Published March 11. 2024 02:45PM
by RON GOWER TNEDITOR@TNONLINE.COM
Panther Valley wrestler Brenda Banks was part of PIAA history this past weekend.
The high school sophomore took part in the first statewide individual girls wrestling championship and finished with a gold medaled.
Banks, wrestling in the 235-pound weight class, won the championship bout with a 3-0 decision over Souderton’s Mackenna Atkinson.
On Sunday, she was honored with a fire truck parade beginning and ending at the high school. It went through the four Panther Valley communities of Nesquehoning, Coaldale, Lansford and Summit Hill.
Fire apparatus from all four communities took part in the event, blaring sirens along the parade route.
Afterward, a gathering of family, friends and fans was held in her honor at the Batters Box in Summit Hill.
Banks has gone through her first two high school wrestling seasons undefeated. This year, her record is 30-0.
Although it has been hosting state championships for high school boys since 1938, the PIAA -- Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Assocation - only added girls wrestling to its list of sanctioned sports last May. This marked the first championship tournament of high school girls wrestling by the PIAA.
Brenda Banks, a Panther Valley High School sophomore, stands in front of Nesquehoning Fire Department aerial following fire apparatus parade in her honor on Sunday. Banks won a PIAA wrestling championship in Hershey on Saturday. See more information in our sports pages. RON GOWER/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS
A fire truck parade is held through the Panther Valley's four towns on Sunday to celebrate the high school state wrestling championship won by sophomore Brenda Banks.