For Central Mountain senior Kendall Wagner, the latter played a role in her abrupt close-out, helping turn her quest for a state title into a 1-2 exit. She overcame one demon to get to quarters, dismantling a matchup she’d previously lost. But the next two proved too imposing, as she landed on the receiving end of two pins to close out her run one win short of the blood round.

Nonetheless, the Wildcat produced a four-year career worth celebrating. Through four years, she racked up 97 career wins and 71 pins on a win rate of just under 76 percent. And through three years under PIAA jurisdiction, she earned two medals, including state bronze, to add to an array of runner-up finishes at districts and regionals.

“I just told Kendall, ‘You’re best wrestling is ahead of you,'” said Central Mountain girls wrestling head coach Dylan Caprio when discussing the senior.

“Your first match yesterday and taking third last year, that’s not the best wrestling you’ve done yet. You’ve got great wrestling coming ahead because you’re a receptive, coachable kid that works hard. You’ve just got to move forward and make positive changes, and she does a good job of that.”

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Central Mountain’s Kendall Wagner competes in the PIAA girls wrestling championships in Friday’s quarterfinals in the morning session.

While both her matches ended by fall, Wagner fought tooth-and-nail with state-title favorite Bryce Snyder (Palisades), only trailing by a point heading into the third period while battling through multiple tense exchanges.

Ultimately, Snyder was able to tire her out, and her next draw – Shikellamy’s Finley Boetsch – didn’t do her any favors. The Brave had pinned her four times prior to the rematch, a true demon that was always likely to give her a rough go.

It’s a tough way to conclude a run that featured such high goals and expectations going into it. But as Caprio mentioned, a promising college career stands in front of her if she decides to pursue athletics moving forward, whether it’s in wrestling or basketball.

“I love basketball and wrestling the same, so I don’t know if I’d be able to pick one,” said Wagner when asked about her pursuit two sports earlier this season.