PIAA GIRLS WRESTLING: SEASONS END FOR CLINK, PAYNE ON DAY 1 OF STATES (18 PHOTOS) (March 5, 2026)

Valley Sports Report
HERSHEY — Athens junior Joyce Clink and freshman Skylynn Payne each went 0-2 in their first trip to the PIAA Girls Wrestling Championships, but first-year coach Donnie Barrett believes the experience will only help them in their future trips to the Giant Center.

"We had a rough first round," said Barrett. "A lot of nerves played into that. We let the moment be too big, but that’s all part of it. It’s the big stage.

"It was a good learning experience for them both," he noted. "It's just really hard to have their seasons end that way. 

"Both are great kids who do all of the right things, exactly the type of girls that you want in the room. 

"On a positive they had great seasons and have a ton to build on," added Barrett. "Joyce will be back for sure next year, and Skye is in a great spot. She’s only a freshman, so she has three more cracks at this."

Clink, wrestling in the 118-pound bracket, gave up a takedown to Governor Mifflin's Gianna Montegari midway through the first period. Montegari then turned it into a fall 17 seconds later at 1:22.

In her first consolation bracket match, Clink scored the initial takedown against Council Rock's Gracie Murphy, but Murphy answered with an escape and a takedown late in the first period to take a 4-3 lead.

Murphy rode top the entire second period, then Clink chose neutral to start the third period. Murphy notched a takedown and turned it into a fall at 3:28.

Payne, wrestling at 190 pounds, was in a scoreless battle with Central Dauphin's Ashley Hoffman in the opening round when Hoffman cinched in a headlock and scored a fall at 1:58.

In the consolation bracket, Payne was again in a scoreless battle, this time with Abington's Chelsea Kamgaing when she came up on the short end of a scramble and lost via fall at 3:58.

"Joyce had Skye both lost heart-breakers in the consultation round," said Barrett. 

"Joyce was in a 4-3 match and got pinned in the third period," he noted. "Skye was 0-0 going into third and got pinned.

"Skye was in a tough spot," added Barrett. "She weighed in at 167 today and was wrestling 190. Joyce may have cut a little too much, too, but it was a great learning experience for both of them."

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PHOTOS BY LANCE LARCOM and CHRIS MANNING.  

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