Lackawanna Trail’s Cidney Schaffer is crowned the winner during the PIAA D2 girls wrestling districts in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Western Wayne’s Adysen Wargo wrestles Delaware Valley’s Keira Snyder during the PIAA D2 girls wrestling districts in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Delaware Valley’s Kate Prior holds down Nanticoke’s Sierra Ripka during the PIAA D2 girls wrestling districts in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Nanticoke’s Matilda Serrano wrestles Lackawanna Trail’s Cidney Schaffer during the PIAA D2 girls wrestling districts in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Hazleton’s Evelyn Sheer holds down Crestwood’s Samara Bailey during the PIAA D2 girls wrestling districts in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Nanticoke’s Emily Kivler celebrates as she defeats Wallenpaupack’s Gia Silva during the PIAA D2 girls wrestling districts in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Western Wayne’s Mia Gifford holds down Wallenpaupack’s Rosa SanClementi during the PIAA D2 girls wrestling districts in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Nanticoke’s Emily Kivler celebrates after defeating Wallenpaupack’s Gia Silva during the PIAA D2 girls wrestling districts in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Nanticoke’s Emily Kivler holds down Wallenpaupack’s Gia Silva during the PIAA D2 girls wrestling districts in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Lackawanna Trail’s Cidney Schaffer is crowned the winner during the PIAA D2 girls wrestling districts in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
PLAINS TWP. — The District 2 wrestling championships were in the second round of finals matches with the Class 2A and 3A boys 114-pound bouts and 106-pound girls match happening simultaneously.
All of a sudden, fans roared from the bleachers next to the girls final, where Wallenpaupack’s Rosa SanClementi hit a seven-point move on two-time defending champion Western Wayne’s Mia Gifford before the first-period buzzer.
The Lady Buckhorns junior never beat Gifford, losing by major decision and pin this season and by fall twice in her freshman year.
She didn’t let that first-period lead go to waste, securing an 11-1 major decision for the 106-pound title Saturday at the District 2 girls wrestling championships inside The Den at Wilkes-Barre Area.
“I’m so happy,” SanClementi said. “It’s crazy. I’ve wrestled her (numerous) since I was a freshman and every single time she destroyed me. The last time, she still destroyed me, but only won by points. And now I did it. I knew that I was getting so much better this season. And then just to see it all pay off. It’s amazing.”
SanClementi was one of seven Lackawanna League wrestlers to capture gold, including Lackawanna Trail’s Cidney Schaffer (100), Honesdale’s Saige Olver (124), Western Wayne’s Adysen Wargo (136), Honesdale’s Maddison Miller (148), Abington Heights’ Hayden Manning (155) and Delaware Valley’s Kate Prior (170).
Most of the first period was pretty quiet, with SanClementi getting called for a stall warning. However, it got loud in a hurry when SanClementi secured a takedown and four back points, as she hunted for the pin before the buzzer sounded.
“I actually had a completely different plan going in based on the last time I wrestled her,” SanClementi said. “I had an idea and I kept repeating it in my head, and then I tried it at the beginning and it wasn’t working. And I was like, OK, I know she’ll get tired fast, so now I’m just going to try to wear her out, and then when she took that shot I was like this is my opportunity.”
Gifford, ranked 16th in the state according to PA Power Wrestling, took top to start the second period, but couldn’t turn SanClementi or cut into the deficit. In the third period, SanClementi chose top, road out Gifford for most of the period and secured four more back points for the 11-1 victory and her first district title.
She was the lone Wallenpaupack champion, as the Lady Buckhorns had two silver medalists, two bronze medalists and a fourth-, fifth- and sixth-place finisher to place third in the team standings with 128 points — behind first-place Hazleton Area (165.5) and second-place Delaware Valley (152).
“It’s amazing. Just being a part of it so long, especially when you think back when I was in middle school before girls wrestling was even its own thing, there was a handful of us,” said SanClementi, who is ranked 26th in the state. “It was basically the boys team, and just to see it grow into something like this. I mean we fill the lineup now. That’s crazy. A few years ago, I would never think this would happen, not only it being its own sport but also me winning a district championship. It’s so crazy. It’s amazing.”
