Few athletes have compiled a longer list of accomplishments so early in their career than Panther Valley’s Brenda Banks.

In just her second year wrestling, Banks captured PIAA state, regional and district titles to cap an undefeated sophomore season.

Banks added another incredible accomplishment to an already impressive resume when she recently won the 235-pound title at the 2024 U.S Marine Corps 16U Nationals in Fargo, North Dakota.

“It’s been a really good experience to be out there,” said Banks. “Last year was probably a lot more difficult, judging by the fact that I was wrestling up a division. But it was a lot of fun last year as it was as well this year, being able to make a lot of friends and meet such great and helpful coaches. And the competition was good, too. So I really had a great time and was proud of how I did.”

Competing for Team Pennsylvania, Banks secured the 235-pound 16U women’s freestyle title by pinning Deionna Borders of Ohio in 1:56 in the final.

“It’s every coach’s dream. You want to see your athletes reach the pinnacle of what they can at the time, and she’s right there,” said Panther Valley mentor Kris Nalesnik. “She’s doing everything she can possibly do to be the best.”

A year after placing fourth in Fargo in the junior women’s category, Banks left little doubt in her return that she was the best in her weight class.

After receiving a bye in the opening round, Banks pinned Macee Ercanbrack of Utah in 0:33 before dispatching New York’s Naomi Gonzalez in 2:50 in the quarterfinals.

Banks met a familiar foe in the semis, facing a Team PA teammate in Souderton’s MacKenna Atkinson.

Banks topped Atkinson 3-0 to claim the 235-pound title at the PIAA tournament in March, and posted a 5-1 win against Atkinson to punch her ticket to the National finals.

“The biggest thing I’ve seen from her is that she’s really learned the sport,” said Nalesnik. “She’s only been wrestling two years. So that first year that she wrestled, a lot of stuff she maybe had to be told, she had to be reminded. This year, it’s been a lot of, you don’t really have to coach her much. She knows how to do things on her own.

“Prior to her match in the finals at nationals, I watched the matches of the girl she was going to be wrestling, and I messaged her just to give her my input on what she needs to look out for. And her response was, ‘Coach, I watched them all too. I saw the same things you’re seeing.’ So for a second-year wrestler to see those things, it’s almost unheard of.”

Banks is a true student of the sport.

“I think my technicality when it comes to knowing what I’m doing and being able to execute on the mat has improved so much over the year,” Banks said. “From last year when I was wrestling, I knew basics — what I absolutely needed to know in order to wrestle at some effective level. But it was mostly my strength as well as the determination I had to be great that got me to the door.

“But once I started wrestling on the national level and participating in more serious competition, it made me realize just how much more I needed to be able to learn in order to wrestle efficiently. So I really started to get into the technical side of wrestling and learned what I needed to do to get better.”

Banks used all of her tools to put on a clinic at the highest level in Fargo.

“The only points she gave up in that whole tournament were passivity points, so she didn’t give up any points to her opponents’ offense through the whole tournament,” Nalesnik said. “To not give up any points that way, is really incredible at that level.”

While still proud of her fourth-place result at last year’s national competition, Banks admitted the finish fueled her in her return to Fargo.

“I like to think that it was a good thing that I didn’t win last year,” Banks said. “Because that shortcoming, really, was what really opened my eyes to how much I needed to improve in order to get what I wanted. And I’m willing to work as hard as I need to to accomplish the things that I want to accomplish.

“I knew that when I placed fourth last year that when I came back I would have progressed in my wrestling and would be able to do even better against the people I was going to be wrestling against. So I am really proud of myself for being able to go back and execute in the way that I wanted to, which I’ve been thinking about since last year, going back and wanting to win, and being able to win.”

Banks, the Times News/Lehigh Valley Health Network Girls Wrestler of the Year, went 29-0 this past season, the first year girls wrestling was sanctioned by the PIAA.

Upon her return from nationals, Banks received a Senate citation from state Sen. David Argall during a Panther Valley School Board meeting— along with a standing ovation. There was also a party recently for Banks at the Batter’s Box, which is owned by School Board President Daniel Matika, in Summit Hill, to congratulate her.

“He is 100 percent behind her. He had a viewing party for her finals match for anybody that wanted to come up and watch her wrestle,” Nalesnik said of Matika. “They care so much about these kids, and it’s so awesome to see.”

While she has grown accustomed to winning and competing on the biggest stages, Banks hasn’t taken any part of the experience or journey along the way for granted.

“The support that I receive from my community, my friends, my teachers, my coaches, people that live in my town, has been absolutely amazing,” said Banks. “And I’ve never been quite, I guess, backed that way before. Because obviously I have my family, and they support me 100 percent in everything that I do.

“But having strangers, people that I don’t know that well even, be so invested in what I’m doing and so happy for me and being able to support me in that way has been something I have never experienced before, and it was really heartwarming for everyone to come out and be able to give me that love and show me how much they care about everything that I’m doing for not only myself and my family, but our town and my school.”