In its first formal year of existence, the Catasauqua girls wrestling program produced a district champion as Aeriel Stallworth stormed her way to the 142-pound title at Easton Middle School on Sunday.

Her final against Geanna Lemke of Pine Grove lasted a mere 26 seconds as she threw the freshman to her back almost right out of the gate.

“I wrestled her a week or two ago, so I knew how she wrestled. I knew I was going to hit it, hit it hard and finish it. Get her on her back and pin her,” Stallworth confidently asserted.

The triumph helps to erase the disappointment of last season where she lost a 6-4 decision in sudden victory to finish fourth and miss out on regional qualifying by one spot.

“This feels amazing. I worked so hard for it and I was scared I was going to come short because of my seeding. But my coaches told me not to focus on the seeding. Let the spectators be spectators. Be a wrestler. Stay wrestling. Don’t look at the brackets and take it one match at a time,” she explained.

Stallworth had two other first period pins, in 50 seconds against Jerailda Estaban of Northampton in her opening match and in 1:45 against Alana Burnette of PM East in the semifinals.

Her quarterfinal match provided the only scare of the day for her as she scored a last second 7-point move to break a 1-1 tie with Easton’s Alyssa McIntosh.

Girls head coach Mike Rusnock described his emotions in watching Stallworth win the title, “It’s more exciting than I realized it would be until it actually happened. I was jumping for joy and I wasn’t the one on the mat. Just being there, knowing what she was capable of, and reaching her goal and seeing the pride and joy on here face makes me prideful and joyful.”

Among the other Roughies who competed in the tournament, Ashlie Giron picked up a pair of wins on her way to making consolation round 3. Esmeralda Serrano picked up an opening round win. Jaiden Bailey and Emily Delong won their pigtail matches.

Next up for Stallworth will be her opportunity to qualify for states as she competes in the Southeast Regional tournament Sunday at Quakertown High School. The field at each weight class consists of the top 5 finishers from District 1 and the top 3 from District XI.

The top 4 finishers at regionals advance to Hershey for the PIAA championship, March 6 through 8.