QUAKERTOWN - Pleasant Valley’s Juliette Trout wanted redemption.

Panther Valley’s Brenda Banks was after a repeat of past success.

Both got what they wanted at Sunday’s girls Southeast Regional Wrestling Tournament.

Trout roared to her first regional crown at 112 pounds, while Banks secured another title at 235 at Quakertown High School.

“I love it. It makes me so happy,” said Trout. “Last week I said I would do better and I did. It feels really good.”

Banks carried the momentum of a District 11 title last week to Quakertown Sunday, where she once again showed off the skills that have made her a master on the mat.

“The postseason is my favorite time of the year,” Banks beamed. “Being able to go back to states now after districts and regionals, that’s always my favorite part. Competing in general means a lot to me. Even practicing, it’s a lot of fun having my teammates around and watching them getting better. The competition is really where you see the fruit of your efforts. It just means a lot to me. And going out to states again, hopefully to defend my title, I’m really excited about that.”

Bank on it

Banks met a familiar foe in Souderton’s MacKenna Atkinson in the finals.

The result was also similar to their previous meetings, as Banks earned the title with a 7-0 decision.

Banks wrestled Atkinson four times last season, earning a 7-1 decision in the regional final, and posting a 3-0 decision to win the state title. Banks also won with a 10-1 major decision and a fall in 1:57

“I am always so excited to wrestle MacKenna,” said Banks. “Being able to work hard to be able to win matches the way I do, it does make me feel good because I really worked for what I wanted and I get out of it what I put into it. But being able to have a difficult match, an opponent I can look forward to having a prolonged match with, it really gets me excited, always.

“She always makes me work really hard. Wrestling her is different than wrestling anybody else. I really have to think about what I should do, what I need to do, what I should try, or what change I should make. It makes me think in depth about every move that I make, and that’s the fun of it, being able to have an opponent that can really bring out the best in you.”

On Sunday, the junior scored a takedown in the first period against Atkinson, and earned another late in the third period.

“When they wrestle each other, it’s always a good match,” said Panthers’ head coach Kris Nalesnik. “Brenda knows she can’t take those matches - or any match - for granted. If she makes a mistake, MacKenna will catch her. It’s not if, it’s when. She needs to make sure she wrestles those matches clean every time, doesn’t make a mistake, takes what she gives her, sets everything up, and then goes out there and executes.

Banks, who is now 32-1 this season, powered into the final, pinning Kaliayah Mines of West Philadelphia in just 0:20 in her first match before posting a fall in 1:26 against Makenzie O`Donnell of Council Rock in the semis.

She will now look to defend her PIAA title in Hershey and continue one of the most dominant wrestling careers in recent memory. Banks also won regional and state titles her freshman year when they were non-PIAA events.

Trout triumphs

In the 112-pound final, Parkland’s Saige Rittenhouse got the first takedown eight seconds into the match against Trout.

But Trout quickly recovered with a reversal five seconds later.

Trout got three back points before finishing the match with a fall in 1:28.

“I was so scared when she got the first takedown,” said Trout. “I thought I was going to get pinned. But I just told myself that no matter what happens, at the end of the day, it’s still just another match and to have fun. And even if I didn’t win, I might still see her again (at states) so I can always come back from it.”

Trout, now 25-3 this season, opened in impressive fashion, pinning Grace Nesbitt of Neshaminy in 2:32.

In the semifinals, she gained a measure of revenge against Wilson’s Nevaeh Colon, posting a 17-9 major decision.

Colon defeated Trout 12-10 last week at districts.

“I didn’t see that one coming at all,” Trout said of earning the major decision. “It does make me feel really happy, especially since I lost to her last week. It’s such a good feeling. And I wasn’t able to win here last year, so to come back this year and get it done feels great.”

Trout, who battled back with four pins to place third at districts last week, pinned Rittenhouse in 0:21 on Jan. 25.

The sophomore will be advancing to states for the second year in a row. She was a district and regional runner-up last season.

“I believe we’re definitely headed in the right direction,” said Bears’ head coach James Weiss. “I’d rather have her peak in two weeks at Hershey than peak a week ago at districts. I think she knows when she needs to peak. And I think as she’s getting older, she’s realizing she’s never out of it. She might be in trouble in a match, but she’s mature enough to know that it’s not over and she’s not out of it.

“What impresses me the most is just watching a high level wrestler continue to grow. You get to a point in your wrestling career where you say, ‘This is my toolbox, this is what I’m good at.’ But then you find ways to grow in other areas, emotionally, psychologically, things like that. And it’s been great to see her continue to grow even at this high level.”

State bound

While Trout and Banks will be returning to the PIAA Championships, the Panthers’ Alisa Williams will be making her first appearance at the event after placing fourth at 170 pounds.

Williams bounced back after a tough 3-2 loss to eventual runner-up Isabella Priano in the quarterfinals by pinning Mabintou Keita (Pennsbury) in 1:23, and posting a 4-1 decision over last year’s state runner-up Maya Krieger (Bensalem) to secure a spot in the top four and a trip to states.

A third-period escape helped Lane Harrington (Strath Haven) top Williams 1-0 in the third-place match.

Williams is 32-8 this year after going 14-13 a year ago. The junior will get a chance to add more wins - and maybe some hardware - in Hershey.

“It’s a goal that I’ve had for two years now. To finally be able to achieve it, it means the world to me,” Williams said of qualifying for states. “Wrestling in the postseason, and being able to go to states, just being there and being able to wrestle with the best, is just an honor, honestly.”

REGIONAL RESULTS ... Pleasant Valley’s Lily Decker was sixth at 235 pounds, falling to Northampton’s Danielle Glaser 4-1 in her fifth-place match. The senior was fifth at regionals last year. Lehighton’s Cassidy Litts also qualified for the regional tournament. Litts suffered a setback in her quarterfinal match and her first consolation bout, which ended her run. It was a stellar season for the sophomore, who was third at districts and won 20 matches.

UP NEXT ... The girls and boys PIAA Wrestling Championships will take place March 6-8 at the Giant Center in Hershey.