Girls District 1/12 Championship

Downingtown West was proudly represented at the Girls District 1/12 Championship, held during the third official season of sanctioned girls wrestling in Pennsylvania—a season that saw the largest turnout yet and a clear rise in overall competition. With brackets deeper and tougher than ever, the Whippets brought a young but determined lineup, filled with freshmen gaining valuable postseason experience and upperclassmen closing out or continuing their careers with pride. The team showcased resilience, growth, and grit throughout the tournament.

At 100 pounds, senior Chloe Gahr wrapped up her first full high school season with a performance that reflected her tremendous personal growth. Chloe opened the tournament with an impressive fall in 1:41, then battled through a challenging bracket that included a top‑seeded opponent. She added a tech fall victory in the consolation rounds and finished the day with 6.5 team points, demonstrating the progress she made throughout the year and the toughness she brought to the lineup in her final postseason.

At 112, freshman Madeline O’Brien also showed poise under pressure in her first District tournament. She opened with a fall in the first round, picked up a close 7–6 decision in consolations, and earned 5 team points for the Whippets. Despite facing experienced competitors deeper in the bracket, Madeline wrestled with heart and gained invaluable experience that will fuel her growth in the seasons ahead.

Freshman Layla Namerow delivered one of the strongest performances of the tournament for Downingtown West, placing 3rd at 124 pounds in one of the deepest brackets of the day. After missing much of the regular season due to injury, Layla returned with determination and wrestled her way to five wins, including four falls and a tough decision in the consolation semifinal. Her 3rd‑place finish was an impressive statement of both talent and resilience as she capped her comeback from an adversity‑filled season. Layla is a Regional Qualifier and will test her skills next Sunday at her first Regional Championship hoping to secure her spot at Hershey.

At 136, junior Sarah Pearson continued her dominant postseason legacy. Competing in her third year of girls wrestling—the same number of years the sport has been officially sanctioned—Sarah powered through the bracket to become a two‑time District Champion, earning five wins, all by fall, and scoring 32 team points. Her leadership and experience have anchored this young roster, and she now heads into Regionals next Sunday in Quakertown seeking her second Regional Championship.

Freshman Avery Dunn battled her way to a 6th‑place finish at 142 pounds, showcasing both her talent and her competitive heart. After a first‑round bye, Avery recorded back‑to‑back pins to reach the semifinals. She faced tough, seasoned opponents in the placement rounds but continued to fight hard, finishing with 13 team points and coming close to extending her postseason. Her performance reflects the promise she brings to the future of the program. *After a PIAA review of the 142 Bracket, Avery Dunn has qualified for Regionals.

At 148, sophomore Samantha Roworth gained valuable experience in her first postseason appearance. Wrestling in a challenging bracket, she competed with toughness and earned a consolation‑round advancement via bye. Though she didn’t place, Samantha’s willingness to step into the lineup and battle is an important part of building depth in a growing program.

Overall, this young Downingtown West squad handled themselves with pride and competitiveness at the Girls District 1/12 Championship. With most of the roster made up of freshmen and underclassmen, the future is exceptionally bright for the program. The leadership of athletes like Sarah and Chloe helped guide the younger wrestlers through this rapidly strengthening landscape of girls wrestling in Pennsylvania. Congratulations to all the Whippets on a strong postseason showing, and best of luck to Sarah, Layla and Avery, as they continues their journey next weekend at Regionals in Quakertown.