Regional tournaments were held last Sunday in the west, east, northeast and central parts of the state. I want to soak up the experience and work toward getting back next year.” I’m going to work hard to win matches there. ![]() “It will be a new experience for me,” she said. The sophomore has been recovering from an ankle injury, but said she’ll be at “almost 100 percent” when she squares off against Kennett’s Taya Wuchter in her first match. Lajevic is in her second year of wrestling. “It will be a lot of tough competition, but I’m excited to go and push myself and test where I’m at.” ![]() “It’s nerve-wracking at first, but when the wrestling starts you just shut everything else out,” she said. She’ll open competition against Hamburg’s Shannon Govern. ![]() She’s much improved this year, and we’re excited to see how she does on Sunday.”Ī freshman, Ireland expects her experience at the state junior high tourney to help her cope with the intense environment at Central Dauphin. “Braylee finished fifth last year at the junior high tournament. “It will be the first time we’re going out there for the high schools girls,” Knights coach Josh Orris said. Lajevic and Ireland advanced to the state finals with third-place finishes at the regionals. The Vikings sophomore drew a first-round matchup against Marlo Williams of Springfield. Valley’s Sanchez comes into the state meet following a fourth-place finish at the regionals. DeVito is scheduled to open this year’s state tourney against the winner of the match between Selinsgrove’s Anna Kalcich and Lancaster McCaskey’s Lounijah Larue. The senior is considered a top contender at 124 after finishing third and fourth at the state meet the past two years. Miller added: “I like her chances, even with the knee.”Ĭlaassen will be joined by four other local wrestlers at the state championships: Kiski Area’s Bella DeVito (124 pounds), Valley’s Paula Sanchez (142) and Knoch’s Miranda Lajevic (100) and Braylee Ireland (118).ĭeVito decisioned Saegertown’s Kylie Stafford, 9-0, to place first in the regional at Kiski Area. Claassen, who’s won junior high state titles, will begin her quest for high school gold against Paige Kepner of Hughesville.ĭespite not being at full strength, Claassen said “my goal still is to win it all.” Plum never has had a girls wrestler bring home a state high school title, according to Miller. “It’s still not great, but it will have to get me through the weekend,” she said. She’s giving it a shot, and a lot of people wouldn’t have given it a shot with that injury.”Ĭlaassen said she’ll need surgery on the knee after the season. “She hurt her knee pretty significantly, but the doctors said it was OK to try to wrestle and she wanted to try,” Plum coach Dave Miller said. Claassen placed second at 235 pounds during last weekend’s West Region tournament to qualify for the state championships on Sunday at Central Dauphin High School. ![]() Though the knee is not at 100 percent, she’s returned to the mat. Plum’s Alaina Claassen hasn’t let an injury prevent her pursuit of a state girls wrestling title.Ī freshman, Claassen said she dislocated her knee and damaged cartilage early in the season.
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