Well, in case you weren’t aware, the run didn’t come at a weight she was used to. In fact, it was her first official crack at it. Four matches removed from her last match at 170, first impressions would indicate she made the right choice, as the Jersey Shore junior took home gold at a tournament featuring 40 teams and considerable state-ranked talent.

“I’m a little bit surprised, but I’m so excited,” said Gottschall after earning her gold medal. “I’m honestly pretty proud of myself, but without my family, coaches and God, I would not be here.”

“She came through,” said Shore head coach Crock Herman on Gottschall. “Every match, she just learned to find a win. She found a way to win and get over the nerves of the finals.”

Those nerves didn’t come without good reason. On top of standing one win away from taking home her first gold medal at the event, she was also facing an opponent that outranked her by 12 spots state-wise. No. 4 Makayla Taylor (Clearfield) has a 2024 PIAA medal to her name, a challenge not many would expect Gottschall to overcome.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Jersey Shore's Isabella Gottschall secures back point in the 155-pound first-place bout during the BEA girls wrestling tournament on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at Bald Eagle Area.

However, she weathered the storm, shacking off an early 6-1 deficit and fighting her way out of two close calls. A seven-point move in the second gave her an 8-6 lead, featuring a throw out of a headlock that almost resulted in a pin. And when she got that chance again, trailing by five early in the third, Gottschall proved second time the charm, landing the pin 30 seconds into the third.

“At the end, I didn’t even know I got the pin,” laughed Gottschall when discussing the moment. “I had to ask the ref like five times, so it was actually very surprising. That’s a move I really like, mainly because it usually works for me.”

That gold medal headlined a strong day for the Sun-Gazette area girls wrestling teams. Alongside Shore, Central Mountain, Muncy and Williamsport were in attendance on Saturday. Gottschall was the one of two area wrestlers to reach a final, with Williamsport sophomore Malaina Comfort reaching hers at 100.

Comfort has hit the ground running in her first campaign of varsity, coming into the tournament at 12-2 and continuing to build on that success over the weekend. You could say Saturday’s run to BEA Invite silver was a breakout among breakouts, one which by no means came due to bracket ease.

After cruising into championship semis behind a first-period pin and tech fall, the sophomore – ranked No. 9 in the state – crossed paths with No. 4 Juliette Cuevas (Bellwood-Antis). However, if you ended up watching the match, you wouldn’t have been aware she was an underdog.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Jersey Shore's Isabella Gottschall works for an escape during the BEA girls wrestling tournament on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at Bald Eagle Area.

She took it to Cuevas from the jump, securing her first takedown less than 30 seconds in and nabbing another one shortly afterward. She’d go on to rack up four by the match’s final buzzer, defeating Cuevas by 12-4 decision in a display of pure dominance.

“I think so many people get in their head right before their match, like ‘I’m so scared. This girl is really good,'” said Comfort. “I’m just here to wrestle; I like to wrestle. I go out on the mat and all fear disappears, and I realize I’m just here to have fun.”

The sophomore would go on to succumb to her next top four matchup, falling to No. 3 McKenzie Astorino (Curwensville) by fall, but that wasn’t something that fazed her. Outside of herself, she was joined by teammate Mykia Petruskevich on the podium, with Petruskevich taking fourth at 130.

For Central Mountain, senior Kendall Wagner made it all the way to championship semis at 170 before running into her biggest 2025-26 obstacle in Shikellamy’s Finley Boetsch. There, she’d endure her third straight loss to the Brave, but there were silver linings in the loss.

The Wildcat took control with an early takedown and was able to maintain a lead through the match’s midway point. Boetsch would build momentum from there, stealing the lead with a takedown deep in the second before working a pin midway through the third, but it was forward progress in a tough matchup she’s patiently learning.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Williamsport's Malaina Comfort wrestles at 100 during the BEA girls wrestling tournament on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at Bald Eagle Area.

“Boetsch is tough. She was a state runner-up in PJWs last year and wrestles a lot of freestyle,” said Central Mountain head coach Dylan Caprio when discussing Wagner. “But each matchup, Kendall’s made adjustments and made it closer. She’s doing a good job of giving herself an opportunity there.”

Though the loss stung, she’d also bounce back in a big way. Against a familiar foe in returning regional medalist Arianna Irvin (Boiling Springs), Wagner she’d take control with a takedown deep in the first before dominating the rest of the way, logging one takedown in all three periods and sealing the deal with a third-period pin.

