The Emmaus High School girls wrestling team fell behind early and mounted a comeback, but it fell just short as the Green Hornets began the 2024 calendar year in defeat, falling to Pocono Mountain West on the road last Wednesday, 42-36, in an Eastern Pennsylvania Conference dual match.

Emmaus improved to 1-2 overall and in the conference with a 36-33 victory over Bethlehem Catholic back on December 15.

The Panthers were victorious in the opening five bouts at 100, 106, 112, 118 and 124, with four of the five wins coming via pin and the fifth being a forfeit at 106, which is also six team points as they took a 30-0 lead.

Emmaus finally got something going starting at 130 as Sarah Luisi pinned Zada Johnson and then Brynn Koberlein followed that with a pin over Kayla Perez at 136. At 142, the Hornets recorded their third consecutive victory as Kadence Yannotti won via forfeit.

PM West, however, earned two pins in a row at 148 and 155 to push its lead to 42-18.

But the Green Hornets would still go down with some positive momentum as they recorded three straight pins at 170, 190 and 235 to finish off the match. Olivya Kroope, Petra Perez and Nadia Mohammed earned the wins, respectively.

Emmaus has this week off from competition and will return to action with a dual match in conference at Nazareth next Thursday night.