NTL WRESTLING: TOWANDA GIRLS LOOK TO KEEP MOVING UP IN 2025-2026 (December 1, 2025)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
It’s year two for Towanda girls’ wrestling the Lady Knights are excited to build off a strong first season. They’ve also added rivals Wyalusing to their collective, along with Canton kids, building their roster up to 17.

Coach Brock Nichols believes the biggest difference this year will be the mental part of wrestling.

“A lot of these girls coming in new didn’t really understand how mentally draining wrestling can be,” he said. “Sometimes it broke the girls a little bit. Luckily, we got all of the girls back so we didn’t have, so we didn’t have any girls that didn’t come out this year that were out last year. Taking the mental game to the next level, and being able to grind through those overtime matches, and those tight 5-4 matches that go into the third period where you’re giving everything you’ve got, you’ve got to be able to get over those mental hurdles. I think that’s the most important thing I’d like to see this year.”

They’ve hit a few snags early this season, though, as returning regional qualifiers JC Allis and Lylah Bride are out injured, and likely won’t be able to compete this season.

“Injury bugs happen, but it creates opportunity for some of these other girls that might not have been able to see the mat as much,” Nichols said.

A couple key returnees are Elizabeth Naughon, Kenzie Brown, and Ily Benjamin as they look to lead the team.

Wrestling at 170 last year Naughton went 22-10 and took fourth at districts as she ended her season at regionals.

“You definitely have to put in a lot more work than you think you need to,” Naughton said about she took from last year. “You need to work a lot harder. I realized I can do a lot more moves than what I’ve thought. I’ve always been a little scared to do them, but that showed me I can do it.”

She focused on improving her moves during the off-season.

“I want to get the same amount of wins, and maybe get to states this year,” remarked Naughton.

Brown went 16-16 a year ago as she reached districts at the always tough 124 pound weight class. She’s coming off a very successful cross-country season.

“The off-season was mostly focused on running, but that endurance, hopefully, can transfer over to the mat,” she said. “My strategy, most of the time, it just to outlast the girl, and then go from there.”

She plans on bumping up to 130 pounds this season.

“There’s a lot of good competition, but I think it just pushes us to work harder, and practice harder,” remarked Brown.

Benjamin will be looking to improve upon her 8-15 record a year ago at 136 pounds. Nichols noted she had plenty of close matches not go her way this year, something she’s hoping to change.

“My plan is just to fix whatever flaws I had, and practice that over and over again so I never make a big mistake,” Benjamin said. “I definitely worked on settling my hips, and just improving to get better. I definitely think I can go past districts.”

A newcomer to watch will be freshman Kaylen Sluyter, whose done well for herself so far in her career.

“She won every tournament she entered in last year for the junior high,” Nichols said. “So we’re expecting big things out of her.”

Two other returnees to watch are Natalyn Morris and one of their Canton girls Alivia Spicer.

“She was one that I thought had a chance to make it to regionals, and possibly further,” Nichols said about Spicer.

While Morris was injured in practice before districts last year and couldn’t participate.

Nichols returns most of his line-up, so he expects quite a bit of internal growth going into this year.

“When you’re starting a program that first to second year is usually when you see the biggest jump in their level of maturity, their level of toughness, and their level of ability,” he said. “That’s what I’m really excited for, is just to see how bit of a jump some of these girls can make, and I think they’re going to do it.”

They had some team success last year, but they feel they’ll get even more this season.

“One of our team girls is definitely going to get more past districts, and to just improve the girls that needed a little more,” Benjamin said.

They’ll have their first home dual meet against Wellsboro on December 15 with a 5 p.m. start before the boys. The Towanda boys had their first official dual meet against Wellsboro 70 years ago on that date, so now the two programs are linked even tighter.

It’ll be one of three matches that will take place before the boys.

“I’m really excited,” Brown said. “Hopefully we can get more crowds at our matches, and more voices behind the mat.”

ROSTER (Grade)
Kaylee Johnson (12)
Jordyn Post (12)
Pieper Achuff (12)
Adalee Wecker (11)
Elizabeth Naughton (11)
Lylah Bride (11)
Hailey Harbst (10)
Natalyn Morris (10)
Hailey Petrowski (10)
Kenzie Brown (10)
JC Allis (10)
Ily Benjamin (10)
Sierra Gromley (10)
Alivia Spicer (10)
Kaylen Sluyter (9)
Lia Fischer (9)
Kendal Cook (9)

SCHEDULE
Dec. 13 at Honesdale Tournament
Dec. 15 vs Wellsboro, 6 p.m.
Dec. 20 at Hanover Tournament
Dec. 23 vs Central Columbia, 4 p.m.
Jan. 3 at Williamsport Tournament, 10 a.m.
Jan. 17 host Mr. Dirt Duals, 10 a.m.
Jan. 21 at Athens, 6 p.m.
Jan. 24 at Bald Eagle Tournament, 9 a.m.
Jan. 31 at Williamsport Showcase, 10 a.m.
Feb. 14 at District IV Championships
Feb. 28 at Central Regional Championships
Mar. 5- 7 at PIAA Championhips

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