190-pounder Ashlyn Miller rounded out the team’s medalists, taking fifth and finishing her run 4-1. But despite the lack of hardware, Caprio was proud of what his team put out there on Saturday. Kaitlyn Scarborough-Perez went 1-1 on the day despite battling sickness, and senior Kennedy Metzger claimed first at 124 in junior varsity to establish some added confidence.

“We had four scratches, got some girls banged up a little bit and there’s a sickness going around,” said Caprio. (Caitlyn) didn’t wrestle her next consi match but there’s no shame in that. You won a match in overtime today while extremely sick, and that takes a lot of heart.”

Alongside Gottschall, Jersey Shore’s Taylor Ross made it two Bulldogs to place on Saturday, winning three straight matches through consolations to reach the 148 fifth-place bout and finishing in sixth. Sullivan County’s Juliana Price made it to championship semis at 100 and took fourth, Wellsboro’s Phoebe Bowen took sixth at 190 and three Muncy wrestlers – Willow Miller, Zoe Kunkle and Emily Neeper – made consolation semis.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Williamsport's Malaina Comfort wrestles in the 100-pound first-place bout during the BEA girls wrestling tournament on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at Bald Eagle Area.

BEA GIRLS WRESTLING TOURNAMENT RESULTS

TEAM SCORES: 1. Dallastown 190.0, 2. Shikellamy 147.5, 3. Upper Dauphin 118.0, 4. Boiling Springs 108.0, 5. South Western 107.5, 6. Clearfield 103.0, 7. Warren 101.0, 8. Towanda 98.5, 9. Curwensville 91.0, 10. Selinsgrove 74.0, 11. Redbank Valley 69.5, 12. Williamsport 66.5, 13. Bedford 64.5, 14. Huntingdon 61.0, 15. Jersey Shore 58.5, 16. Punxsutawney 53.0, 17. Benton 49.0, 18. Palmyra 47.0, 19. Spring Grove 46.5, 20. Bellefonte 45.0, 21. Bald Eagle Area 44.0, 22. Line Mountain 44.0, 23. United 41.5, 24. Central Mountain 39.0, 25. Muncy 38.5, 26. Wellsboro 38.0, 27. Juniata 37.0, 28. Brockway 35.0, 29. Berwick 31.5, 30. Moon 31.5, 31. Sullivan County 29.0, 32. Penn Cambria 24.0, 33. Trinity 23.5, 34. Peters Township 21.0, 35. Bellwood-Antis 18.5, 36. DuBois 17.0, 37. Sugar Valley Rural Charter 15.0, 37. Williamson 15.0, 39. State College 12.0, 40. Philipsburg-Osceola 0.0.

TEAM KEY: BEA-Bald Eagle Area; BED-Bedford; BEL-Bellefonte; BA-Bellwood-Antis; BEN-Benton; BER-Berwick; BS-Boiling Springs; BRO-Brockway; CC-Central Cambria; CM-Central Mountain; CLF-Clearfield; CON-Connellsville; CUR-Curwensville; DAL-Dallastown; DUB-Dubois; HAN-Hanover Area; HUN-Huntingdon; JS-Jersey Shore; JUN-Juniata; LM-Line Mountain; MEY-Meyersdale; MOON-Moon; MUN-Muncy; NBVM-Nativity BVM; PAL-Palmyra; PC-Penn Cambria; PET-Peters Township; PO-Philipsburg-Osceola; PUNX-Punxsutawney; RV-Redbank Valley; SEL-Selinsgrove; SHIK-Shikellamy; SW-South Western; SG-Spring Grove; SC-State College; SV-Sugar Valley; SC-Sullivan County; TOW-Towanda; TRIN-Trinity; UN-United; UD-Upper Dauphin; WAR-Warren; WELL-Wellsboro; WILL-Williamson; PORT-Williamsport.

CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINALS

100: Malaina Comfort (PORT) maj. dec. Juliette Cuevas (BA), 12-4; McKenzie Astorino (CUR) pinned Juliana Price (SC), 0:57. 106: Aliza Brambley (BED) won by tech. fall over Kaylee Cyphert (WAR), 17-2 4:46; Claire Gobrecht (SW) pinned Breanna Crawford (RV), 1:16. 112: Iris Reitz (RV) won by tech. fall over Evelynn Neale (PUNX), 17-2 2:17; Ashley Rougeaux (CLF) pinned Bryndalyn Lindell (WAR), 3:01. 118: Jenna Kophazy (WAR) won by tech. fall over Madison Bryner (JUN), 18-1 5:38; Kaylen Sluyter (TOW) pinned Skyler Wiest (SHIK), 5:52. 124: Sophie Long (UN) dec. Jada Dillard (UD), 7-2 TB2; Callie Hess (BEN) pinned Makenna Dobbins (DAL), 0:37. 130: Aubrey Rebuck (SHIK) pinned Mykia Petruskevich (PORT), 4:56; Haley Smarsh (MOON) won by tech. fall over Chloe Stiles (UN), 21-5 2:34. 136: Kenna Hoffman (DAL) pinned Bethany Watt (PC), 0:37; Noelle Rasmovicz (HUN) won by inj. default over Ryleigh Ziants (SHIK), 0:46 142: Elizabeth Varner (SEL) maj. dec. Jacelyn Henninger (UD), 9-0; Avery Baldwin (DAL) pinned Brylee London (CUR), 1:36. 148: Roslyn Snyder (SHIK) pinned Delilah Gould (DAL), 3:19; Kristen Rosado (UD) dec. Kiah Grennawalt (PUNX), 15-12. 155: Isabella Gottschall (JS) pinned Bailee Scott (BEL), 1:05; Makayla Taylor (CLF) pinned Amelia Smith (DAL), 5:55. 170: Finley Boetsch (SHIK) pinned Kendall Wagner (CM), 4:53; Elysabeth Myers (BRO) pinned Ariana Irvin (BS), 3:06. 190: Liliana Giulianelli (PET) maj. dec. Brianne Irvin (BS), 11-2; Chloe Ratcliffe (UD) pinned Abbie Darr (WAR), 0:58. 235: Mylah Steinbuch (BED) dec. Emily Dolan (BS), 4-1 SV; Noelani Knott (DAL) maj. dec. Taneeka Previl (SW), 8-0.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Kendall Wagner wrestles in the 170-pound third-place bout during the BEA girls wrestling tournament on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at Bald Eagle Area.

CONSOLATION SEMIFINALS

100: Aislynn Weller (SEL) pinned Isla Twoey (WELL), 2:02; Sophia Winey (DAL) pinned Giavanna Yannone (BER), 2:00. 106: Lily Spicer (BEA) pinned Megan Wagner (BS), 2:37; Ellie Bodenhorn (PUNX) pinned Willow Miller (MUN), 2:30. 112: Addison Tice (BEA) dec. Madison Fay (WILL), 4-1; Lindsey Beyer (SG) pinned Halee Grubb (HUN), 1:34. 118: Madalyn Mattlin (SW) pinned Kendyl Wilson (HUN), 1:56; Alyvia Shoemaker (BS) maj. dec. Zoe Kunkle (MUN), 15-5. 124: Finley Gilbert (CLF) pinned Bryanna Wilmoth (DUB), 0:39; Ivy Sanders (CLF) pinned Hailey Thumma (BS), 4:23. 130: Ava Dietrich (SG) won by tech. fall over Cadence Manney (PAL), 17-0 4:06; Angela Rougeaux (CLF) pinned Elizabeth Akintoye (SW), 4:42. 136: Jordana Steffen (JUN) pinned Emma Schell (PORT), 0:19; Victoria Schellenberg (BEL) pinned Molly Sowers (BS), 0:40. 142: Brooke Bixler (SW) pinned Ily Benjamin (TOW), 2:05; Riley Lockhart (TRIN) pinned Alyssa Posey (BEN), 4:53. 148: Taylor Ross (JS) pinned Layla Dunn (LM), 0:56; Kendal Cook (TOW) pinned Alliesun Woodin (WAR), 4:21. 155: Tatianna Myers (SEL) pinned Molly Tumilty (PAL), 1:50; Elizabeth Naughton (TOW) pinned Danielle Bottiger (SHIK), 0:58. 170: Shelby Gipson-McDonald (DAL) pinned lydia Engle (UD), 4:07; Kayleann Gonzalez (LM) pinned Riley Kilburn (WELL), 0:48. 190: Ashlyn Miller (CM) dec. Addison Nelson (LM), 3-0; Phoebe Bowen (WELL) pinned Mia Davis (PORT), 1:46. 235: Kira Cartrette (DAL) pinned Grace Eure (UD), 0:16; Emily Neeper (CUR) pinned Sadie O’Dell (MUN), 0:53.