The top four finishers in each weight class qualified for the Central Regional, which is scheduled for Saturday at Milton High School.
First Comet
Abington Heights is in its first season with girls wrestling as a varsity sport, and freshman star Hayden Manning gave the program its first district crown.
“It just shows that the hard work paid off, and we’re gonna be a good program,” said Manning, who is ranked seventh in the state at 155 pounds.
Manning pinned her way to the title, including an impressive win over Wyoming Valley West’s Brooke Long, a former state qualifier, in the semifinals.
“Brooke Long, she’s definitely a very strong wrestler. She went to Fargo. She was definitely my toughest opponent today, but it feels good to show that I’m up there with the best as just a freshman.”
No. 2 vs. No. 3
Delaware Valley’s Kate Prior, ranked No. 2 in the state, versus Nanticoke Area’s Sierra Ripka, ranked third in the state, was a premier matchup that lived up to its billing Saturday.
The star seniors met in the 170-pound final, with entering Prior entering the match with two pins against Ripka this season. However, Ripka took the lead in the second period, securing three back points.
However, Prior went to work in the third period, secured two back points with 17 seconds left and four more back points with one second left for her second-straight title.
“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always wanted to win,” said Prior, who earned state bronze last season. “I’ve never been the kid that settles for second. In my opinion, second is always worse than third. In my mind, I was like I’m not losing this match.
“She’s very strong. We were obviously both exhausted. You just have to dig deep and go for it.”
Super 8
Lackawanna Trail’s Cidney Schaffer started Friday as the No. 8 seed at 100 pounds. By Saturday night, she was the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the girls tournament.
The freshman went 4-0 in girls matches this season, which is what the district seeding is based on, and 20-9 in boys matches. In the quarterfinals, she pinned No. 1 seed Rheagan Wargo of Western Wayne. Then, she secured first-period pins against defending district champion Hanover Area’s Claire Gyle in the semifinals and No. 2 Matilda Serrano of Nanticoke Area in the final.
“Last week, I was nervous, but excited at the same time, but going into the first match I knew I could do it,” said Schaffer, who is ranked fifth in the state. “Seeded eighth, and then hearing my name called for Outstanding Wrestler, I was really excited and happy.”
Star Hornets
Honesdale’s Saige Olver and Maddison Miller, who are ranked sixth and fourth in the state, respectively, captured district titles Saturday.
Olver, a Lady Hornets senior, had two pins and a 10-5 decision in the final for her third-straight district crown. She’ll look to qualify for states next week and secure her third PIAA medal.
Miller was upset in the final last season by Delaware Valley’s Juliet Fitzpatrick.
The Honesdale sophomore made sure that didn’t happen again.
Miller stormed to the title with four first-period pins, defeating her friend Ella Smith of Delaware Valley in the 148 final.
“It means a lot to me, even though we’re friends,” Miller said. “We’re new friends. We wrestled a lot this season, but it makes me sad that she’s a senior. But I’m really happy. I was really prepared.”
Like her teammate, Miller hopes to qualify for states and secure her second PIAA medal.
Wargo wins
Western Wayne’s Adysen Wargo had a first-period pin over Honesdale’s Isabel Whalen in the quarterfinals, and an 11-7 decision over Hazleton Area’s Miah Molinaro in the semifinals before securing a 7-4 sudden victory over Delaware Valley’s Keira Snyder in the final for her first district crown.
Team scores
Hazleton Area 165.5, Delaware Valley 152, Wallenpaupack 128, Honesdale 103, Crestwood 100, Hanover Area 100, Greater Nanticoke Area 94, Wilkes-Barre Area 94, Western Wayne 76 Valley View 48, Valley West 46, Wyoming Area 45, Lackawanna Trail 44, Abington Heights 36, Mountain View 21, Lake-Lehman 16, West Scranton 16, Berwick 13, Pittston Area 11.5, Blue Ridge 11, Dallas 11, Mid Valley 11, Elk Lake 7, Scranton Prep 3, North Pocono 2.5.
