MILLERSVILLE — Shippensburg’s Olivia Kearns and Chambersburg’s Jessica Li became the first girls from Franklin County to qualify for the PIAA State Girls Wrestling Championships through their efforts at the District 3 Championships on Saturday at Penn Manor H.S.

Kearns, a freshman, also became the area’s first District 3 champion with her victory at 112 pounds.

Jessica Li

Li, a sophomore, placed fourth at 106 pounds, good enough to advance to this week’s state tournament at Giant Center.

In the final at 112, Kearns (31-1) had little trouble against previously unbeaten Journie Rodriguez of McCaskey, winning by an 11-0 major decision. Leading 3-0 after one period, Kearns tacked on a second takedown and two nearfall points to lead 8-0, then got more back points in the final period.

Her semifinal match, however, was a lot more stressful. She trailed Kylie Trostle of Elco 3-0 after the first period, and that score remained the same after Kearns rode Trostle the whole second period. Kearns chose neutral for the final period and made it count with a takedown 26 seconds in. She also took Trostle to her back on that move and pinned her in 5:17.

Li had some concerns ahead of time that she could qualify for states.

“At first, I doubted myself,” Li said. “Getting to states was my goal all year, but because of where I finished at sectionals (4th), I wasn’t sure how I would do here.”

But she started well with a pin in the first round and an 18-2 technical fall in the quarterfinals.

Li said, “I was a little unmotivated before the matches, but after I won the first one, my mentality started to get better. That allowed me to focus better and wrestle better and stay positive.”

She lost by fall to Alexis Pancoast of Mechanicsburg in the semifinals, but her next match was her biggest. She had to beat Analeah Pritchard of Hershey to qualify for states. Li trailed 3-0 but built a 7-3 lead thanks to 4 back points early in the third. She ended up winning 7-5.

Trojan coach Josh Sherman said, “I know that Hershey girl’s record wasn’t that good (11-9), but because they don’t have a girls team, those matches were all against boys. So she was tough.

“I’ve been coaching Jessica since the seventh grade and this was her best tournament. And I think 106 was one of the deepest weights here. She wrestled well and didn’t give up too many big scores.”

Chambersburg’s two highest seeds — Reagan Evans was No. 1 at 130 and Aulana Stanton was No. 2 at 170 (and both were unbeaten) — didn’t have their best days, going a combined 3-5. Evans (25-3) placed 6th and Stanton finished 23-2. Both lost by major decision in their first bouts in the quarterfinals.

Sherman said, “It seemed like for both of them, when things went sideways, they weren’t able to turn it around. District 3 for girls has both 3A and 2A together, and there are a lot of good wrestlers.”

The fourth Trojan to compete, Lillybeth Alcantaras, went 2-2 at 235.

“We did have some success — those two wins for Lillybeth were nice,” Sherman said. “Overall, I think we got some good experience, although I know there are a few hanging heads now. But we’ll get back to work on Monday.”

Waynesboro had two entrants in the tournament. Kenadee Shockey (19-3) finished fifth at 190 pounds and Annabelle Tracey (17-8) went 2-2 at 142.

District 3 Girls Wrestling Championships
Saturday’s Results
FIRST ROUND
106 — Jessica Li (Chbg) p Sydney Dodson (Exeter), 5:10
142 — Annabelle Tracey (Way) p Kylie Mays (Hempfield), 3:11
235 — Lillybeth Alcantaras (Chbg) p Lydia Engle (Upper Dauphin), 0:43
QUARTERFINALS
106 — Li (Chbg) tf Laurel Kuhn (Carlisle), 18-2, 6:00
112 — Olivia Kearns (Ship) p Emily Yerger (Gov. Mifflin), 0:42
130 — Ella Teufert (Octorara) md Reagan Evans (Chbg), 10-0
142 — Marielys rosario (Reading) p Tracey (Way), 3:24
170 — Bri Irvin (Boiling Springs) md Aulana Stanton (Chbg), 12-2
190 — Jurelys Peguero del Rosario (McCaskey) p Kenadee Shockey (Way), 2:49
235 — Layla Barrios (Central Dauphin) p Alcantaras (Chbg), 4:34
SEMIFINALS
106 — Alexis Pancoast (Mechanicsburg) p Li (Chbg), 2:52
112 — Kearns (Ship) p Kylee Trostle (Elco), 5:17
FINALS
112 — Kearns (Ship) md Journie Rodriguez (McCaskey), 11-0
CONSOLATIONS
First Round
130 — Evans (Chbg) p Ava Glass (Elizabethtown), 0:22
142 — Tracey (Way) p Madison Stringer (Penn Manor), 4:42
170 — Stanton (Chbg) d Kylie Corradino (Manheim Twp), 9-7
190 — Shockey (Way) p Kimberlee Hechler (Cumb. Valley), 2:18
235 — Alcantaras (Chbg) p Havana Strunk (Hamburg), 0:54
Second Round
130 — Evans (Chbg) p Olivia White (East Pennsboro), 1:49
142 — Dakota Dengler (Northern York) p Tracey (Way), 2:56
170 — Madison Rife (Central Dauphin) d Stanton (Chbg), 4-1
190 — Shockey (Way) p Chloe Ratcliffe (Upper Dauphin), 0:53
235 — Kylie Locke (Hempfield) p Alcantaras (Chbg), 3:47
Semifinals
106 — Li (Chbg) d Analeah Pritchard (Hershey), 7-5
130 — Kenna Hoffman (Dallastown) md Evans (Chbg), 16-5
190 — Taylor Orner (Octorara) p Shockey (Way), 0:57
For Third Place
106 — Jordyn Suhina (Big Spring) p Li (Chbg), 4:36
For Fifth Place
130 — Ainsley Bounds (Manheim Twp) p Evans (Chbg), 4:15
190 — Shockey (Way) md Tessa Henise (Dallastown), 13-2