Kromah (Academy Park), 1:52; Jada Akins (Harry S. Truman) pinned Esmaralda Serrano (Cat), 2:52; Alisa Williams (Panther Valley) pinned Elif Ozdemir (Upper Merion), 0:59; Lane Harrington (Strath Haven) pinned Kimberly Rodriguez (Kennett), 0:24
190: Caroline Hattala (Q) pinned Jaylynn Reeder (Coatesville), 0:41; Rieleigh Purcell (Pine Grove) dec. Megan Robinson (Cheltenham), 4-2; Mackenna Atkinson (Souderton) pinned Anaiz Espinal (Cat), 0:44; Liz-Karla Grullon Vasquez (Par) dec. Chelsea Kamgaing (Abington), 1-0
235: Brenda Banks (Panther) pinned Leila Lopez (UP), 0:22; Mackenzie O’Donnell (Council Rock) pinned Audrey Graeff (Pine Grove), 3:01; Karla Montes (Allen) pinned Awur Mayom (Souderton), 1:04; Kindal Bizzell-Brown (Strath Haven) dec. Isabella Hermitt (Pennsbury), 2-0
