Northern Tier Sports ReportHERSHEY — It was a heartbreaking day for Towanda’s Kaylen Sluyter at the PIAA Girls Wrestling Championships Friday. The freshman fell 6-5 to Milton’s Kyleigh Ficks in the blood round to just miss a state medal.
It was tight throughout with a fast paced finish at the end with Towanda’s coaches questioning the scoring in the final seconds.
After a scoreless first period Kicks got an escape to take a 1-0 lead. Sluyter nearly got a takedown on a slide by, but couldn’t quite finish it.
Sluyter was on bottom to start the third and used it to her advantage, getting a stall point off Ficks, and then took the lead on an interlocking hands call on her opponent.
Ficks finally let Sluyter up, giving her a 3-1 lead.
The two stayed even until Ficks was able to trip Sluyter for a takedown, and two quick back points to go up 6-3.
Sluyter appeared to get out and catch Ficks in a throw for a takedown, then ride her out.
However, the officials gave her Sluyter the reversal instead of escape-takedown combination, leaving her one point short.
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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING
