Downingtown West Girls Punch Their Tickets to Hershey at the 2026 South East Regional

The postseason pressure was real at the Girls South East Regional — ten‑woman brackets, only the top four moving on, and 44 teams battling for a limited number of spots in next month’s state championships in Hershey. With just three wrestlers, Downingtown West still fought their way to an outstanding 8th‑place team finish, proving once again how tough and disciplined this young program has become.

**136 — Regional Champion

Sarah Pearson (1st Place)**
Junior Sarah Pearson made history before she even made the finals. In her opening match of the tournament, Sarah recorded her 100th career victory, becoming the first girl in Downingtown West history to reach the 100‑win milestone. It’s a testament to her relentless work ethic, her fearlessness in competition, and the standard she has helped set for the entire girls program.

From there, she wrestled like a champion. Sarah powered through the bracket with two commanding falls and then controlled the finals 7–1 to secure her second regional title. With the win, she officially punched her third ticket to Hershey, adding another chapter to what is already a remarkable career. She continues to be the anchor, the example, and the competitive heartbeat of the team.

**124 —

Layla Namerow (4th Place)**
Freshman Layla Namerow showed the kind of fight you can build a team around. After earning a major decision in the quarterfinals, she battled through the consolation rounds, securing a big fall in the consi‑semis to guarantee her spot in the top four.

Her 4th‑place finish not only earned her first regional medal — it also sends her to Hershey for the first time. For a freshman to navigate a postseason bracket like this speaks volumes about her toughness and her upside. Layla grew with every match today and absolutely earned her spot on the big stage.

**142 —

Avery Dunn (4th Place)**
Freshman Avery Dunn opened the day with a setback, but what she did after that tells you everything you need to know about her competitive spirit. Dropping into the consolation bracket can rattle even experienced wrestlers, but Avery came back with two straight pins, including one over a 30‑win opponent, to lock up her state qualification.

Her resilience defined her day — and her season. Avery secured 4th place, her first regional medal, and her first trip to Hershey in what’s already shaping up to be a breakout career.

A Program on the Rise

In only the early years of sanctioned girls wrestling, Downingtown West’s athletes are making their presence known. Three wrestlers. Three regional medals. Three Hershey qualifiers. And a top‑10 team finish in a 44‑team field.

What matters most: the grit they showed, the pride they wrestled with, and the standard they continue to build.

States await — and these girls earned every bit of it.