NTL GIRLS' WRESTLING: NEB'S KOLESAR CLINCHES A STATE MEDAL DURING WILD DAY AT PIAA CHAMPIONSHIPS (2025-03-07)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
HERSHEY — It was a whirlwind day for NEB’s Anaiah Kolesar, who lost her quarterfinal match, but returned to win her blood round bout to guarantee herself a second straight medal at the PIAA Girls Wrestling Championships Friday.

But it was what happened in between those two where much of the excitement was.

After falling to Pen Argyl’s Madecyn Rivera 4-1 in the quarters Kolesar (124) asked for medical attention. Due to what she told the they ended up bracing her head and neck, and sending her to the hospital in an ambulance.

Once she got the OK there she returned just in time to beat Schuylkill Valley’s Addison Becht, 4-2 in the third round of consolations to get into the medals.

“It wasn’t what I was hoping for, but I made it back,” said Kolesar. “I was mad they wouldn’t let me wrestle, I thought I wasn’t going to make it back.”

In the opening match Kolesar was able to get to Rivera’s legs, but couldn’t finish her takedowns. After a scoreless first period Rivera went up 3-0 on a takedown, with Kolesar scoring a penalty point for a 3-1 score.

Rivera would get an escape point in the third for a 4-1 score.

Kolesar nearly got the tying takedown when she drove through the legs of Rivera, but she was able to sprawl, then shot Kolesar out of bounds to get a restart. 

With 10 seconds to go Kolesar got in on another shot, but Rivera was able to sprawl, and wait out the clock.

“I didn’t really feel myself when I was wrestling that match,” Kolesar said about the quarterfinal.

In the blood round bout it was another scoreless first period. Kolesar went up 1-0 with an escape, then followed that with a takedown for the 4-0 lead.

Kolesar took down in the third, and was hit with stalling twice, but didn’t allow Becht to turn her, pulling out the 4-2 win.

“I just wanted to get to my shots,” said Kolesar. “My shots haven’t been working really great this weekend, so just try to get to others.”

Kolesar kept the winning going, pinning Pine Richland’s Aaron Strader in 4:44 in the third round of consolations to guarantee a top six finish.

The junior got the first points on a single leg takedown for a 3-0 lead after one. She would get an escape to start the second, then came back with another takedown for a 7-0 lead.

Her opponent cut it to 7-3 with a third period takedown, but let Kolesar up as she tried to rally up-downs. However, Kolesar turned the tables, cradling her up for the fall.

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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING

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