FIFTH PLACE

100: Aislynn Weller (SEL) pinned Sophia Winey (DAL), 0:59. 106:. Lily Spicer (BEA) pinned Ellie Bodenhorn (PUNX), 2:32. 112: Addison Tice (BEA) pinned Lindsey Beyer (SG), 2:15. 118: Madalyn Mattlin (SW) pinned Alyvia Shoemaker (BS), 2:26. 124: Finley Gilbert (CLF) pinned Ivy Sanders (CLF), 0:09. 130: Ava Dietrich (SG) pinned Angela Rougeaux (CLF), 0:48. 136: Victoria Schellenberg (BEL) pinned Jordana Steffen (JUN), 4:40. 142: Riley Lockhart (TRIN) pinned Brooke Bixler (SW), 4:06. 148: Kendal Cook (TOW) pinned Taylor Ross (JS), 4:55. 155: Elizabeth Naughton (TOW) pinned Tatianna Myers (SEL), 2:27. 170: Shelby Gipson-McDonald (DAL) pinned Kayleann Gonzalez (LM), 3:28. 190: Ashlyn Miller (CM) dec. Phoebe Bowen (WELL), 4-0. 235: Emily Neeper (CUR) pinned Kira Cartrette (DAL), 1:29.

THIRD PLACE

100: Juliette Cuevas (BA) won by inj. default over Juliana Price (SC), 2:38. 106: Breanna Crawford (RV) won by tech. fall over Kaylee Cyphert (WAR), 16-0 3:39. 112: Evelynn Neale (PUNX) pinned Bryndalyn Lindell (WAR), 1:24. 118: Skyler Wiest (SHIK) pinned Madison Bryner (JUN), 2:12. 124: Jada Dillard (UD) pinned Makenna Dobbins (DAL), 4:05. 130: Chloe Stiles (UN) dec. Mykia Petruskevich (PORT), 2-1 TB2. 136: Bethany Watt (PC) won by inj. default over Ryleigh Ziants (SHIK). 142: Brylee London (CUR) pinned Jacelyn Henninger (UD), 2:34. 148: Kiah Grennawalt (PUNX) pinned Delilah Gould (DAL), 3:25. 155: Amelia Smith (DAL) dec. Bailee Scott (BEL), 8-4. 170: Kendall Wagner (CM) pinned Ariana Irvin (BS), 4:09. 190: Brianne Irvin (BS) pinned Abbie Darr (WAR), 2:04. 235: Taneeka Previl (SW) won by forfeit over Emily Dolan (BS).

FIRST PLACE

100: McKenzie Astorino (CUR) pinned Malaina Comfort (PORT), 1:07. 106: Claire Gobrecht (SW) pinned Aliza Brambley (BED), 1:08. 112: Iris Reitz (RV) pinned Ashley Rougeaux (CLF), 1:25. 118: Jenna Kophazy (WAR) dec. Kaylen Sluyter (TOW), 6-0. 124: Callie Hess (BEN) pinned Sophie Long (UN), 0:47. 130: Haley Smarsh (MOON) pinned Aubrey Rebuck (SHIK), 0:51. 136: Kenna Hoffman (DAL) pinned Noelle Rasmovicz (HUN), 3:23. 142: Avery Baldwin (DAL) pinned Elizabeth Varner (SEL), 2:52. 148: Roslyn Snyder (SHIK) pinned Kristen Rosado (UD), 1:30. 155: Isabella Gottschall (JS) pinned Makayla Taylor (CLF), 4:30. 170: Finley Boetsch (SHIK) pinned Elysabeth Myers (BRO), 4:27. 190:Chloe Ratcliffe (UD) pinned Liliana Giulianelli (PET), 0:52. 235: Mylah Steinbuch (BED) pinned Noelani Knott (DAL), 4:52.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Ashlyn Miller wrestles during the 190-pound fifth-place bout during the BEA girls wrestling tournament on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at Bald Eagle Area.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Jersey Shore's Taylor Ross wrestles at 148 during the BEA girls wrestling tournament on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at Bald Eagle Area.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Wellsboro's Phoebe Bowen wrestles Williamsport's Mia Davis at 190 during the BEA girls wrestling tournament on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at Bald Eagle Area.