HERSHEY >> Saturday afternoon will be an unprecedented event at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Three mats placed next to each other will showcase the Class 3A, Class 2A, and the first-ever girls state finals, starting at 4 p.m.
The top wrestlers will be competing, and District 1 has five girls vying for state gold.
Sienna Landrum from Downingtown West, the 142-pound category, reached the state finals two years ago as a freshman, but this time it's official and the event will take place in a crowded arena.
“It’s a significant achievement,” Landrum commented. “This is my second time in the finals, but it’s incredible to be here. It's enjoyable and inspiring.”
Following her is Kennett’s Haylie Jaffe (136), who will be striving for her fourth state title, making it her first official attempt. Jaffe and Landrum have both advanced to the finals by pinning their opponents, but they anticipate tougher competition in the final round.
In the Friday night’s semifinals, Jaffe quickly defeated Kiki’s Ava Golding in 65 seconds. Next, she will face Bishop McCourt’s Jordyn Fouse.
“I’ve been eagerly anticipating this finals match, especially against a strong opponent, so that's what I've been preparing for,” Jaffe expressed. “I treat all the other matches the same, but I've been looking forward to the finals match.”
Earlier in the session, Neshaminy’s Grace Nesbitt continued her impressive run with an 8-3 victory over Mounter’s Kristen Walzer. Being the lightest of all District 1 qualifiers, Nesbitt continues to achieve milestones, with becoming the district’s first state finalist being the latest.
“It's a significant achievement for me,” Nesbitt noted. “Reaching the state finals as a fres