With its program now becoming more established heading into its third season after returning from a two-year hiatus, Panther Valley wrestling has experienced dramatic differences from the successes of representing a state champion to the challenges of significant roster turnover.

The girls team sees junior Brenda Banks and her ongoing dominance in girls wrestling as a back-to-back state champion leading the way for the Lady Panthers. Head coach Kris Nalesnik continues to express how impressive Banks has performed while also managing his expectations for her.

“Brenda’s a story that you can keep on telling,” he said. “We do expect her to perform equally as well as last year. When you’re a returning state champion, it changes the way you approach the next season. I saw the potential last year in her doing it, but to actually have it done, now she knows ‘OK, I’m the front of the car here. People are coming for me. They want my title, and I don’t want to give it to them.’ She works hard every single day to ensure that she is once again at the top of the podium when we get to Hershey.”

While Banks may not be the most vocal person regarding all that she has done, her success has been instrumental in the growth of Panther Valley’s wrestling program, and has also led to significant recognition throughout the region.

“I attribute a lot of our numbers last season to the success that she has had,” Nalesnik said. “Everybody in the community, even surrounding communities, sees what she’s done. That’s brought a lot of attention to girls wrestling specifically, but also wrestling in general. People really do see how hard she works. They see the successes she gets, and it gives you that sense that hard work can actually pay off still. She’s the last person to ever talk about her successes. She is incredibly humble, and that’s why I’m here to do it for her because she would never tell you how good she is.”

Along with Banks, the Panthers have five other starters returning this season, including juniors Alisa Williams and Anelia Bennick, who Nalesnik has also spoken highly of.

In total, the girls team will have 12 wrestlers, including three seniors - Mayrin Vaszquez-Frias at 118, Kadance Wentz at 130, and Kyla McQuillen at 142 - the previously-mentioned juniors - Bennick at 155, Williams at 170, and Banks at 235 - one sophomore - newcomer Adrianna Cabrera at 148 - and four freshmen - Angelina Fiore at 106, her sister Adrianna Fiore at either 112 or 118, Ella Vega-Santiago at 124, and Bailey Snyder at 142.

“We should actually have a solid team,” Nalesnik said. “We should be filling almost the whole lineup. We might be missing one or two here or there, but the girls team should have a very successful season this year.”

The boys team begins this season facing adversity after losing its co-op with Marian Catholic, which is now co-oping with Mahanoy Area. Due to the PIAA making classifications changes, Panther Valley was required to drop the co-op in order for the boys team to stay at the 2A level. In addition to graduation, this has resulted in losing 11 of the 13 starters that the boys team had last season, including Rory Dixon and Jah Bushati, who Nalesnik spoke with high regards for.

Despite the hurdle and the future potential challenges it creates, Nalesnik remains optimistic.

“It’s a bit of a kick, but the good news is the kids we do have coming back, and the new kids we have coming in are all ready to step up and do their absolute best,” he said.

The boys team will be going into the season with 17 wrestlers, including five seniors - Josue Morciglio at 133, Mason Roman at 160, Levi Weaver at 172, Alex Gordon at 189, and Eric Hansen at 215 - three juniors - Ayden Barclay at 145, Isaiah Bracero at either 152 or 160, and Matthew Mullen at 172 - eight sophomores - the two returning starters Landon Hunsicker and Hayden Matula with one possibly at 114 and the other at 121, Riley McFayden and Angel Morales-Caban both at 139, Cayden Moore at either 149 or 152, Cameron Roon at 152, Aydan Watson at either 189 or 215, and Carlos Maldonado-Rosa at 285 - and two freshmen - Logan Wise and Spencer Schrier both at 107.

With almost a complete overhaul to the roster, Nalesnik has tempered expectations for the boys team knowing what their competition will look like, but has no doubts about the squad’s work ethic.

While both teams may have different standards and expectations, Nalesnik still believes the overall program has a long way to go before it reaches its full potential.

“Even though we’ve been going for three years, I still feel like we’re rebuilding every day,” he said. “Even though we’re established, we’re still building the program.”

Despite the ongoing challenges, he appreciates the support he’s received from the school that helped him build the program to the 29-person roster it has today, and how much more it’s expected to grow in the upcoming years.

“It’s a lot easier to do when you have the support of the administration board as we do,” he said. “We’ve got a youth program that’s going to have about 30 kids this year. They’re doing everything they can for all of these kids, and it’s just my job to ensure that we’re using the resources we’re given to make the program as strong as we can. We go every day; we work hard and do everything you got to do to get ready for the season.”