Semifinals
100: Schaffer (LT) pinned Gyle (HA), 1:41. M. Serrano (GNA) dec. Veira (DV), 17-11; 106: Gifford (WW) pinned Osburn (HA), 3:07. SanClementi (WALL) pinned P. Serrano (GNA), 3:19; 112: Kivler (GNA) pinned Yablonski (DV), 0:38. Silva (WALL) pinned Seltzer (CRE), 5:50; 118: Shoemaker (CRE) pinned Griffith (HA), 2:46. Torres (HAZ) pinned Gonzalez (WBA), 5:05; 124: Olver (HON) pinned Shaheen (VV), 1:42. Bustillo (HAZ) pinned Ankner (HA), 5:16; 130: Brown (HAZ) pinned Boyle (GNA), 0:42. Hernandez (WBA) pinned Newcomer (WALL), 3:06; 136: Snyder (DV) dec. Selfe (CRE), 3-1. Wargo (WW) dec. Molinaro (HAZ), 11-7; 142: Bonning (WA) pinned Balbuena (WVW), 3:49. McFarland (HAZ) pinned Torres (WBA), 1:01; 148: Miller (HON) pinned Ramirez (HAZ), 0:59. Smith (DV) pinned Laytos (LT), 2:59; 155: Manning (AH) pinned Long (WVW), 3:18. Orellan-Anton (HON) pinned Rath (WW), 5:20; 170: Prior (DV) pinned Chapman (WA), 3:17. Ripka (GNA) pinned Gil (HAZ), 1:36; 190: Jobarteh (WBA) pinned Lamolly (VV), 0:19. Statile (WALL) pined Luciano (DV), 1:08; 235: Sheer (HAZ) pinned Martin (HON), 0:27. Bailey (CRE) pinned Dozier (WALL), 0:24.
Finals
100: Schaffer (LT) pinned Serrano (GNA), 1:10; 106: SanClementi (WALL) maj dec. Gifford (WW), 11-1; 112: Kivler (GNA) pinned Silva (WALL), 1:32; 118: Shoemaker (CRE) pinned Torres (HAZ), 1:20; 124: Olver (HON) dec. Bustillo (HAZ), 10-5; 130: Brown (HAZ) pinned Hernandez (WBA), 1:09; 136: Wargo (WW) dec. Snyder (DV), 7-4 SV; 142: Wargo (WW) dec. Snyder, 7-4 SV; 148: Bonning (WA) pinned McFarland (HAZ), 1:25; 155: Manning (AH) pinned Orellana-Anton (HON), 1:22; 170: Prior (DV) dec. Ripka (GNA), 6-3; 190: Jobarteh (WBA) pinned Statile (WALL), 0:34; 235: Sheer (HAZ) pinned Bailey (CRE), 4:21.
3rd Place
100: Gyle (HA) pinned Veira (DV), 1:35; 106: Pearce (DV) pinned Osburn (HA), 1:50; 112: Seltzer (CRE) pinned Suhow-Sanchez (WS), 2:47; 118: Gonzalez (WBA) pinned Griffith (HA), 1:16; 124: Ankner (HA) pinned Shaheen (VV), 3:25; 130: Newcomer (WALL) pinned Okane (LL), 0:32; 136: Molinaro (HAZ) tech fall Selfe (CRE), 16-1, 3:27; 142: Balbuena (WVW) pinned Garriga-Diaz (VV), 2:11; 148: Ramirez (HA) dec. Laytos (LT), 5-0; 155: Long (WVW) dec. Rath (WW), 9-2; 170: Chapman (WA) pinned Hargis (WALL), 0:25; 190: Luciano (DV) dec. Morse (DAL), 4-0; 235: Dozier (WALL) pinned Martin (HON), 0:58.