NTL GIRLS' WRESTLING: NEB'S KOLESAR USES DOMINANT PERFORMANCE TO PUNCH HER TICKET TO THE QUARTERS (2025-03-06)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
HERSHEY — NEB’s Anaiah Kolesar used a dominant first period to role over Saegertown’s Leah Sample, 14-1, in the opening round of the PIAA Girls’ Wrestling Championships Thursday.

Kolesar (124) led 10-1 after the first period to punch her ticket to the quarterfinals.

“I try not to be passive,” Kolesar said about her start. 

The junior used a single leg takedown for a 3-0 lead, then scored four back points to go up 7-0. Sample got an escape to take a 7-1 lead, but Kolesar kept the pressure on, using a double leg takedown to go up 10-1 after one.

In the second Sample rode Kolesar for a while, with the Panther eventually getting free to cut extend her lead to 11-1.

“Getting hand control is really what I try to do,” Kolesar explained about her strategy of getting out on bottom. “Once they can’t control anything with their hands you really can get out.”

In the third Kolesar was looking for the tech fall, eventually getting a takedown to Sample’s back for the 14-1 win.

“I wanted to get another tech fall so I could be done,” said Kolesar. 

She’ll face Pen Argyl’s Madecyn Rivera in the quarterfinals on Friday, but first she has a few things to take care of before she gets there.

“Making weight is my biggest challenge, so I definitely need to eat healthy, stay healthy,” Kolesar said. “I need to get to bed at a good hour, last year I couldn’t fall asleep in the hotel room so my dad drove all the way to West Virginia to make me fall asleep in the car.”

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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING

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