4 District 2 Wrestlers Advance to PIAA Girls Wrestling Quarterfinals

Nanticoke Area's Emily Kivler, Abington Heights' Hayden Manning, Delaware Valley's Kate Prior, and Hazleton Area's Evelyn Sheer all won their first-round matches at the PIAA Girls Wrestling Championships.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Four District 2 wrestlers - Emily Kivler of Nanticoke Area, Hayden Manning of Abington Heights, Kate Prior of Delaware Valley, and Evelyn Sheer of Hazleton Area - advanced to the quarterfinals of the PIAA Girls Wrestling Championships held at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Kivler, Manning, and Prior all won their first-round matches, while Sheer pinned her opponent in just 1:33 to move on.

Why it matters

The success of these four District 2 wrestlers at the state championships highlights the growing strength of girls wrestling in the region. As the sport continues to gain popularity, these athletes are helping to pave the way for future generations of female wrestlers in Pennsylvania.

The details

Kivler, a Nanticoke Area sophomore ranked 14th in the state, secured an early takedown and pulled away for a 7-1 decision over Cumberland Valley's Molly Stenger. Manning, an Abington Heights freshman ranked sixth in the state, used her strength and technique to pin third-ranked Trinity Webster of Hickory. Prior, a Delaware Valley senior and 2025 Times-Tribune Girls Wrestler of the Year, dominated Kiski Area's Alyssa Tresco with an 11-3 major decision. Sheer, a Hazleton Area freshman ranked fifth in the state, pinned Saegertown's Kaylee Stampin-Williams in just 1:33.

  • The PIAA Girls Wrestling Championships are taking place this week at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

The players

Emily Kivler

A sophomore wrestler from Nanticoke Area High School who is ranked 14th in the state.

Hayden Manning

A freshman wrestler from Abington Heights High School who is ranked sixth in the state.

Kate Prior

A senior wrestler from Delaware Valley High School who is ranked sixth in the state and was the 2025 Times-Tribune Girls Wrestler of the Year.

Evelyn Sheer

A freshman wrestler from Hazleton Area High School who is ranked fifth in the state and is known as "The Pink Nightmare."

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What they’re saying

“I did a little stalking, I'm not gonna lie. I watched her wrestle. She's really hand-fighty and I only hand fight when I'm looking for position and she's just hanging out there. So, I knew I had to be aggressive off the whistle or maybe be a little bit defensive based on how she wrestles, but I'm always looking for that first takedown.”

— Emily Kivler, Nanticoke Area Sophomore (The Times-Tribune)

“My dad is my partner, who is obviously stronger than me. He's a grown man. And then I've recently been partnering with Kate Prior, and she's very strong. So, I think through practice with strong people, even though I'm not the strongest, it has let me adapt to their strength and know how to use it to my advantage.”

— Hayden Manning, Abington Heights Freshman (The Times-Tribune)

What’s next

The quarterfinals of the PIAA Girls Wrestling Championships will take place on Friday, March 6th at 11:45 AM. Kivler will face Easton Area's Morgan Hyland, who is ranked first in the state, in the 112-pound quarterfinals. Manning will take on Cumberland Valley's Emma Beaven in the 155-pound quarterfinals, Prior will face Panther Valley's Alisa Williams in the 170-pound quarterfinals, and Sheer will battle Panther Valley's Brenda Banks, who is ranked first in the state, in the 235-pound quarterfinals.

The takeaway

The success of these four District 2 wrestlers at the PIAA Girls Wrestling Championships demonstrates the growing strength and competitiveness of the sport in Northeastern Pennsylvania. As girls wrestling continues to gain popularity, these athletes are paving the way for the next generation of female wrestlers in the region.