PIAA State Championships – Hershey Recap

What an incredible weekend in Hershey for our program. Five qualifiers, three state medalists, and countless moments of heart, grit, and resilience. Hershey is the toughest stage in Pennsylvania wrestling (arguably the country), and our athletes stepped onto that floor with confidence, courage, and pride. This group represented our school and community at the absolute highest high school level.

Shaefer Hoffman, a sophomore making his first appearance in Hershey, delivered an unforgettable performance on the state’s biggest stage. He opened the tournament with a dominant 9–0 win in the first round before facing eventual finalist Dreshman in the quarterfinals, dropping a tough 6–1 decision. Shaefer responded with incredible poise, rattling off three straight wins in the consolation bracket — 5–0, 4–1, and a commanding 7–0 victory in the consi semifinals over Michael Johnson. In the medal match, he showcased his grit and composure, earning a 2–1 victory in ultimate rideout to finish 3rd in the state. An outstanding performance and a huge statement from a young athlete with an incredibly bright future.

Sarah Pearson, a junior and three‑time state qualifier, continued to build her legacy with another outstanding performance and her second state medal. She opened her tournament with a fall in the first round and followed it with a dominant 19–6 major decision in the quarterfinals. Sarah battled hard in the semifinals, falling just short in a tight 3–1 match to eventual finalist Sayona Harris‑Haye. She bounced back with determination, pinning Angelina Spachman in the consi semifinals and then earning another fall over Maggie Alfera in the 3rd‑place match. Sarah’s toughness and consistency earned her 3rd in the state, marking her second podium finish and cementing her as one of the strongest competitors in our program’s history.

Brayden Sigle, a senior and two‑time state qualifier, capped off his high school career with the toughness and heart he has shown throughout his journey. He opened with an intense first‑period fall to move into the quarterfinals, where he faced a former state champion and suffered a setback. Not done yet, Brayden battled through the blood round, earning a hard‑fought 6–4 decision to guarantee himself a spot on the podium. After a narrow 3–2 loss in consi round four, he closed his career the way every athlete dreams of — with a dominant 12–3 win in the 7th‑place match. Brayden finished his senior year as a state medalist, a tremendous accomplishment and a fitting end to an outstanding career.

Layla Namerow, a freshman making her first appearance at the state tournament, wasted no time proving she belonged. She opened with a statement win, a 19–10 major decision over a regional champion, showcasing skill, pace, and confidence beyond her age. Layla battled through two tough consolation matches on Friday, ultimately ending her tournament run but gaining invaluable experience on one of the toughest stages in wrestling. Qualifying for states as a freshman is a huge achievement, and her effort, fearlessness, and growth this season make her someone to watch in the years to come.

Avery Dunn, also a freshman and first‑time state qualifier, showed tremendous courage and fight in her first trip to Hershey. Though she finished 0–2, Avery wrestled hard in both matches and gained exposure to the intensity and pressure of high‑level postseason competition. Simply reaching the state tournament as a freshman is a major milestone, and Avery’s experience this weekend will only fuel her development moving forward.

We couldn’t be prouder of this group. Five state qualifiers and three state medalists — the first time since 2020 that our program placed three wrestlers at Hershey. Their preparation, toughness, and heart were on full display, and each athlete represented our school with class. A huge thank‑you to all of our families, teammates, and supporters who made the trip, cheered loud, and stood behind our athletes throughout this unforgettable weekend. Your energy made a difference.

This was a special showing for our program — and we’re only getting started.