Valley Sports ReportJIM THORPE, Pa. — Athens advanced six girls in the quarterfinals, and has five more alive in wrestlebacks after Friday action here at Coal Cracker Invite at Jim Thorpe High School.
Athens leads the 58-team field after Day 1 with 79 points, just ahead of Upper Dauphin's 78 points, and Hughesville's 77.5 points. Northern York was fourth with 73.5 points, and Lehighton was fifth with 69.
Senior Hanna Rathbun and Leah Nason, juniors Joyce Clink and Abigail Wagner, and freshmen Skylynn Payne and Evelyn Cummings all advanced to Saturday morning's quarterfinals, while
Sophomores Memphis Paul, Hailey Brinkley, Alyssa Rinebold, and Abigail Ahern, and freshman Chelsey Renninger are alive in the consolation bracket.Clink was 3-0 in the 126-pound bracket with three first-period falls. She scored pins in 56, 66, and 41 seconds.
Rathbun, who registered her 100th career win last weekend, was 3-0 in the 132-pound bracket, all three by fall. She scored her first two falls in 1:15 and 1:13, and then pinned Northern Bedford's Emily Dennis in 2:54 — just the second time she's gone to the second period this season.
Wagner was 2-0 in the 172-pound bracket, both by falls — in 40 and 74 seconds.
Payne was 2-0 in the 192-pound bracket. She scored pins in 1:23 and 2:51.
Nason was 2-0 in the 237-pound bracket. She scored pins in 49 and 78 seconds.
Cummings was 2-0 in the 237-pound bracket. She registered pins in 1:43 and 3:04.
Hailey Brinkley was 2-1 in the 102-pound bracket. After losing her opening-round bout, she bounced back in the consolation bracket with pins in 48 and 46 seconds.
Paul was 2-1 in the 144-pound bracket. Paul opened with a 52-second fall, but lost to Stroudsburg's Olivia Applewhite via fall in 3:04 in the round of 32. She received a medical forfeit in her first wrestleback match.
Alyssa Rinebold was 1-1 in the 108-pound bracket. After winning her opening-round match by fall in 1:25, Rinebold lost via second-period fall to Northern Bedford's Rachel Crouse in the round-of-32.
Chelsey Renninger was 2-1 in the 138-pound bracket. After losing her opening-round match, Renninger scored a 56-second fall in the opening round of the consolation bracket, and followed it up with a pin of Mid-Valley's Ashlyn Bradshaw in 3:30.
Abigail Ahern was 2-1 in the 144-pound bracket. After losing in the opening round, Ahern scored a 38-second fall in the first round of wrestlebacks, and followed it up with a 16-8 major decision over Pleasant Valley's Emily Stipeck.
Millicent Steves was 0-1 in the 192-pound bracket and is still alive in the consolation bracket.
Freshman Makayla Brinkley was 1-2 in the 126-pound bracket, with her lone win a pin of Central Columbia's Kiley Vinson in 4:54 in the opening round of the consolation bracket.
Kalynn Kletz was 1-2 in the 138-pound bracket, with her win an 8-6 decision over East Stroudsburg's Angela Clare in the opening round of wrestlebacks.
Isabella Henry was 1-2 in the 132-pound bracket, with her lone win a 37-second pin in the first round of wrestlebacks.
Sophomore Mya Burke was 0-2 at 120 pounds.
Day 2 action begins at 9 a.m. Saturday.
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IN PHOTO: Athens senior Hanna Rathbun. ... VSR STOCK PHOTO.
