HERSHEY - Brenda Banks is inevitable.

It’s not a matter of if, but when. And how.

The Panther Valley sophomore has been a dominant force across the wrestling landscape throughout her young career.

She simply doesn’t miss.

Banks showcased her supremacy once again Friday night at the PIAA Championships in the Giant Center, powering past South Western’s Kayla Henderson with a 2-0 decision to reach the 235-pound finals.

After posting a pair of pins in her first two matches, Banks (28-0) displayed the strength and conditioning of a wrestler capable of winning any match with her wide range of skills.

“We game plan for every opponent,” said Panthers’ head coach Kris Nalesnik. “Sometimes she’s going to be stronger, sometimes she’s going to be faster. In this case, we were game planning with conditioning. We wanted to outwork her to win that match.”

Banks struck for a takedown with 0:09 left in the first period to make it 2-0, which is how the score would stay.

Henderson chose bottom to start the second period after Banks deferred. Banks chose top to start the third period. Both times, the unbeaten sophomore with over 20 pins this season, was able to prevent Henderson from generating any kind of attack.

“It was just (a) very tough top game,” said Nalesnik. “Kayla wrestles very well from the bottom, she’s very strong. So our whole game plan with that was, get control, break her down; don’t really let her establish a base and wrestle from that point of strength for the whole second period. And then when I saw the conditioning level of the two of them and where they were at, that’s actually why we chose top in the third, because I knew we were going to be in the exact same situation in the third that we were in the second, and that she would be able to keep her under control, and not give up any points.”

Banks posted a 3-2 decision over Henderson (23-4) on Dec. 17, and also pinned her in the state final last year when it was a non-PIAA event.

“She has a very strong base, but she’s also on the heavier side of our weight class,” Banks said of Henderson. “Usually my blast double isn’t the best option and since the double is my best move, it does give me a challenge, but also pushes me to be better in other areas I’m not comfortable in.

“I see her as the toughest competition out here, but I was looking for a pin or points by a margin.”

The sophomore will face Souderton’s MacKenna Atkinson in the finals. Banks beat Atkinson 7-1 in the regional finals Feb. 25, pinned her in 1:57 Jan. 28 and won by major decision (10-1) in their match Jan. 21.

“She’s wrestled her three times already this year, and it’s one of those situations where you can’t get ahead of yourself,” said Nalesnik. “Just because you’ve achieved victory in the past, doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed the next time. You need to keep working to make sure you don’t make mistakes.”

Earlier in the day, Banks took care of business in the quarters against Zoey Morley of South Moreland with a fall in 3:33. Banks used a cradle to flatten her and it was just another weapon she’s been trying to add to her arsenal in her journey at Hershey.

“It’s something new I’ve been working on with the coaches,” said Banks. “The week before states I usually work on things that I already know to perfect them and then add some new things so my opponents won’t expect them.”

Brensinger battles

Northwestern’s Katie Brensinger also advanced to the semifinals Friday night. Brensinger fell in the 148-pound bracket to unbeaten Charlotte Gilfoil (30-0) of Central Dauphin.

“I knew she would have a tough one in the semis,” said Tigers’ coach Joe Killar. “She was a little bit overpowered. The girl didn’t wrestle that much better than her, she was just bigger and stronger. But I thought she did her best, gave as much effort as you could ask for. She was losing by three going into the third period, tried to get a cradle and ended up getting pinned. But she was going for it. She fought the whole time and didn’t give up, so I was super happy with her.”

The match was scoreless into the second period when Gilfoil locked up three back points.

Gilfoil got out from bottom early in the third and secured a reversal before finishing the match with a pin in 4:38.

Brensinger, who has been second and third at the last two non-PIAA girls tournaments, will wrestle in the consolation semis against Williamsport’s Marissa Rumsey, who is 32-2 and was a state runner-up last year and state champion two years ago, today at 9:30 a.m. to determine if she will go for third- or fifth-place. Northwestern also has Luke Fugazzotto going for gold in the boys tournament Saturday.

“I thought we had the ability to have two in the top six, and we do,” said Killar of his two wrestlers that qualified for states. “That was sort of the minimum of my hopes. I’m happy. It’s been a good experience. I’m happy for all the kids. We brought two out here and are coming home with two that earned medals.”

Brensinger was happy to solidify her spot on the medal stand with a fall over Karsyn Champion of Norwin in 3:54 during the quarters.

Being able to solidify a Hershey medal was the top goal for Brensinger after taking third last year at the non-PIAA sanctioned girls’ tournament.

“I want to say that medaling out here is more important than last year, but last year was technically states as well,” said Brensinger. “Now that it’s PIAA certified, it’s an official medal, but back then we were still girls wrestling just like we are now.”

Trout’s tournament

Pleasant Valley’s Juliette Trout saw her tournament come to an end with a loss in her second round 112-pound consolation match Friday.

Trout was pinned by Kylee Trostle of Eastern Lebanon County in 2:09.

Trostle had a 4-0 lead after the first period with a takedown and two back points. She got a reversal early in the second period before finishing the match with the pin.

It was a great season for Trout, a freshman, who bounced back after a loss in her first match to post a 15-0 (2:39) technical fall win over Selinsgrove’s Nevaeh Strouse in her first consolation match.

Trout was a district and regional finalist this year.